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Parking a Stick Shift

16K views 55 replies 40 participants last post by  john97TJ 
#1 ·
This is probably a question that has been answered on here, but my search didn't turn up any results that matched my question.

I have a 2003 Wrangler five-speed. It's awesome.

When I park - at home, work, out running around - I put the Jeep in first gear and turn it off. I never use the emergency brake, except if I'm on a hill, or if I leave the Jeep running for a minute or two.

Is this wrong?

The reason I'm asking is that lately I've noticed something. When I go out to leave work, and get in the Jeep to start it, I put my foot on the clutch and the brake. The Jeep starts fine, but I've noticed the brake doesn't always go down until the Jeep is running. I am just noticing this, so I don't think this has been the norm. I park on flat ground 95% of the time, anywhere I go.

Is there any reason to change what I am doing? I've been doing it this way for five years, and with previous stick shifts I owned as well. It's just that my Jeep will be paid off within a few months (my first paid-off car since age 17), and I want to keep it going as long as possible.

Thanks for the info!!
 
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#2 ·
Emergency brake? Is that the thingy on the side of the other thingy? You're supposed to pull it up when you park? I always wondered what that thing was for. What'll they think of next.
 
#3 ·
I put it in reverse when I park it. E-brake only on hill or when idiling. I parked in first one time and I wasn't paying attention. went to back out of the driveway and drove right into my truck. Thank god for old vehicles with metal bumpers.
 
#8 ·
This one is EXACTLY correct.

I ALWAYS use the emergency brake when parking. My driveway is flat at the very top (closest to house) for about 10 feet, but then goes down hill from there.

I've always been told if you don't use the emergency brake it will eventually fail when you need it most. That's not the exact wording my brother has always told me about it, but close enough.

Should add I ALWAYS use emergency brake in manual transmissions and not automatics. Of course, I hate automatics anyway, so don't drive one very often.
 
#10 ·
I always use my parking/ebrake too. I put tranny in 1st and set the parking brake. I've been driving manual transmissions for many many years and cannot think of a valid argument for not using it. I have also witnessed jeeps slowly rolling away after parked because they were not all the way in gear or got knocked out of gear as they left the vehicle. I am also an insurance agent and the argument that you never use the ebrake would show irresponsibility in a court.
 
#11 ·
For the most part I use mine all the time. It is really a parking brake that is supposed to be used when parking so nothing dumb can happen and have your vehicle roll away. It is not that difficult to reach down and give it a tug and be safe. If for any reason the Jeep were to pop out of gear when parked, you would not be happy if the parking brake was not engaged.
 
#12 ·
My driveway is on a slight hill so I always park in 1st with the e-brake set... if I'm leaving the engine running, I will also set the e-brake. Sometimes what seems flat to you isn't truly flat...I've watched my buddy forget to set the parking brake on a tractor because it was parked on flat ground and moments later we were chasing the $25,000+ tractor down a hill where it ended up in the creek...luckily it didn't tip and we were able to drive it back out. I also watched a friend stop by my buddy's auto shop...left truck running in neutral and hopped out to talk for a moment, which was quickly followed up by, "Mitch! Your truck's heading for the road!!!" Truck was rolling straight out of the parking lot and into a busy 4 lane road the shop sits on. They managed to catch it just as it entered the road and before it caused any accidents.

I like to follow the mindset, "Better safe than sorry."
 
#13 ·
as stated, the hard pedal push in the original post is due to POWER brakes that need POWER to function as one would expect.

you should use your e-brake at least a few times a week to keep it from locking up, but don't depend on it alone for parking. I learned that a long time ago in my S10 when I woke up to find my truck resting in the bushes at the bottom of the sloped parking lot. The e-brake in my TJ recently started losing grip; where I live now has a sloped driveway and I pulled in, set the e-brake (so I could leave it running prior to pulling into the garage) and jumped out to get the mail...only when I turned around the jeep was rolling slowly back down the driveway. Slow enough so that I was able to jump back in, but still... E-brakes fail eventually. Don't depend on them.
 
#14 ·
Always use the "Parking Brake"...that is what it was designed for....along the way it has been referred to as the Emergency Brake...and can be utilized in that case where you encounter some type of braking problem...but it is a Parking Brake...:D
 
#20 ·
You should always use your emergency brake and leave it in gear. When the emergency brake is pulled while moving backwards you can actually adjust the shoes to the drum clearnce automatically. This can give you a harder pedal. Shoes that are improperly adjusted or have to much clearance to the drum will have a low pedal and will wear out your front brakes more rapidly.
Always use your ebrake on a stick any car
 
#21 ·
Reverse is the best gear to leave it in because the gears are cut straighter and more durable all other gears are thinner with a more helical cut for reduced gear noise . Reverse is the strongest . The idea behind putting it in gear is that you are locking the input shaft with the engine and that is what locks the wheels.
 
#30 ·
I always use the parking brake.... keeps the son from running over things when he starts the jeep..... 16 and forgets to push in the clutch first... Kids!

Someone will probably make a comment that it shouldn't turn over without pushing in the clutch..... not sure if that was an option on the 92.... but it doesn't work if it was.
 
#35 ·
Someone will probably make a comment that it shouldn't turn over without pushing in the clutch..... not sure if that was an option on the 92.... but it doesn't work if it was.
haha, that's actually a popular mod (making it so you don't need clutch to start.) I don't know about a 92 YJ but my 93 XJ didn't need the clutch depressed to start.

as stated in my earlier reply, don't count on the P-brake alone to keep your vehicle in check. Your brakes can get out of adjustment in a hurry, and then you'll be like me and find your vehicle at the bottom of the hill...or worse.

Use both P-brake and leave it in gear to be safe.
 
#33 ·
If you park with the transmission in gear, you are depending on the compression in the engine to hold the Jeep. Therefore, if you are facing downhill and park in 1st gear, your compression, over a period of time, could 'leak down' thereby letting the Jeep 'inch' forward. If you are on a hill, ass end down, and you park with the tranny in reverse, same thing. So, if you are facing downhill, park with your transmission in reverse, if you are ass down the hill, park in 1st. I have parked manual transmission vehicles in 3rd or 4th gear and watched as they slowly roll down the hill.
 
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