Handbrake question

T

tazzfalcon

Member
So we have quite a steep driveway where the car (2004 3.0i) gets parked every night and we've noticed that the handbrake has to be applied to the absolute maximum amount of tension to get the car to be fully secure and stationary on the slope (it's always parked nose downhill).
The angle of the drive is pretty severe but there are certainly far steeper gradients about out on the road.

What are people's handbrake strength profile like? i.e. does mine sound abnormally low?

Would putting it in gear help at all, is that a good idea with Z4's?
 
Oh yes, I think you should put it in gear... I've always done so with all of my cars and never gave it a thought!
If you park near a wall, you could steer the wheels against said wall, so if it happens to loose grip and run down it would just touch the wall with the tyre!
 
Sounds like mine. I always leave it in gear is its really steep. Had the handbrake adjusted but the just led to rubbing so had it put back.
 
For OP's question the handbrake just needs adjusting as per the TIS instructions . (In essence removing a wheel bolt and making adjustments through it on each side. Easy but fiddly to do). May also need shoes bedding in if disks have been changed.

As for relying on the handbrake alone, by any measure that's a little daft. Handbrakes are prone to release as brakes cool down and can easily let the car roll.

Gears. In reality any low gear will do but to be exact- should be 1st if parked nose uphill and reverse if tail downhill. That way any movement would have to counter rotate the engine which is more difficult and is the lowest gearing so harder for the wheels to turn the engine
.
On steep hills there's a whole science to which way to point wheels depending if there is a kerb/wall near the front wheels. Science is to ensure if it does roll it causes 1 ) least damage to the car and 2) it doesn't roll straight down a hill or across the road.

Finally if you grew up in the era I did then you never leave the handbrake on in winter as it's likely to freeze and lock the cable meaning you can't drive it.

All good old school stuff :)
 
my zed was always pretty weak and the dealer just said it was normal.

since my wife's cars' handbrake failed and ran into the garage door (she now also leaves it in gear...) ruining the door, I also use wheel chocks as an extra measure.
 
cj10jeeper said:
1st if parked nose uphill and reverse if tail downhill.
Click to expand...

am i being really stupid here or are u also contradicting yourself? surely nose pointing uphill is the same as rear(tail) pointing downhill?

im confused :scratchhead:
 
car nose pointing downhill = reverse gear
car nose pointing uphill = 1st gear

at least that what I try and do...
 
cj10jeeper said:
Gears. In reality any low gear will do but to be exact- should be 1st if parked nose uphill and reverse if tail downhill.
Click to expand...
Are you trying to test for any Paddy or Murphys...? :rofl:
 
Steve84N said:
cj10jeeper said:
Gears. In reality any low gear will do but to be exact- should be 1st if parked nose uphill and reverse if tail downhill.
Click to expand...
Are you trying to test for any Paddy or Murphys...? :rofl:
Click to expand...

Just typed it too quick, although I have just finished a 15 month assignment in Ireland...
Gannet correct it. As above.
 
My handbrake is quite weak if I'm honest, but as people have said, I just have a habit of leaving it in gear just to be safe! No harm done doing it!
 
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