Tonight we came out of the restaurant after dinner to find that my vette had rolled backwards out of its parking space. A good samaritan chocked the back tire before the car had a chance to crash into other cars or off the back of the parking lot into the trees. I checked the shifter and it was still firmly in first gear, where I had left it.

I have always avoided use of the parking brake as a potential rotor warper (especially after coming off a freeway drive and parking on a cool evening, like tonight). I thought I was safe using first gear to hold it in position. So now I don't know if my fundamental reasoning is wrong, or if this is an indicator of other problems with the clutch or gears. Any insights from the loyal throngs out there?

Here are the details of the situation for them what likes more facts...

Drive to the restaurant was about 20 minutes, at speeds from 45 to 70 MPH. The car was parked on a noticeable, but not scary upslope. This isn't San Francisco or Seattle kind of conditions. I didn't have my surveyor's kit with me, but maybe a ten degree angle? The nose was pointed up, tail down. As indicated, the shifter was firmly in first gear. The fact that someone had time to notice the situation, find a log, and shove it under the tire indicates that it was a slow creep roll over time, rather than cutting loose and rolling free. Car in question is a 2000 hardtop (FRC) with original clutch/gears and close to 75,000 miles.

Help. Now I'm scared about parking on anything other than a dead-level surface!

 

where did you hear you can get a wrarped rotor using the parking brake?

Glad to hear everything turned out ok

 

First I've heard about potential rotor warpage by using the parking brake. All I know is that with a manual tranny, I always use the parking brake to ensure that the car does not roll anywhere.

 

It doesn't sound right to me. If you were in first gear the car shouldn't have moved at all. BTW, it won't hurt you to use the parking brake.

 

With a manual I always use the parking brake, too much crap has happened to me when I have not. Cheap insurance.

 

I believe the parking brake is a small drum brake on one side and has no effect on the rotor as the caliper is not used.

 

Tranny may not have been in first gear. Always park in reverse for safety.

Charlie

 

It happens. My car has done it twice. Not that much of a grade in both cases. Mine is a MN6 also. Now I use the E-brake if their is any doubt.

Rick

 

I always park in reverse and have never had a problem

 

Never heard of warping a rotor from using the e-brake. I always use it with my MN6 with the trans in first gear. Have not ever had a problem. Had it on a pretty big slope today in the mountains. Held fine. Hardly ever use the e-brake with the auto in the truck but always in the manual cars.

 

You can't warp a rotor with the parking brake!!!! It doesn't use the calipers and rear pads. It works more like drum brakes and grips the edge of the rotor. I've don't believe it would even be possible to warp a piece of steel that thick under that little force.

 

There's a reason it's called a parking brake!

 

I've had earlier generation Vettes where their parking brake didn't work for crap. I'm so glad that the C5 (similar system to the C3, but worked like crap) has a very useful parking brake. I use it religiously on the MN6 Vette. and use the parking brake on our automatic Nissans when ever parked on any degree of grade to protect the park pawl. I can't think of a good reason to NOT use the parking brake in our cars.

 

Same here....just second nature for me to pull the the E-brake now, barely even think about it.

 

I have always heard that this is the reccomended way. I have done this in all autos with a manual tranny.

 

Use your parking brake. I think it was not firmly in first gear even though you thought it was.

 

Had always parked mine in 1st.. Parking brake has not worked since I bought the car.
A year or 2 ago I was parked on small incline. Another Vette 4 feet behind me.
We walked around 20 minutes and returned to find my Vette resting against the front bumper of 2nd Vette!
Still strongly in 1st gear.

Thats when I read that you are supposed to park it in Reverse.

Stopped at a relative's house to leave the Vette overnight while we drove on up in the SUV with the familiy for a holiday.
While I was sitting in the Vette, engine off, 1st Gear, VERY STEEP driveway incline, I noticed the Vette inching back. Almost like teeth on a flywheel.. 1 tooth at a time.. click, click, click, click...

Placed it in Reverse and it stopped. (of course being gone overnight, I lowered it to the base of the driveway and parked there - level)

 

It is a like a small drum brake on the inside of the back rotors. I just changed out all my rotors and both back ones had them. I have an A4 but would assume that the 6 speeds have the same set up. Like stated above, use reverse and the parking brake, you should have no problems. I always used reverse and the parking brake with any clutch car I have ever owned.

 

Interesting, I will put mine in reverse from now on.

 

With what little I know about cars, I have taken my back rotors off and have seen the parking brake. There's no way the ebrake can warp your rotors if your brake system is like mine on my 2001 coupe. Like NJ02Vette stated, its more like drum brakes and does not apply any pressure to the part of the rotor that the actual brakes do. Check out this shot from the Helms manual:



As you can see by the picture, the surface area that the ebrake shoes rub up against is totally different from where the regular brake pads rub against.