Just a quick question.
How often do you check your e-brake and use it to come to a stop?
I was out with a friend doing a check ride yesterday. She had badly broken her right leg and hadn't driven for 4 months. I asked her to use the e-brake and stop. She'd never ever done that and had no idea why she'd even want to. When I pointed out that 1) her leg still wasn't healed completely and might not have the strength required so having the e-brake as backup was a good idea. 2) she ought to be checking all systems in her car regularly to ensure that things were up to scratch, that made sense to her.
I do it once a month.
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A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams...John Barrymore
Ummm.... In the winter it get "checked" repeatedly... allong with the steering....
Under normal times..... Nope never check it never use it and on my truck it never really worked. Heck I never check my regular brakes and I try not to use tham as often as possible. I down shift and use the brakes in conjustion with downshifting and sometimes I downshift to a stop and than apply the brake if I start to roll. If no roll I sit in N....
Edit: Technicaly I think it is a Park-Brake and not an emergency brake because using it at 40+pmh could send you out of control...
Agreed. If it's not used properly you'll lock up the back end. That's why I check and make sure that I'm familiar with it.
Took her a couple of times to remember that she had to keep her thumb down on the button so that it wouldn't lock.
Sidenote: Yes, mine gets used to augment directional control on slippery surfaces/loose gravel as well.
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A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams...John Barrymore
I typically use mine when I park or when I'm on a steep hill and need to start from a stop on it.
I do keep myself familiar with it though. I've used it in driving conditions. As a matter of fact, when I fell down some stairs on Halloween weekend, I had to use it to help me drive due to my severe injuries.
It can be tricky and I don't actually have any gravel roads or would I dare messing with it in the rain...slush is what totaled my car. The ass end of this car kicks out real easy, so I'd suggest people learn to use it in a parking lot or local side streets with minimal traffic.
Oh, in reference to Dan's "testing" - he's also managed to destroy tires - hitting the e-brake on pavement can cause hard patches on your tires and then the balance can be thrown...just an fyi.
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Oh ya.. Forgot to mention a co waorker once pulled the break up on me doing about 20, luckily it didn't catch like it was supposed to. I also pulled the break up on an ex but she was only going about 5-10 comming up to a stop light.
much props to anyone on here who can actually lock up their back end with the ebrake. Mine is adjusted correctly and Ive never been able to get it to even slow me down.
TXFO wrote: much props to anyone on here who can actually lock up their back end with the ebrake. Mine is adjusted correctly and Ive never been able to get it to even slow me down.
I'm not too surprised. Works great in the snow though.
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Just for the heck of it, I tried mine last night. It was a lot like opening a door & dragging your foot. One third?? It was more like 1/10. I do know for sure that it's properly adjusted.
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When I was first learning how to drive stick... I used to drive around with the e-brake on. I could never remember to take it off. So now I don't use it unless I park on an incline. Just leave the car in gear.
____________________ "Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either, just fuck off and leave me alone. "
