Parking Brake Sucks?

[spearfish25]

After reading that our Z lost major points in the C&D Drift competition partly due to the parking brake being unable to lock the wheels, I decided to test mine out a bit.

Not sure if you guys have used the parking brake much, but it absolutely blows. The damn thing can barely hold the car on a 2% grade with the brake fully 'pulled'. Even better...try using it to stop the car when you're rolling at 5 or 10 mph. A full, hard pull just slows the car very gradually.

Is this an adjustment issue or did Nissan install a joke of an e-brake?

[vipor]

Yeah I read that article and wondered. I did park at the gf's parents' house once and the e-brake wasn't up all the way. My car started to slowly roll as I was getting out. Luckily I noticed then. There has to be a way to adjust it, whether it be at the handle or in the rear.

[GT Motoring]

The e-brake on the 350Z is a drum style E brake inside the rear rotor, which I assume it to be the same on the 370Z. This makes them very weak for drifting that is why most people who drift 350's have added hydro e-brakes.

The drum should be okay for parking, unless on a large incline, but then it should be put in gear, although I am not a fan of leaving the car in gear while parked.

[vipor]

Originally Posted by GT Motoring

The e-brake on the 350Z is a drum style E brake inside the rear rotor, which I assume it to be the same on the 370Z. This makes them very weak for drifting that is why most people who drift 350's have added hydro e-brakes.

The drum should be okay for parking, unless on a large incline, but then it should be put in gear, although I am not a fan of leaving the car in gear while parked.

Yeah me neither, I've trained myself to never leave it in gear. This helps when I want to add remote start too. Thankfully there is a neutral shifter position wire. I wonder what's out there as far as converting the e-brake....

[phelan]

Originally Posted by GT Motoring

The e-brake on the 350Z is a drum style E brake inside the rear rotor, which I assume it to be the same on the 370Z. This makes them very weak for drifting that is why most people who drift 350's have added hydro e-brakes.

The drum should be okay for parking, unless on a large incline, but then it should be put in gear, although I am not a fan of leaving the car in gear while parked.

Silly question, but are there disadvantages to leaving the car in gear when you park? I've had it drilled into my brain to put it in 1st/Reverse depending on where you're parked.

[Modshack]

Originally Posted by phelan

Silly question, but are there disadvantages to leaving the car in gear when you park? I've had it drilled into my brain to put it in 1st/Reverse depending on where you're parked.

+1...None that I know of. I would NEVER depend on the parking brake to hold the car..My last several cars have all been marginal in this area. I don't think it's exclusive to the Z

[kannibul]

Originally Posted by Modshack

+1...None that I know of. I would NEVER depend on the parking brake to hold the car..My last several cars have all been marginal in this area. I don't think it's exclusive to the Z

Agreed.

I've always pulled the ebrake, and stick it in 1st (if on level or incline) or Reverse (if on decline), or Park.

ebrake takes the brunt of it all, the rest is on the transmission/engine/clutch.

The stress on the transmission/transmission is less than what it goes through while you're driving it.

[antbear]

"Cause in my eyes brake pads and rotors are cheap compared to a clutch and transmission, that's why I never downshift when coming to a stop light. Just put it in neutral and coast then use the brakes."

I have a 2001 Frontier Supercharged 5 speed manual with 90,000 miles. For those 90,000 miles I have downshifted almost every time I approach a red light or stop sign. Still has the original clutch disks and transmission/rear end are great shape. So enjoy your Z and downshift . . . because it was made for doing these things. BTW....when you downshift there is less wear to brake pads and rotors because the engine is helping to bring your car to a stop.

[areyouin729]

Originally Posted by Modshack

+1...None that I know of. I would NEVER depend on the parking brake to hold the car..My last several cars have all been marginal in this area. I don't think it's exclusive to the Z

for some reason, I always leave my gear in 1st when parked, someone told me you should do that when I first learned stick about 10 years ago and it is now just a habit I can't stop

[shadow2k]

I use the e-brake, then put it in gear for my Z 6MT. I don't want it rolling anywhere. I've done this with every MT car I've owned.

For autos, I do not use the e-brake, just drop it into park. The reason I do them different is the autos I've driven all have the ebrake as a foot pedal, with the release under the left side of the dash. Annoying, clumsy, easy to forget it's on...so I ignore it.

[PapoZalsa]

Originally Posted by phelan

Silly question, but are there disadvantages to leaving the car in gear when you park? I've had it drilled into my brain to put it in 1st/Reverse depending on where you're parked.

I always leave my car in gear with the E-brake on.

The only disadvantage I could see is if you get hit from behind while you parked in gear.

[Chupacabra]

The drum style brake should be ok for parking... but really does not do its job. Unless you leave the car in gear and it just starts to roll back. Ive had my car roll 3 times already and sits there in the middle of the road... waiting for another dude to come and knock on my door and give me the "your an idiot" look.

[vipor]

All I know is that it puts a strain on the transmission, where the transmission was not designed to be an e-brake. Even in an automatic, not using your e-brake puts strain on your sprag and other components.

[racerxj17]

hmm, never had a problem with mine. i park on a steep driveway, and it locks the car solid in place. wonder if nissan just doesnt adjust them all properly (most are just a cable with a nut that adjusts it...)

[phelan]

Originally Posted by vipor

All I know is that it puts a strain on the transmission, where the transmission was not designed to be an e-brake. Even in an automatic, not using your e-brake puts strain on your sprag and other components.

Well it's not that I use ONLY the transmission. I use both at the same time. Does that still put a strain on the transmission??