OK to slow down with parking brake?

Question

sometimes when I'm coming to a stop sign or red light and getting ready to throw my shifter into neutral and slow down, I'll use my parking brake to slow rather than my foot brake.

Is this ok?

Answer 1

No a good idea at all.

Answer 2

I do it and it doesn't hurt a thing. The front brakes do 90% of the work stopping your car, so the rear brakes are just sitting there until you use the emergency brake.  But be careful because when you pull the handle its just the rear brakes that are working and you can put your car in a spin if the road is wet or slippery and you're going around a curve.

I once broke a brake line on my jeep while deep in the north maine woods...the only brakes I had to get home with were the emergency brakes..no pedal what-so-ever. That's why they're called emergency brakes..make sure it's always working properly.

Answer 3

If you don't mind wearing out your back brakes.Sure.

Answer 4

NO,  NO,  NO,  NO

Coasting in neutral gear, for however a short a distance, is illegal and could land you in porision.

A parking brake is designed to hold a car in the parked position, not to stop a moving vehicle. It is highly dangerous to attempt to use the parking brake to slow the vehicle down because there is a high risk of skidding. If this was to lead to an accident, then you face the loss of your licence, even your freedom.

You are clearly an irresponsible driver if, as you say, you use the parking brake.The sooner you are removed from behind the wheel of a car, the safer it will be for the rest of the road-users.

Answer 5

it will not hurt anything

Answer 6

The following is from http://www.autoqna.com/Maintenance-Repai...

"i have done that a time or two myself, but it is not a good practice. the pads on the emergency brakes are more designed for holding a car in place, not stopping it. you will end up burning off the pads quickly."

There are other answers; check out the link.

Answer 7

You are a serious danger to other drivers - what half-baked imbecile taught you to drive?

Answer 8

Do not do this if you have drum rear brakes. The parking brake uses  only ONE shoe on each side in most cars, rather than BOTH shoes. You are causing the one shoe to wear out faster than it normally would, and you will be replacing brakes sooner.

Answer 9

The parking brake usually only works on the rear brakes.  So you increase the wear on them.  

Now just some info, find out what type of parking brake your vehicle has.  Some have ones that are separate from the rear brakes and are smaller. They are not meant to be used like that and you can wear them out or damage them (high heat from usage) as you are using them for something beyond designed use.  So before continuing in this practice, find out which type you have so as to not cause damage and then no parking brake when you need it such as a saftey inspection.

Answer 10

You should use the foot break because slowing that way will wear out your brakes for sure!

You should alwayscome to gradual stops anyway. The foot brake is the way to go.

Answer 11

Very dangerous....... You only have minimal braking and anybody behind you will not see any brake lights because the brake light switch is located on the brake pedal and they may not be aware that you are stopping.  Your parking brake is only designed to be used when stopped to hold your vehcle at a stand-still. Depending on the vehicle they use a different braking systems, only use half of the braking surface of your rear brakes and even on some vehicles the park brake is located on the rear drive shaft and can cause major damage if used as you described

Answer 12

NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO... if im right you mightbe thinking hand brake and that would not be a good idea, you could go flying cuz that thing will stop your car in a sec!!!!!!!

Answer 13

no, your actuall parking brake pads are very thin and when they wear down you are going to be hearing metal to metal, its not the same pads your regular brakes use. thats why they are called "parking brake" dont do that, its going to end up costing you $$$$$$$$$$

Answer 14

Not exactly the best idea, over the long run, it will put unnecessary wear on the brake cable!  Originally, that parking brake was called the "emergency" brake. which could be used if the regular brakes failed.

Answer 15

Not to mention ticking off drivers behind you.