Wrong order with handbrake?

billybongoes

Hi, I have my test next week and my boyfriend just noticed that when I use my handbrake for example at traffic lights, I go down through the gears, brake and clutch to a stop, put car into 1st gear and then put on the handbrake, (all very smoothly might I add )

He tells me I should brake to a stop, handbrake, then 1st gear which does make sense to me so I tried to remember to do it in that order today but it totally threw me off and I made an absolute balls of it. So my question is should I just stick with what I've been doing as it's very short notice to change it before the test and I don't want to make extra mistakes or will I fail the test for doing it my way? My driving instructor has never commented on my handbrake use but I'm starting to doubt myself.

Thanks for any help!

JoseJones

Good question actually, I was wondering this myself. I don't think it should matter really but hopefully someone who knows will come along soon...

**Timbuk2**

My instructor used to tell me that if I use the handbrake, the handbrake is the first thing you do when you stop, and the last thing you do before you move off.

So I think for the test, if you see a red light or stop sign ahead, would be to slow down using the brakes, you can keep it in the gear you are in as you are definitely stopping, press the clutch a few metres before stopping, come to a complete stop, put the handbrake up and put it in first gear.

But your way isn't 'wrong' as such. In fact, I find myself putting it into first before using the handbrake (in anticipation of moving off quickly). When I was doing the turnabout, which requires the handbrake in between changing from 1st to Reverse, my instructor said it was allowed (And preferable) to change from 1st to reverse then use the handbrake. It's quicker and makes the whole thing less hesitant. I did this in my test and didn't get marked down.

Compton

handbrake is always first when stopping. and last when taking off

billybongoes

Thanks for the replies. I've been working on it the last few days and I'm trying to put the handbrake on first when I have time to think about it, like when stopping at a red light. But I'm doing what comes naturally the rest of the time so I don't get stressed out over it. So far so good! Just have to perfect a million other things before the test

martiin

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

I find myself putting it into first before using the handbrake (in anticipation of moving off quickly). When I was doing the turnabout, which requires the handbrake in between changing from 1st to Reverse, my instructor said it was allowed (And preferable) to change from 1st to reverse then use the handbrake. It's quicker and makes the whole thing less hesitant. I did this in my test and didn't get marked down.

My instructor said this is right

johnmcdnl

is putting the car into first and sitting there with your foot on the clutch not supposed to be really hard on the clutch ???

If I seen the lights turning Red I'd switch to neutral and then after maybe 30 secs switch to first...

also if I was behind another 2-3 cars I'd be straight into neutral because you'll have to wait on the other cars to take of ahead of you regardless so you won't be able to take of really fast...


I know for the test you should probably just go first and handbrake and wait but when your not in the test situation you should be thinking about wearing out your clutch prematurely....

I'm just wondering like is it acceptable to go into neutral at all when at lights with this in mind... like if you arrive as it's flashing amber you have to stop and you know your gonna be stopped for 20-30 seconds at least anyways so what's the advantage in keeping your foot on the clutch for this period of time like... fair enough if you arrive and it's red the chances are your going to have a short wait so that's grand...

that's not even to mention that your leg may start to start to fatigue if you have to go through a heap of traffic lights in a row and your unfortunate enough to basically arrive as it's flashing amber everytime


basically - if you use neutral at lights at all are you in trouble - simply from the viewpoint of saving the car's clutch

**Timbuk2**

Johnmcdnl, leaving the car in gear with your foot on the clutch will not wear out your clutch prematurely - it's fine to do!

What will wear out your clutch is if you hold your car at the biting point (when it's just about to go forward), or if you drive along with your foot on the clutch pedal unncessarily (e.g. resting your foot [even lightly] on the pedal between gear changes). Your clutch won't wear prematurely if you either have the clutch pedal pressed fully in, or fully out - it's holding it somewhere in between that'll wear it!

johnmcdnl

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Jour clutch won't wear prematurely if you either have the clutch pedal pressed fully in, or fully out - it's holding it somewhere in between that'll wear it!

having the clutch fully depressed will still do "some" damage... yeah you mightn't have to replace the clutch when you own the car but it still does a wee bit...

that's the opinion of garage men I know anyways... I dunno


but what's the advantage of being in gear anyways... obviously a faster take of if your at the front of the lights but say your well back and you have to wait on the cars in front of you to move anyways... what's the advantage in that case

**Timbuk2**

johnmcdnl wrote: »

having the clutch fully depressed will still do "some" damage... yeah you mightn't have to replace the clutch when you own the car but it still does a wee bit...

that's the opinion of garage men I know anyways... I dunno


but what's the advantage of being in gear anyways... obviously a faster take of if your at the front of the lights but say your well back and you have to wait on the cars in front of you to move anyways... what's the advantage in that case

Really? I didn't know that.

There's no advantage of being in gear apart from a faster takeoff. I'd actually say there's disadvantages.

You can relax that bit more in neutral, as you don't need to keep the pedal depressed. Also, if a car were to rear-end you from behind, there's no chance of your foot flying off the pedal in neutral, which may result in you then hitting the car in front (assuming of course you have the handbrake on, as you should have).

Tefral

johnmcdnl wrote: »

having the clutch fully depressed will still do "some" damage... yeah you mightn't have to replace the clutch when you own the car but it still does a wee bit...

Thats not true at all. The Pressure plate is completely disengaged when the pedal is fully to the floor.

At that is working then is the release bearing. These tend to last longer than clutches.

Its been many years since I have done my test but I remember my father teaching me to pull the handbrake up when the car is stopped even in a line of traffic that will move in a couple of seconds. My instructor used to give out to me saying there was no need. Over the years Ive been rear ended twice in a line of traffic and because my handbrake was on it stopped me going into the back of the car in front.

Theres also the added advantage of not burning out your brake lights and also blinding the people behind you

johnmcdnl

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Really? I didn't know that.

There's no advantage of being in gear apart from a faster takeoff. I'd actually say there's disadvantages.

You can relax that bit more in neutral, as you don't need to keep the pedal depressed. Also, if a car were to rear-end you from behind, there's no chance of your foot flying off the pedal in neutral, which may result in you then hitting the car in front (assuming of course you have the handbrake on, as you should have).

yeah like what I'm saying is just to put the handbrake on and then put the car in neutral and just wait until the time comes to put the car in first gear...

even if nothing else to save fatigue in my leg... like if your going anyways there's no point in preparing to take of fast... and as you say if someone rear ends you your foot is coming of the clutch pedal and then the car will jump forward a bit before cutting out and all that with the handbrake pulled.... that bit it jumps forward could bump you into the car in front or hit a pedestrian crossing the road...

like if a pedestrian is crossing the road you can't take off fast regardless so why not just wait until all the pedestrians have cleared your path and then switch to first and wait to go...

I'm just wondering like if I took this approach would the tester give me a mark for not waiting in first gear.... like if your in the middle of a long line of traffic you can't take of fast anyways so the handbrake should be enough to hold the car as you wait and you can relax until you take off... or if your in a line of traffic are you still supposed to wait in first gear....

**Timbuk2**

Yea, if you can clearly see the lights far ahead of you, you will have plenty of time to move it into first before the time comes to move.

But I wouldn't do it at a pedestrian crossing as you say in one of your examples. Usually at pedestrian crossings you are only stopped for a short period of time - I'd say it would be more effort to take it out of gear, let the clutch out, put it back in, put it back in gear and move off