So i'm trying to get an idea of how important it is to fix my ebrake.. 2000 F150 5.4, auto.. I'm mostly driven manual transmissions where E-brakes are a must, so it feels strange not to use mine in the truck. Also, i've heard that always putting that pressure on the transmission is bad for it. I live in vt, its hilly.. Not always parking on hills, but there are many times where i park, put the transmission in park, and the truck will roll into it when I let my foot off the brake. I've had my e-brake looked at by more than 2 places, and the entire assembly needs replacing at $400-500.

So, how many of you use or don't use your ebrake? Opinions?

Thanks!

 

I dont have much of an opinion either way, but i dont ever use mine.... Why dont I use it? I guess I got out of the habit because of my other truck... I had built myself a 9 inch that had Wilwood Drag brakes on it and it didnt have an e-brake...

 

I always use mine when parking on a hill. Do I need to? I have no idea but I'd rather use it then find out my truck has plowed its way through the side of a house.

 

Nope, never been touched.

 

i never use mine but every once in a while i will apply,release,apply,release a few times just to keep it from seizing up.

 

Always use mine here in flat Florida.

 

I use mine when I'm working on the truck... like when I change oil I'll run the front of the truck up on some boards to give me a little more room to roll under it, or when I rotate the tires and I'm jacking up corners... then I set the e-brake for added safety.

That would be my biggest concern... what happens when you get a flat someday? Are you going to carry around blocks to block the wheels? Or are you going to trust the transmission to hold the vehicle?
... interesting story... a coworker of mine got a flat at work and we were changing it. He didn't set the parking brake and when we went to put the new tire on, the vehicle rolled forward slightly and slipped off the jack. This was just due to the "play" in the transmission. (luckily no-one was hurt)
So, either carry blocks to block the wheels or fix the parking brake!

 

When my truck is in park, the parking brake gets applied.

Habit, like seatbelts.

 

It's flat here, no hills.
My BMW is a stick, I use the Parking Brake 100% and they do wear out.
I gotta go to the last click now for holding power.

My truck is Auto and I don't use the Parking Brake.
The exception is when the truck is jacked,

or when parking on a hill....

1- Position the truck, foot on Brake
2- Shift into Nuetral (takes the tranny out of the Equation)
3- Engage Parking Brake
4- Remove foot from Brake Pedal (Parking Brake now has 100% of load)
5- Put foot back on Brake Pedal so that transmission can be shifted from Nuetral to Park.

You'd better surprised at how many people don't follow this routine and rest the weight on the pawl.

 

I use mine once in a while, enough to keep it freed up. However, every 2 years or so mine starts sticking so I take it all apart and clean everything or replace what's necessary.

 

I had a problem with my ebrake, having to be pulled to the max as well. All it took was for me to adjust how much slak was in the cable under the truck. If you do have them replace it make sure to ask for the parts they take out of your truck so you know they actually replaced things and not just tightened things up. Thats my .02 cents

 

I use mine when parked on steep hills. Also when parked with a trailer hooked up.

 

Only when parked on a steep hill or when backing up to a trailer and don't want the truck to move once aligned to the receiver hitch.

 

Seldom use mine,have been so used to not using it as my old trucks would always freeze up in the winter.

 

Same, mines on everytime I park it.