Will hill parking damage my car's handbrake?

The short front drive to our house is on a 10-15 degree downhill slope. I am interested to know what the best way to park there is. Is there a risk to hand-brake/gears if I park facing downhill in first (or reverse) gear with the handbrake firmly on too?

Asked on 15 August 2014 by Peter Morgan

Answered by Honest John

If the car does not have to travel further down into a garage, consider installing a concrete kerb across the driveway as a barrier for the front tyres to rest on and take the pressure off the parking brake and engine/transmission. Better for the engine on start up to park nose down than nose up anyway. Remember, the parking brake works on the rear wheels and leaving in gear works on the front wheels.

Tags: handbrakes technical issues

Similar questions

Camper van won't move - are the brakes stuck on?

My camper van won't move. It was parked up after going through a flood and is now stuck. On starting it fires up and both forward and reverse gears can be engaged, but the wheels will only turn one eighth...

Honda Civic handbrake issue

My local Honda dealer recently serviced my 2012 petrol Civic with 24,000 miles on the clock. They told me the handbrake travel was too long and suggested the cause was the caliper and probably both sides...

Electric handbrake is stuck - how can I switch it off?

We have a Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer. It was left a couple of weeks on the drive and now the handbrake is stuck. It's an electric parking break and it makes all of the right noises when the break is...