Deuce Man

OK, random end of the night question.

The first time I ever went to the track, everyone told me "don't use your handbrake right after a session!" The logic was that it would warp the rear rotors. But, the handbrake is a shoe inside the rear rotor that just presses outward on the rotor fairly evenly.

I never gave this much thought until today. Been making sure I didn't use the handbrake after a session for a couple years now, but today I guess I am feeling controversial, or curious, or something along those lines......

Someone help me understand why this is really an issue.

Socko

I always thought the issue was relative to the shoes melting and sticking to the drum. I am subed for an answer

harrydirty

Not sure why anyone needs to use a handbrake, just leave the car in first gear...........

brkntrxn

This as well as the risk of fire. I have personally seen more than one set of brakes catch fire sitting in the paddock.

JeremyGSU

This. My track car is a street car too. One time I wanted the e-brake to engage earlier than all the way up so I had it adjusted. The next time I was at the track I didn't even use the e-brake but since they had adjusted the pads to be closer to the hat it melted the pads completely and they fused. I had a cracked rotor and couldn't get it off because it had melted so bad. I had to take it to the dealer for them to fix it.

Bottom line, don't use e-brake at the track. It's because of heat.

Poor-sha

I've been wondering about this myself. When I was at Spring Mountain I noticed that they had everyone set the parking brake when coming off track. I asked one of the instructors about this and he said that they hadn't had any problems and if the shoe did melt they had a 460 HP sledge hammer to get it loose.

I still don't set the parking brake if I'm just coming off track and parking the car but I'm no longer afraid to do it if I need to leave the car running.

moespeeds

I've seen one stick, and then saw the guy smoke up his clutch using the 460 HP sledgehammer method to un-stick it.

Deuce Man

For me it has always been a habit, and I could argue a good habit as a just in case. My problem is that pulling the hand brake is a habit, whether at the track or when driving around town. So I have to really really think about not pulling the hand brake when i park after a session. Hence the reason I asked what the major issue would truly be. I had a good idea, but was just curious if other folks had actually seen true issues or not.

harrydirty

That makes sense and it's logical that it would be difficult to break a habit just for the track......you would have to deliberately remember not to use the parking brake.

For me, it's the opposite.......I never use the parking brake unless I was parking on a steep incline, so for me it's never an issue.

froggy47

froggy47

I'll take a crack at this, let's say you are a red group driver & come in off some fast laps without a cool down (some tracks don't allow) and park it.

Your rear drums are, say, 1200 f.

or

You are a novice and ran some easy laps with the active handling on, this caused the rear brakes to apply a LOT,

Your rear drums are, say, 1200 f.

Your PARKING BRAKE pad , being OFF is maybe 1/2 that temp.

You pull up hard on the parking brake in the cockpit and walk away knowing your car won't roll into someone elses.

The rotor starts to cool down CONTRACTING on the parking brake you so mightily engaged, the heat goes to the parking brake which proceeds to EXPAND.

I would guess, depending on how strong you are, you are going to either bind them up like they were almost welded or crack, split one part or the other.

Anyway, I never put it on when my brakes are hot.

Deuce Man

I am usually pretty good about remembering not to put in on at the track, but I certainly did it a couple times when I was new. I still tend to grab it every time I park and have to really think about it. I think I am going to put rubber bands or something on the handle, just so it feels different than usually, and hopefully that triggers my brain to not do it.

Maybe I'll duct tape some push pins to the handle....that'll make me think twice about pulling the darn thing

harrydirty

Depending on how often you track, it will soon become a new habit (if it already isn't)......but the pins sound like a definite solution!