Handbrake "Frozen"

Tom Cruises Left Nut

Hi All

This morning it was -6 when I went out and the handbrake would not disengage, it is an Astra GTC 2006.

Could the cable or brakes have become frozen and any idea how to sort it !!

The handbrake lever went down ok but it was like the cable wasn't moving, no clicks when I pulled it back up

biko

Yes this does happen when you park with parking brake applied in freezing weather.
I just park in first when it's this cold.

To free car rock it back and forth slowly, either pushing or by driving.

CiniO

You might find a spot where cable links to brackets on the inside of the rear drums/discs and pull them to free the cable.

For the future just leave car in gear without handbrake engaged when its meant to be cold

Tom Cruises Left Nut

Cheers all !

Tom Cruises Left Nut

Meant to ask as well, if I am facing down an incline do I put it in reverse gear ?

biko

No, it doesn't matter. Always use first.

If you do park in an incline/decline, turn the front wheels so if the car moves it will roll into the kerb, not into traffic.
This is always the case, when parking in an incline/decline with handbrake or in gear.

CiniO

biko wrote: »

No, it doesn't matter. Always use first.

To my knowledge, it should be first when facing up the hill, and reverse when facing down the hill.

seamus

Biko is correct in that it doesn't really matter, the force of gravity on any incline is not going to be enough to make a car roll in first gear. However technically, reverse when facing down the hill prevents the drive wheels from moving in the forward direction and should be used.

A car facing down the hill in first that gets a little nudge from another vehicle will roll off down the hill. A car in reverse can't.

pajero12

seamus wrote: »

Biko is correct in that it doesn't really matter, the force of gravity on any incline is not going to be enough to make a car roll in first gear. However technically, reverse when facing down the hill prevents the drive wheels from moving in the forward direction and should be used.

A car facing down the hill in first that gets a little nudge from another vehicle will roll off down the hill. A car in reverse can't.

Will it? I can't see how it could, unless the nudge managed to disengage first gear.

Henry Ford III

It's been....

dar83

seamus wrote: »

Biko is correct in that it doesn't really matter, the force of gravity on any incline is not going to be enough to make a car roll in first gear. However technically, reverse when facing down the hill prevents the drive wheels from moving in the forward direction and should be used.

A car facing down the hill in first that gets a little nudge from another vehicle will roll off down the hill. A car in reverse can't.

Unless that nudge either disengages first gear or else somehow manages to start the engine then I don't see how this could happen?!?

kirving

What's the difference between leaving the car in first facing up a hill, and reverse facing down? How would the engine actually be prevented from turning the opposite way to normal?

seamus

dar83 wrote: »

Unless that nudge either disengages first gear or else somehow manages to start the engine then I don't see how this could happen?!?

The engine only provides resistance to forward movement when in a forward gear. It is possible for it to move, and on a steep hill the momentum may be enough to overcome the engine resistance and allow the car to keep rolling. In a reverse gear, the wheels cannot move forward and it's the same as having a brake applied to the drive wheels. So even on a steep incline, the car will stop quickly even if nudged.

The next time you're out driving and come to a steep downhill, leave it in third, take your foot off the clutch, switch off the engine and see what happens. Although be aware that you may hurt your engine or yourself. And your power steering may switch off.

slimjimmc

Kevin Irving wrote: »

What's the difference between leaving the car in first facing up a hill, and reverse facing down? How would the engine actually be prevented from turning the opposite way to normal?

None and it can't, and with no injectors powered up there's no risk of accidental ignition.

seamus wrote: »

The engine only provides resistance to forward movement when in a forward gear. It is possible for it to move, and on a steep hill the momentum may be enough to overcome the engine resistance and allow the car to keep rolling. In a reverse gear, the wheels cannot move forward and it's the same as having a brake applied to the drive wheels.

An engine provides resistance due to compressing any gas (air) in the cylinder. This compression doesn't disappear when the engine is turned in the opposite direction, it remains the same no matter what way the engine turns. The choice of 1st/reverse gear just determines which way the engine rotates when driven by the wheels, it can't prevent the engine turning at all.

seamus wrote: »

So even on a steep incline, the car will stop quickly even if nudged.

The next time you're out driving and come to a steep downhill, leave it in third, take your foot off the clutch, switch off the engine and see what happens. Although be aware that you may hurt your engine or yourself. And your power steering may switch off.

That's the gearing ratio. The higher the gear the more easy it is for gravity to overcome the engine compression, that's why 1st gear will hold a car stationary on a steep hill far better than 5th would. If first gear and reverse gear are similar in ratio then they'll have similar holding power no matter which way the stationary car is facing.

Hal1

A kettle of boiling water over the hub area usually helps with this.