Parking brake winter

I have read several threads which recommended always using the parking brake on the 3rd gen. One guy said it helps reset the rear drum brake. I vaguely remember seeing in manual that it is not recommended to use parking brake in winter/ below freezing temps. Sound right? I will probably still use it while near civilization and within cell signal. thoughts, feelings?

 

Just old habits but I never engage my parking brake below freezing. Newer vehicles its probably less of a problem but happened to me once back in high school (frozen parking brake), which caused me to miss a full hour of epic snowboarding while my truck warmed up enough to break free and it was enough for me to never do it again. Now I just point my wheels towards curb and leave the parking brake down.

 

I use the parking brake all the time, even when I’m stopped at red lights. Put it in neutral (MT) and pullthe hand brake.

I live in MN, and it gets well below zero here. Never had an issue

My guess is that suggestion might be in the manual because the rear drums can freeze a bit if they’re wet first (like after a car wash). I do notice that, but it’s not because of the hand brake.

 

I have always used it and never had a problem.

 

I can understand that. I don't know if this would work with the cable sheaths on the Taco for easy application, but is freaking amazing on my motorcycles and bicycles:
https://www.protectall.com/shop/cable-products/

The lube is a difference that you can feel and lasts a couple years when riding almost daily.

 

I posted this in another thread, but this is mine. I washed the truck, drove 2 miles and parked in my driveway. Parking brake on, 20 degrees overnight. Had to put in 4 wheel low to get it loose.

 

That's similar to what happens to me.....I just give it a bit more gas in 1st gear and the ice breaks off. Good to go after that.

 

I park on a hill at home and at work. I use the parking brake each time all year round.

 

Why would use a parking brake at a red light?

 

I usually drive an MT, always use parking brake, no issues. Habit dictates my using it on AT too, occasionally get a clunk if the ebrake sticks a little, but never more than that even in freezing temps.

 

I drive a stick shifter, so I just put it in neutral and pull the hand brake......that way I don't have to keep my foot on the brake pedal.

Don't have to do it that way, but I like to

 

I still don't get it.

 

I do at certain long lights.

 

It's one of the joys of driving an MT. Either the intersection is flat enough that the Taco will just sit there in neutral or just resting my foot on the brake is enough to keep it from rolling. Versus having to push on the brake to fight an AT from creeping forward.

Hell when I'm driving an AT, I pop it into neutral when at anything more than a stop sign. I hate that drag / creep from the torque converter.

 

I use neut when stopping here in snow iceville. Seems to help when sliding into and beyond stop signs.
I think Ill use p brake then. Prob not when in Mid of nowhere when no cell sig and multi mile walk to get out.

 

That reminds me of our PoS Dodge, our first car with ABS. It would never disengage when coming to a stop.

One day we were caught out in rain that turned to sheet ice and were creeping up to a stop sign on a downhill slope. A fire engine was coming down the cross street, but thankfully was still pretty far away. I was hard on the brakes at about 2mph, ABS was triggered, and the damn thing wouldn't stop. Just kept firing the ABS while creeping past the stop sign. At the point when it was starting to look hairy, I got off the brakes and accelerated through before the fire engine got too close. If I didn't do that, we would have been along with them to wherever they were going.

The system was such crap that it wouldn't even chirp the tires going full pedal in the dry.

Everything that we have had after that would chirp nicely in the dry and go into a full lock when almost stopped.

 

M/T Owner here. My truck went through 2 Anchorage winters and I used the hand brake daily when parking. Never had it freeze. Last Friday Omaha got its first snow of the year and my parking brake was frozen when I went to leave work for the day. Had to get a heat gun out to release it. It was annoying but I didn't think too much of it. Then today when leaving for a meeting it was frozen again. I got it into our warehouse without completely roasting the clutch and its currently sitting in there thawing out. Given the lack of road maintenance Anchorage has in the winters it's kind of mind blowing to me that its just happening here in Omaha.

 

I've had mine freeze once. I think if it is really cold, you are usually good to use it. Problem is when its warm enough for slush and moisture to get in there, and then it freezes overnight. Or if you wash it, it can happen.

 

Have a second gen mine froze a few times last winter. Putting it in 4wd fixed the issue I have no choice where I park I have to use it..

 

I once had problems with my emergency brake were my mechanic had to replaced the whole brake cable assembly on my 2005 hatchback Civic Si due to excessive unnecessary usage. My mechanic (certify Toyota/Honda over 40 years) recommended not to use it if all possible on any vehicles regardless of the weather to prevent winter brake freeze, stretch/stress or snapping, wear & tear etc. After my experience, I never use my emergency brake unless i am on a hill. He also quote that the intention of the emergency brake back in the days was for what was intended for "emergency", in case of lack on braking or no brake power etc. That being said, since my experience, i never had any other problems. Im not sure about new cars today (still learning) nor what would be the differences between parking brake and emergency brake, perhaps is the same (?)