Manual transmission situation

Yep, me three.

 

I know on my Subaru the e brake was actually a tiny drum brake INSIDE the rear disc, it made changing those rotors a huge pain in the ass, and they did almost nothing to hold/slow the car.
Fun story:
My first car was a Saturn sl1 with drum brakes, and I was in Ohio about 500 miles from home visiting my gf at grad school. I had a brake line fail while it was parked, and it drove so well with just the e brake that I almost drove home like that. Granted that car weighed nothing, but the one in my Tacoma seems just as good.

 

I've got a manual and have had manuals all my life. At 47 that's a few vehicles.
1. Always always always park in gear with the parking brake on. There just isn't any reason not to. The parking brake is not only insurance but will ensure that the entire weight of the vehicle isn't binding up the gears all the way to the engine.
2. I don't know how steep the hill was, but consider this. When you have all that weight on your drivetrain, you are asking the engine compression to keep your vehicle in place. You can overcome this and turn the engine of course, which is the principle of getting a push-start. This is why #1
3. While highly unlikely, there is a chance that your clutch is slipping. Test your clutch out. This is why #1

Notes:
When engines are new their rings / seals are still working on seating. This can result in the leak-down of stored compression. New and Older engines both can suffer this which will make push-starting (or gravity starting) the engine easier than when everything has been settled.

New clutches and flywheels have surfaces that usually have high friction properties that make slipping unlikely. I have encountered new clutches that had protective coatings that were meant to preserve the surfaces in the warehouse. They usually are gone after a few good hot slips and degassing, but it's possible your clutch will get stickier as you put the miles on. This is why #1

Testing your clutch, there is plenty of advice on clutch testing online. I have had good luck with selecting 3rd or 4th gear and slowly letting out on a flat surface to get rolling while at idle. I observe the behavior of the tachometer which can be very telling where and when the clutch takes up. You must be ginger with the clutch as at idle you will stall easily. I wouldn't recommend the techniques where you rev the motor blocking the truck and letting out the clutch to induce slippage. That's really hard on all of your parts.

 

I converted my car from rear drums to discs and think the handbrake is much better with discs.

 

Just get in the habit of pulling the parking brake. Plus you get the added bonus of keeping your drum shoes adjusted as they slowly wear down.

 

You guys have me beat by about 20...

 

I always pull the brake. On a hill ill put in gear AND pull the brake.

 

Over 40 yrs with MT and the only way is to always park it in Reverse with E-Brake engaged. Reverse is the strongest gear. I work with active duty Military as a DoD civilian and all our vehicles are required to be parked that way or it is a safety violation. $.02

 

I was taught to use reverse with the e-brake as well. In the 3rd Gen Taco 6 M/T though, reverse is actually a higher ratio than first.. So it's not technically the "strongest" gear if you're referring to holding power.

Frank

 

I always use the e brake on all my vehicles, auto or mt. Park in gear, set e brake. Habit and I do it for each vehicle I drive. Parking in gear without the e brake set is hard on a transmission and clutches. Plus it keeps the e brake regularly used, which is good to keep exercised.

 

I don't know why people don't use the parking brake, even in automatics I always use it. I was always taught that it isn't good for the transmission, especially on a hill, to let the weight of the vehicle rest on the gear. Not sure if that's true now or if it only applied to older vehicles, but regardless I always pull the brake. Had a guy tell me he didn't like to 'be bothered' to pull the brake 'every time I have to park'. Really? Are people that freaking lazy?

One time I forgot and left my manual Scion tC in neutral on accident while running in to grab something in a hurry, came out to see my car 2 houses down and the neighbor's gardener telling me in broken English that he ran and pulled the brake for me. I was very grateful and haven't made that mistake since.