Parking Manual transmission?

[Unrulie]

Originally Posted by Comrando

Your Kenworth doesn't have a separate parking brake. The regular brakes apply when you pull that knob.

Your Camaro has small drum brakes inside the rear rotors.

If you pull out the parking brake valve on the dash that only applies the parking brakes on the tractor. It has nothing to do with the parking brakes on the trailer. The parking brake system comprises brakes that are activated by a loss of air pressure. Air pressure holds spring brakes open during normal driving conditions. They activate when the air pressure can no longer overcome the pressure being exerted by the springs. The spring brakes are used primarily for securing the semi when parked. Many trucks have spring parking brakes on only one axle and not on both.

[GMfan454]

Originally Posted by mySSt

If I'm parking front end up hill, I put it in first. If I'm parked front end down slope, I put it in reverse.

Enjoy the ZL1 !!!

This.

[tw78911sc]

If I park my car in the garage when it is raining, I do not put the emergency brake on, I've found the metal on the pads can rust the surface of the rotors. Also, never use the emergency brake if at the track or after hard braking, it can heat soak the rotor and warp them.

[KaBoom1701]

Originally Posted by tw78911sc

If I park my car in the garage when it is raining, I do not put the emergency brake on, I've found the metal on the pads can rust the surface of the rotors. Also, never use the emergency brake if at the track or after hard braking, it can heat soak the rotor and warp them.

I assume this holds true for automatics as well....

[1SSFever]

Originally Posted by KaBoom1701

I assume this holds true for automatics as well....

No the Camaro has rear drum brakes that serve only one purpose, the parking brake.

The regular disc brakes will stick if you put your car away wet. Happens to me every time I wash my car and put it back in the garage.

[Splitter]

I don't have to worry about these things because I bought an automatic.

/troll

Enjoy your new ZL1 boomer!

[Norm Peterson]

Originally Posted by ckaram

Since it's in the owner's manual I've been doing it on both Camaro M6 cars since 2009. Common sense, too, always use e-brake.

When your "common sense" has a wider range of experience, "always" is too simplistic of an attitude. "Always" when parked on a significant incline, I'll give you. But on ground that's flat enough such that the car won't roll anywhere anyway, by insisting on using the P-brake every single time you're just asking to service it sooner/more often.

Of course the OM will recommend this - members of the team that puts these manuals together aren't going to care if Chevy's own shops gain a little easy repair business on cars that aren't their own personal vehicles.


Norm

[Evergreen6]

I always put manual trans vehicles IN gear AND set the parking brake.

This is what the owners manual recommends.
This is what most state DMV / driver education programs recommend.

In fact, I have no idea why anyone *wouldn't* also put their vehicle in gear. "The parking brake is enough." --Yeah, but why rely on only one safety mechanism, when you have two at your disposal? You won't park within 50 miles of another vehicle at Walmart, but you'll leave the trans in neutral when you park it? Hmm...

Heavy trucks are an exception...lots of heavy duty trucks with automatics do not have a parking pawl for good reason, but they usually also have air brakes that lock up when the vehicle's compressor shuts off, and usually a mechanical/spring brake that can be set as well.

[NJScorpio]

I used to park my manual Hyundai in Neutral. Taught myself, so nobody ever pointed this error of mine.

Good thing nobody gave it a good shove, I guess. I used to use the handbrake for high speed turns, so it probably wasn't in the best shape.

[Evergreen6]

Originally Posted by Norm Peterson

When your "common sense" has a wider range of experience, "always" is too simplistic of an attitude. "Always" when parked on a significant incline, I'll give you. But on ground that's flat enough such that the car won't roll anywhere anyway, by insisting on using the P-brake every single time you're just asking to service it sooner/more often.

Of course the OM will recommend this - members of the team that puts these manuals together aren't going to care if Chevy's own shops gain a little easy repair business on cars that aren't their own personal vehicles.


Norm

Weird. I've never had to service a parking brake in any of my vehicles, and I use it every time I park. And I've owned vehicles with high mileage too, and the brakes have worked in those, every time.

There are very few exceptions where the parking brake might not be appropriate. For those situations, chocking one or more wheels is more appropriate.

[xc_SS/RS]

Is it a real thing to put our cars in reverse to cut off the power? Seems kind of weird of that's what's supposed to happen. I usually leave it in first but today I've put it in reverse. We shall see if it starts any better in a few hours.

[Neumatic]

1st or Reverse with parking brake for me. Flat ground or hills I do the same thing, so be it if I have to replace my brake cable sooner.

EDIT:
Also congrats to the original poster on the ZL1. Hell of a jump from a V6!

[Norm Peterson]

Originally Posted by Evergreen6

Weird. I've never had to service a parking brake in any of my vehicles, and I use it every time I park. And I've owned vehicles with high mileage too, and the brakes have worked in those, every time.

There are very few exceptions where the parking brake might not be appropriate. For those situations, chocking one or more wheels is more appropriate.

You'd better believe that I chock the wheels any time I've got two wheels up on ramps or am setting one end of the car on jackstands.

Over the years, I've had to replace several P-brake cables because they either broke strands (which lets them unravel and become incapable of setting the brake firmly enough) and had cable sheaths split and allow water intrusion/rusting/won't release episodes. And at least one case where the cable iced up and froze solid in its sheath. Fortunately I'd learned by then to not use the P-brake when parked unless necessary for reasons of uphill/downhill slope (pay attention, Neumatic, I hear Ohio gets cold enough).

I've had to replace rear brake calipers on one car because the integral P-brake bits over-adjusted the pads until they locked that corner's brake up solid while driving . . . at least twice.

Frozen cables (in the winter) are an occasional problem with Mustangs of about the same vintage as mine, so winter is a "don't be tempting fate" part of the year even if you are inclined to use it on a regular basis.

The "electronic" P-brake on my wife's car . . . the "backup" manual release involves something like 200 turns (by hand) with a little crank tool that fits into a socket under some body plug. I hope I never need to go through that. Ever.

I'd be ashamed to think I should disregard all of the relevant experience I've been acquiring over the last 50 years. No matter who wrote the car's manual; I don't live in their ivory tower.


Norm

[two_wheel_mayhem]

Originally Posted by Evergreen6

Weird. I've never had to service a parking brake in any of my vehicles, and I use it every time I park. And I've owned vehicles with high mileage too, and the brakes have worked in those, every time.

There are very few exceptions where the parking brake might not be appropriate. For those situations, chocking one or more wheels is more appropriate.

Actually a parking brake is a device that only stays working well with constant use. The cables will freeze up if you never use it.

The brake shoes will never wear out from using the parking brake as long as you don't drive with it actuated, or try to use it with bad actuator cables that stick.

Don't take it personally I decided to quote you, my statement is aimed toward anyone that cares.