How stupid was this?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 351
Likes: 1
From: Laurel Maryland
St. Jude Donor '11
How stupid was this?
Pulled out of a gas station and drove for about 3 or 5 miles with the parking brake still on. Did not even notice it until I started hearing a thumping noise and looked at the gages and saw the red parking brake light on. Let the brake off and kept driving and everything seems o k. After driving another 2 or 3 miles, got out and looked and sniffed around the wheels and things seem o k. Has anyone else done this and do you think there was any damage done? Thanks Bill
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: North Plainfield New Jersey
i guess one good thing is that you won't destroy your rear brakes as the emergency brake uses a separate drum/shoe system behind your rotor. But agree....it may not hold as strong lol
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I use mine pretty much every time I park my C5. I thought the common rule of thumb was that by engaging the parking brake whenever the car is parked, it keeps the parking brake correctly calibrated, etc.
Is this true or another Corvette urban legend? Any real need to use it when it's parked in the garage or any other flat surface? I live in Florida and we don't have too many hills.
Is this true or another Corvette urban legend? Any real need to use it when it's parked in the garage or any other flat surface? I live in Florida and we don't have too many hills.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,962
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From: Richmond, Ky
I always set the parking brake on a manual transmission vehicle. One key to keep from driving off with the brake set is to fully engage the parking brake lever. If your parking brake is set and working properly as soon as you let off the clutch you will know the parking brake is engaged. Same should be true for an automatic but maybe not quite as sensitive as a manual.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,146
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From: Edmonton Alberta, Canada
I always set the parking brake on a manual transmission vehicle. One key to keep from driving off with the brake set is to fully engage the parking brake lever. If your parking brake is set and working properly as soon as you let off the clutch you will know the parking brake is engaged. Same should be true for an automatic but maybe not quite as sensitive as a manual.
When you use the parking brake locker up tight with it not just a gentle pull on the lever, that way when you are ready to leave the car will not move!
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,760
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From: Broward County Florida
I've done this a couple times. My e-brake still bites when parked on a steep hill. I put the car in gear just in case (not sure if this helps) and point the tires toward/away from the curb (depending on down/up hill parking). This would be a good test for you to try to make sure everything's working properly.
If that doesn't satisfy you, you can always have them readjusted.
If that doesn't satisfy you, you can always have them readjusted.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 369
Likes: 1
From: San Diego CA
Well, forgetting and leaving the brake on is better in some cases than forgetting to set it in the first place...
http://www.corvetteonline.com/news/w...oat-commander/
http://www.corvetteonline.com/news/w...oat-commander/
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
Nope you're not the only one who has done that. another fine engineering piece of the C5. The parking brakes are crap. Mine works when it wants to, sometimes great, sometimes not at all. I bet yours doesn't engage like it's supposed to or you would have felt it when you took off, so you should be fine.
Last edited by RetiredSFC 97; Jun 23, 2011 at 01:49 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,754
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From: South Florida FL
have it re-adjusted and move on. if you didn't feel the added drag whilst driving the car, it probably wasn't doing much anyway, and already need adjustment.
my guess is you're auto?
my guess is you're auto?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 969
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From: Northern VA
Here is how you check on the brakes and adjustment.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...djustment.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...djustment.html
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Pro
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Tallahassee, FL
I only use the PB and don't leave it in gear. I'd rather forget to release the PB (which I haven't, I'm a huge creature of habit) than have someone hit me and break my gearbox.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Southeast, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
the parking brake if working properly is adjusted as needed every time the brake handle is pulled all the way up and released.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 508
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From: Tallahassee, FL
Actually, an emergency brake was just that. In case of loss of hydraulics, you could stop the car by pulling the handle. Good luck with the PB handle! Hah!
Resident moron
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,746
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From: Assachusetts
Putting the car in gear and engaging the parking brake is just common sense redundant safety. If the brake were to fail or the tranny pops out of gear, it won't roll away and wreck the car - or even worse, potentially kill someone.
To the OP, like everyone mentioned you should be fine. If the parking brake doesn't hold too well anymore you just have to adjust it. Takes 30 mins. No sweat.
Dope