Routine Use of Emergency Brake

I routinely set my e-brake when parking - especially on an incline. Is there a downside or drawback to this?

 

Nope, except that you have to use your muscles twice more than if you don't

I have a 6 speed and the brake goes on every time it's parked regardless of terrain or slope.

 

I use the brake all the time in my autos. Helps keep the stress off the parking pawl. And it also keeps the e brake from seizing up. (And keeps the rear drums adjusted if you let it roll back just a wee bit while you pull it)

 

Let me be sure I understand the question. You want to know if it is ok to use the parking brake when parking?

 

LOL, Glad I'm not the only one.

Yes, use it every time you park unless you have some strong reason to believe that it will be frozen stuck when you return and you're on flat ground. It's a safety thing for everyone else and it helps protect your truck's transmission if someone should bump it. You know you're supposed to cut your wheels when parked on a hill too right?

 

Right or left depending on if your facing downhill or uphill actually.

 

Are there any issues associated with using the e-brake routinely (i.e. all the time) when the vehicle is parked? But since you called it a "parking brake" (which it technically is), my question seems moot.

 

It is good to use it. The cable works better with use, it protects the transmission, is required in some jurisdictions, improves your standing in an insurance investigation. If you are in your level garage after driving an ice storm or during a rapid drop below freezing you may want to leave it, but even then a few back and forths will free up most ice.

 

And facing uphill it changes depending on whether you have a curb or not.

 

The only issue is that the cable(s) stretch over time and need to be adjusted. Small price to pay to protect your truck.

 

In winter, if the drums are wet from rain or stream crossing, and temperature goes below freezing, the brakes can get stuck. Hasn't happened to me yet on the Tacoma, but I've had it happen on numerous other vehicles with rear drums. Used to happen pretty frequently when I had a creek ford on the driveway. I can't see it having any other negative effect.

 

Only drawback is if you forget to take it off before driving. Believe it or not I knew someone this happened too, the drag on acceleration and the smell finally queued him in.

 

The bright red brake light didn’t alert him?

 

No, it was an older guy I worked with in my 20's we were making a run in the company van. It was hilarious.

 

I use my parking brake all the time when I have to make a quick stop/go.

I have used it on some steep hills running in neutral with some weight in the bed and wonder how common is it for the parking brake to fail when parked like that?

 

I always set my parking brake when parked. Seems like a smart thing to do.

 

I use it all the time probably out of habit because all my other vehicles are manual trans and setting the brake is mandatory.

 

Well hopefully you're also putting the transmission in 1st (manual) or park (auto) along with using the parking brake. If it's properly adjusted, it should hold the vehicle on a steep hill but that doesn't mean I'd trust it by itself.

 

I've done it before...hop in the truck to go quick and forget to release the brake. One time I did it on the trail in 4lo and it bent the metal brackets up on the rear axle that hold the ebrake cable in place lol. Had to pound them back down with a hammer.

 

I usually leave it in neutral if it's a quick stop, but think from now on I will turn off the engine and put it in 1st gear then use the parking brake, being a 2006 and 13 years old.