# Parking brake use **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** transmissions, brakes\ **Created:** [July 18, 2009, 5:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parking-brake-use/33593 "2009-07-18T17:02:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cartrouble77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@cartrouble77](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cartrouble77)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 5:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parking-brake-use/33593/1 "2009-07-18T17:02:58Z")
Please settle this relationsship-straining dispute (and $5 bet): Should the parking brake always be used when the automatic transmission is in park on level ground? ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parking-brake-use/33593/2 "2009-07-18T17:29:25Z")
Sure, why not ? Since it’s always best not to stress the parking pawl any more than necessary, AND you know the solution for that… There’s two main reasons ; Most “level ground” isn’t.; And using it all the time develops the habit. Which, in turn, assures that you’re using it when you need it most. When you don’t use it, the proper method would be to put it in park then TENDRLY let off the brake as the car coasts into the parking pawl. And I guarantee you, 99.9 % of people don’t do that. What they do is slap it in park and hop out. ka-boing goes the car as it rolls into the parking pawl…ouch. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parking-brake-use/33593/3 "2009-07-18T19:44:25Z")
Yes. In some states, it’s the law. Maryland requires the use of the parking brakes whenever a car is parked. I use mine everywhere but my garage. ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parking-brake-use/33593/4 "2009-07-18T21:57:17Z")
If you have rear disc brakes, it helps keep them adjusted when you use the parking brake. ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 3:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parking-brake-use/33593/5 "2009-07-19T03:44:52Z")
Whether imagined paranoia or not, I use the brake especially in store lots where a collision with my parked car may affect the transmission left in park…the engaged brake on drive wheel on my rwd cars can only help. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 4:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parking-brake-use/33593/6 "2009-07-19T04:29:54Z")
People who live in cold areas are reluctantto use the parking brake after a few encounters with freeze-up. If you park in the basement of a heated building and then move to a very cold area (Minnesota in January), park your car and apply the handbrake you will be in for a rude surprise. I use the parking brake in supermarket lots, on unlevel ground,and parrallel parking on streets. In short anywhere one could be pushed from the front or rear. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 10:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parking-brake-use/33593/7 "2009-07-19T10:16:22Z")
Yes. The parking pawl is only a backup and the primary brake is the Parking Brake. We see a lot of questions about problems caused by not using the parking brake. It is also not good for the parking brake because it needs to be exercised. ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 10:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parking-brake-use/33593/8 "2009-07-27T22:44:38Z")
Always use the parking brake. If you are in temperatures below 20 degrees then leave it off. ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 10:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/parking-brake-use/33593/9 "2009-07-27T22:47:39Z")
Forgot to add: Most parking pawls are about the size of a nickel. All that weight being held back by a nickel. Hmmmmmmmm.