Handbrake sticking - normal?

[Motto]

Hi - after leaving the car overnight my handbrake tends to stick a bit at first (it is fine once I've pulled away). I left the car in the garage all this weekend due to the heavy rain and today I really had to rev to unstick the handbrake and get the car moving. Just wanted to know if this sounds normal as I was told by another Z owner that the same happened on his Z too?

Thanks.

 

[tedster]

Ive had the same problem on two e46s ive had, eventually if left the handbrake shoes will bind on and you wont be able to get them free without stripping them down i had the same problem in my zed just after i brought so when it went in for an oil service i had my indy strip and clean the handbrake mechanism and fit new shoes!

 

[pvr]

why use a handbrake in the garage? I put the car in reverse and never use the handbrake.

 

[Smokin]

I always use the handbrake and I park outside. As tedster mentioned, my e46 coupe used to do the same, especially after abundant rain. It's better to use the brake all the time-iirc, that was part of the issue and if you don't use it, it stuck more. I haven't had any trouble on my Z4 coupe-maybe they changed the type of brake pad or they changed the mechanism.

 

[Adam D]

In the manual I think it advises applying the handbrake on lightly when coasting to a stop every once in a while to scrub up the shoes and drums.

 

[Motto]

In the manual I think it advises applying the handbrake on lightly when coasting to a stop every once in a while to scrub up the shoes and drums.

Many thanks all - and i think I'll try the above suggestion too. Think I maybe applying the handbrake a bit too much as well, the handbrake is extremely tight but I still always give it a good "tug" - NO JOKES! :lol:

 

[cj10jeeper]

Handbrakes are such a tedious item on cars.
They tend to stick on for 2 reasons, unrelated but mixed up:

If not used regularly the cables can rust/seize inner to outer or at any one of the metal to metal contact points, or if wet inside freeze. Once applied there is not enough spring tension to overcome the grip and they stay on. Normal servicing takes car of any issues, else it's new cables.

Secondly if left on for a long time (weeks/months) pads/shoes can bond to discs/drums but it tends to be a weak bond and easily released.

Anyhow I'm with pvr on this one and never ever use a handbrake on a car. They are a false sense of security and if applied while the brakes are hot often cool and release the brake allowing the car to roll. My buddies Jeep roled down the drive acrosss a road and through the opposite garden before stopping...lol

Best use the gear or 'park' on an auto with the handbrake if you must as a secondary. They get ample use at traffic lights and hill starts anyway

 

[Mikey]

I've had this problem on all my cars, regardless of what badge it is. Happens more often after it's rained and the car is parked over night, here the metal particles in the brake pads rust and the discs rust-the result is the pads basically weld themselves to the discs. You could stick the car in gear but I'd be afraid that I would forget that I'd done this and try to start it!!!!! My solution is to buy some cheap wheel chocks from Halfords and use them instead, it's worked for me and if you forget they are there no damage is done.

 

[a11y]

I've had this issue on all my cars too - I find it's worse if my car's garaged when it's wet, or parked up overnight after it's been washed - the moisture must make a difference. So after washing the car I've started driving to the end of the street, whacking on the brakes, turning and coming back - this seems to remove a lot of the water from the discs and stops it happening. Neighbours obviously think I'm mad but they knew that already

I always park in-gear regardless of any hill, and only use the handbrake lightly. But when it's in my (level) garage I don't bother with the handbrake - no need to use it.

Ally

 

[Incompatible]

I've had this issue on all my cars too - I find it's worse if my car's garaged when it's wet, or parked up overnight after it's been washed - the moisture must make a difference. So after washing the car I've started driving to the end of the street, whacking on the brakes, turning and coming back - this seems to remove a lot of the water from the discs and stops it happening.

Had this happen several times after washing the car and then parking it in the garage with the hand brake on. The moisture causes the brake engagement surface to bond (rust) to the disc. Like Ally, I now drive down to the end of the street to warm up the discs or park by leaving it in gear without using the hand brake. No more problems.

 

[*AL*]

I never leave the handbrake applied in the garage.

 

[Smokin]

They get ample use at traffic lights and hill starts anyway

What for?


I'm a handbrake user, but *always* leave it in gear. Can't be too careful!

 

[cj10jeeper]

They get ample use at traffic lights and hill starts anyway

What for?


I'm a handbrake user, but *always* leave it in gear. Can't be too careful!

OK - so I've just finished teaching my daughter to drive (passed her test in 7 weeks from her birthday - heaven help us now....) so I had to redicover the joys of applying the handbrake if the vehicle is stopped for greater than 5 seconds.... Shoudl get it out of the system soon...

BTW in previous posts by others - pads rusting onto the disc/rotor? Possible, but I don't think there is much steel in a road pads friction material. IIRC after washing or driving the pads become wet, and then dry onto the rotor, with the asbestos type component of the pad bonding to the rotor. Of course the rotor is steel and rusts in seconds. The resulting bond can be pretty effective ....

 

[Smokin]

I remember teaching my daughter to drive--she managed to not rip the tranny out of my Probe GT. Of course, I DID remind her that the car had over 140000 miles on the original clutch and I wanted to keep it that way :lol:

 

[Herminator]

I've always applied the handbrake and hate leaving it in gear as I always forget when I get back in it. I made myself look like a right plonker at the Croft track day, twice...

My sister has a year old Polo and it's handbrake is always sticking. She's had the cable changed under warranty and I think she uses the car regularly, so don't know why it's so bad. It often sticks within a few hours of use. For some reason she always rings me about it, thinking I can fix it from hundreds of miles away :roll:

 

[hotdog3147]

Always park in gear with handbrake on if on a gradient if not then leave it off. I'm in the habit of starting the car with the clutch depressed too and have been since passing my test. Reduces load on starter motor for one and also stops you forgetting you parked in gear.

My dad's passat won't let you start the car unless the clutch is depressed as is the same with the new Audi A4. I don't like his electronic handbrake mind, not my cup of tea.