does e-brake ever let loose?

[Sparkynutz]

My driveway is very slanted and I always worry that some day I'm going to go outside and see my car across the street against a tree or parked car.

I had to take my wifes car (an auto) out of park to install a cd player one time, pulled the e-brake and went into the garage for some tools. a couple minutes later the car was across the street up on a snow bank. lucky for the snow and not something worse.

When I was in highschool a buddy of mine thought it was a good idea to take it out of gear and relase my ebrake on my stick shift camry a couple clicks at the gas station and come in by me. I came out screaming my car was stolen but instead it was sitting on the side of the gas station and had just missed the guys car that works there by inches. I wouldnt have cared so much if either of these cars got messed up but I cant stop thinking about it happening again but to my pride and joy the supra.

I tend to pull the ebrake almost as far as it will go just to make sure it doesnt move.
Is this bad for the cable or the brakes themselves?
I always run my turbo timer and dont usually wait around until my car quits running to put it in gear.
Does anyone else have this same phobia, what do you do to put your mind at ease?

 

[Poodles]

Yes, you can stretch the cable...

Auto cars very rarely use their E-brake, so if they don't function, they don't care. But I've never seen the ratchet mechanism slip.

If you're really worried about it, the entire ratcheting mechanism and handle can be bought for less than $100 from the dealer (I bought a new one as it's the only way to get a new handle)

I never leave the car in gear as I've seen too many accidents...

 

[Sparkynutz]

Yes, you can stretch the cable...

Auto cars very rarely use their E-brake, so if they don't function, they don't care. But I've never seen the ratchet mechanism slip.

If you're really worried about it, the entire ratcheting mechanism and handle can be bought for less than $100 from the dealer (I bought a new one as it's the only way to get a new handle)

I never leave the car in gear as I've seen too many accidents...

Is stretching the cable bad? The cable is what worries me if I stretch it too much and it gets brittle to the point of breaking or the brakes themselves.

The ratchet, ebrake handle part holds well and seems good.

 

[adampecush]

Aside from proper adjustment of the system, the only thing i'd check is the pads. If you replace the pads, ensure to bed them in as per the tsrm.

 

[CyFi6]

its very unlikely that the cable would snap, its high strength braided wire. If you find yourself pulling the ebrake handle very high before it holds the car you may need to adjust the tension on the cables, I think its 5-8 clicks that it should be. I ALWAYS leave my car in gear, handbrake's have failed before and having it in gear is extra assurance, you just have to be thinking when you go to start the car and not let go of the clutch with it in gear, thats what the clutch safety switch is there for.

A little tip, if you are parked with something in front of you, park it with the gear selector in reverse, if theres something behind you, put it in first, i always do this is possible so if i do accidentally let go of the clutch after starting and lurch its in a direction where its less likely to get damaged.

 

[figgie]

I actually have seen the parking cable loosen up twice. It is not the cable.

On the parking brake handle where the parking brake connects. There should be TWO bolts. One adjusts the parking brake tension and the other locks the adjustment bolt in place. If their is only one bolt, it will work itself loose.

 

[honestabe]

I've snapped my e-brake cable before as I parked it on a steep hill facing downwards. I put the car in reverse and it held without a problem.

 

[figgie]

I've snapped my e-brake cable before as I parked it on a steep hill facing downwards. I put the car in reverse and it held without a problem.

here is the problem

you are hoping that the gear reduction causes the motor to not be able to turn while parked. A very risky proposition when you calc the weight of the supra.

 

[CyFi6]

the car isn't going to hold on a steep hill just in gear. Its the engine compression that holds it from moving, and obviously compression does leak down and when it does it will make it easier to turn/roll. But when used with the e brake, its extra assurance, and if your e brake does anything, even if it doesn't lock fully, and you have the car in gear you should be pretty safe.

 

[Ronald]

A very risky proposition when you calc the weight of the supra.

off topic, but what is the weight of a manual transmission supra? i've seen curb weight in print at 3390lbs, but I was thinking that is wrong or too light for some reason, maybe that's the NA car only or something?

I just use e-brake, and both if parking on a slant; I never thought about it before that just putting it in gear would not actually hold the car in place permanently, ie the compression and effort to rotate the crank was the only think holding the car in that instance, but makes perfect sense. Thus existance of the push-start...

 

[billspreston01]

also if you're parking on the side of the road, turn your wheels so that if the car rolls it'll bump into the curb and that should stop it from rolling

here's a stupid question, but I don't have the brain capacity to figure it out (haha)
would it be better to put the car in 5th gear for more resistance?

 

[lagged]

as of now my ebrake dosnt work. if i have to park on a steep hill, i will turn the wheel so it is right on the curb. the car will stay in place like that without anything else.

even with a functioning ebrake, you should park like this when on a hill whenever possible. you never know what can happen when you arent around.

 

[roadboy]

i always pull my e-brake and in 2nd gear when i park for extra safety so it wont roll

 

[TomFraser]

also if you're parking on the side of the road, turn your wheels so that if the car rolls it'll bump into the curb and that should stop it from rolling

here's a stupid question, but I don't have the brain capacity to figure it out (haha)
would it be better to put the car in 5th gear for more resistance?

that would make it easier for the car to roll

1st is best

 

[Davismj711]

When parking with a standard tranny it is best you put it in reverse. The thinking is not to difficult here. The lowest gear reduction is Reverse, just try going as fast in reverse as you can in first gear ^^