Foot pedel parking brakes

[Orionaut]

How do others feel about these?

I think they are horrible.

I am talking about the parking brakes that are engaged by pushing a foot pedal and released by pulling a handle, IE no subtilty of controll. Either on or off is all you get.

It was an old Merc thing and a lot of US cars had them too.

But some recent cars have them aswell (Kia for instance)

With an Auto box they are OK. (Fine even, who uses a handbrake in an auto anyway?? )

But with a manual they are horrible (To the extent that I am amazed they are even legal)

HTF do you do reverse parallel parking, up hill, using one of these with a manual gearbox without hitting the cars you are trying to park between??

(Electronic parking brakes are much the same really, I would never want a car with one)

 

[muon]

I don't get what the difference is if they are released by a handle (or even a button)?

Also as the comments are bound to come up, you need better clutch control.

 

[adolf hamster]

I've yet to meet the car with a handbrake that is any use, as for using the foot brake clutch control is key.

Parking brake trumps em all though, surprised it never caught on as a method for regular handbrakes.

 

[silverblack]

Even after a few years of owning a merc i was still pulling away with the handbrake on sometimes,horrible system.

 

[nick.lidgett]

Same with the in-laws VW Touareg, I hate it, I also don't trust these stupid electric ones that work off a rocker switch like my mates Scenic.

There is something comforting about yanking up that lever and knowing your car is locked in place.

 

[theone8181]

Same with the in-laws VW Touareg, I hate it, I also don't trust these stupid electric ones that work off a rocker switch like my mates Scenic.

There is something comforting about yanking up that lever and knowing your car is locked in place.

Unless it's a vectra.

 

[Dr Who]

Never had a problem with a Merc foot operated brake on hill starts etc, but the push button ones you need to touch the brake pedal to release are a proper pain!

 

[paradigm]

Really can't see what the problem you have with electronic handbrakes are. You just... set off?

No control needed.

 

[skaif]

Yup, electronic parking brake in the Golf is about absolute joy to use. Auto hold is perfect and once you get used to it you will never need to touch it again!

 

[Armageus]

Really can't see what the problem you have with electronic handbrakes are. You just... set off?

No control needed.

Had a couple of experiences with Electronic handbrakes - both in hire cars:
- Audi A3 and A4 - both just work... as above, you just set off and it releases, no issues.

- Vauxhall Astra - just didn't work properly. Randomly would complain if you drove off with it on. Didn't always engage when stopped (even when it had stop/start'ed) - utterly pointless exercise.

 

[Joe T]

I havent tried a foot pedal one in a manual so cannot comment on that, but in an auto they are fine (the Firebird has one).

Electric parking brakes are fantastic. I wont have a daily driver without one now. You just flick a little switch to set it, then just drive off when you need to go. If you sit in any kind of traffic they are a godsend. I'v had 10+ cars with them and never had a problem.

In the Evoque the parking brake is activated when you put the transmission in park. Not all autos do this and I dont really see why not?

You should always use the parking brake as well as put the car in park (auto) or gear (manual). There's nothing wrong with having two defences against your car rolling away!

 

[chaparral]

Had a couple of experiences with Electronic handbrakes - both in hire cars:
- Audi A3 and A4 - both just work... as above, you just set off and it releases, no issues.

- Vauxhall Astra - just didn't work properly. Randomly would complain if you drove off with it on. Didn't always engage when stopped (even when it had stop/start'ed) - utterly pointless exercise.

My focus St has hill start assist, But there no light or anything on the dash to show when it engaged...
So I normally just treat it as if it not engaged and use the handbrake as normal..

 

[Amp34]

I don't get what the difference is if they are released by a handle (or even a button)?

Also as the comments are bound to come up, you need better clutch control.

Because they are normally down by your left foot, out of eye line and awkward to take off.

We have one in our pickup, it's an auto so unless it's on a very steep slope I just don't use it. Pain in the ****. On the other hand I pretty much always put the handbrake on in our (auto) VW estate.

 

[Dr Who]

Had a couple of experiences with Electronic handbrakes - both in hire cars:
- Audi A3 and A4 - both just work... as above, you just set off and it releases, no issues.

- Vauxhall Astra - just didn't work properly. Randomly would complain if you drove off with it on. Didn't always engage when stopped (even when it had stop/start'ed) - utterly pointless exercise.

Yeah mirrors my experience.

Have had some very positive experiences with VAG cars with them though

 

[Scania]

Had a foot operated handbrake in my old e38 7 series, it was fine, never had an issue with it and even managed a handbrake turn (on a grass field) without difficulty!


Same with electronic handbrakes, use them most days in the Volvo trucks at work, no problem.

 

[George Hincapie]

How do others feel about these?

I think they are horrible.

I am talking about the parking brakes that are engaged by pushing a foot pedal and released by pulling a handle, IE no subtilty of controll. Either on or off is all you get.

It was an old Merc thing and a lot of US cars had them too.

But some recent cars have them aswell (Kia for instance)

With an Auto box they are OK. (Fine even, who uses a handbrake in an auto anyway?? )

But with a manual they are horrible (To the extent that I am amazed they are even legal)

HTF do you do reverse parallel parking, up hill, using one of these with a manual gearbox without hitting the cars you are trying to park between??

(Electronic parking brakes are much the same really, I would never want a car with one)

We have one on our XC90. It's fine, we don't even think about it now. Push the foot operated lever to engage; pull the dash mounted lever to disengage before driving off. Strictly speaking, it isn't needed on an automatic, but it's an MOT fail if it doesn't work so if you have one then use it.

 

[Terminal_Boy]

Pedal ones are fine on an automatic. Prefer a manual one with a manual gearbox, but the hill start assist on my CR-V works beautifully.

Only used the one electronic handbrake which was fitted to a FIAT built Jeep Renegade. Since that car was such an utter piece of junk (brand new with 1,200 km on the clock), I'm not going to judge this idea on how FIAT/Jeep bodged one together.

 

[Kamerad]

Only used one on a Mercedes van. Was very annoying having to go into neutral to operate it, not practical at all with a manual transmission.

 

[Abyss]

HTF do you do reverse parallel parking, up hill, using one of these with a manual gearbox without hitting the cars you are trying to park between??

(Electronic parking brakes are much the same really, I would never want a car with one)

For the former surely you just heel and toe the brake / accelerator? I've never used a handbrake ever to do a parking maneuver.

With an electronic parking brake its even easier, depress the brake and auto hold comes on. It then disengages when you try and move.

 

[snapdragon69]

I would never buy a car with a foot-operted park brake after experiencing one in C class years ago, it was rubbish in every way. I wouldn't buy anything again with a stick brake either come to think of it. I'm all EPB since 10 years ago.