am I driving wrong ? uphill traffic clutch ect ..

[Cobbler]

This point about using the ratchet button causes some controversy, I always use the button & was told this is the proper way when I learnt to drive nearly 50 years ago, I hate being with someone who grates up the ratchet, a farting handbrake I've heard it referred to, BUT the handbooks all state ' do not press the button when applying the hand brake' I can only think this in case the manufacturers think you might not realise if the ratchet had not caught properly.

With the electric handbrake, it seems like there tried to invent something that isn't required, a freinds VW followed him across the main road & into a shop front 10 minutes or so after he'd parked it. VW would accept no responsibility for it & said he'd not set the brake, he argued that on the slope it would have gone straight away to no avail. He had to claim on his insurance, who did not query it, known problem they said

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Holding a car stationary on a slope using just the clutch and accelerator for any length of time is not advisable either as you will glaze the clutch giving you clutch judder.

 

[Robotstar5]

With the electric handbrake, it seems like there tried to invent something that isn't required...

All new Land Rovers have electric handbrakes, buried in the bottom of the centre console is an emergency mechanical release in case the electrics fail.

 

[CRB]

Just like my Vito, I got used to it very quickly, so used to it I occasionally try applying the non existant foot operated parking brake in the Audi !

The 89LT has its' handbrake on the right between the seat and door, so the usual hand-dancing occurs when I swap vehicles.

I tried something, a Renault, with a switch handbrake six or so years ago. Did not like it at all, reaching so far forward to press a switch, you then did not need again, too weird.

I use the handbrake at all times, saving the clutch and following drivers' eyes are the main reasons. ?What is a short stop? Very few people use the handbrake in traffic, just lazy I suppose, or they have their eyes shut.

I have found myself using the crawler to save the hill start scenario altogether, mind you I need lower gears to get up any hill.

 

[Justme]

On the L test the examiner does not care how you do things (even crossing hands or allowing the wheel to slip through hands are ok if safety is maintained) as long as the outcome is safe & what is expected. IE dont roll back if going forward.

The advice re hand brakes is that if its a pause then hold on clutch or foot brake. If its a stop then use hand / parking brake. Re brake light blinding the person behind. Even if the hand brake is applied keep foot on brake till you are sure that the car approaching behind is going to stop. Once you are sure or they have actually stopped then release foot brake.

Re the ratchet, RTFM. Some cars need it to ratchet & some dont.

 

[rtbcomp]

This point about using the ratchet button causes some controversy, I always use the button & was told this is the proper way when I learnt to drive nearly 50 years ago, I hate being with someone who grates up the ratchet, a farting handbrake I've heard it referred to, BUT the handbooks all state ' do not press the button when applying the hand brake' I can only think this in case the manufacturers think you might not realise if the ratchet had not caught properly.

With the electric handbrake, it seems like there tried to invent something that isn't required, a freinds VW followed him across the main road & into a shop front 10 minutes or so after he'd parked it. VW would accept no responsibility for it & said he'd not set the brake, he argued that on the slope it would have gone straight away to no avail. He had to claim on his insurance, who did not query it, known problem they said

I was taught to press the button when applying the handbrake back in the late'60s.

There was something on Watchdog about Vauxhall? handbrakes that could release if the button was used in the 'proper' way.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

This point about using the ratchet button causes some controversy, I always use the button & was told this is the proper way when I learnt to drive nearly 50 years ago, I hate being with someone who grates up the ratchet, a farting handbrake I've heard it referred to, BUT the handbooks all state ' do not press the button when applying the hand brake' I can only think this in case the manufacturers think you might not realise if the ratchet had not caught properly.

With the electric handbrake, it seems like there tried to invent something that isn't required, a freinds VW followed him across the main road & into a shop front 10 minutes or so after he'd parked it. VW would accept no responsibility for it & said he'd not set the brake, he argued that on the slope it would have gone straight away to no avail. He had to claim on his insurance, who did not query it, known problem they said

The other half wanted me to pick up some stuff from Asda so I parked up and was wandering round the store when the tannoy announced that could the owner of a van, registration number blah blah etc. come to the service desk.
That's me I thought so made my way over to the desk to find an irate couple who accused me of reversing into their car!
We went outside, with the manager tagging along to keep the peace, to find a newish saloon car with my vans towball embedded in its bumper.
The car owner accused me of reversing into the space and hitting his car.
I pointed out that I hadn't reversed into the space but had driven in from the other side of the vacant double bay and that he must have driven into the space onto my towbar which he denied.
We weren't getting anywhere so I suggested that I pull forward so we could access the damage. I got in the van, started it and drove forward into a vacant space in the opposite row and in my mirrors I caught site of the manager, the car owner and his wife frantically trying to stop the car following me across the car park!
Turns out the idiot had not applied the handbrake when parking and the gentle slope of the car park was enough for the car to roll forward. When I pointed out that the car must have had momentum to embed itself into the back of my van the car owner admitted that he had probably parked it in the double row across the car park from the row I was in.
I guess that he had driven into a space tight against the car in front and not applied the handbrake, the car in front had vacated the space and his car had rolled forward through that space, across the two lane access road and into the empty space behind my van and onto my towball.
No damage to my van and I found it amusing but the husband was getting grief from his missus!

 

[normspanners]

do not apply the handbrake while the vehicle is rolling

That is how the handbrake on l/rover is tested on mot.

 

[fixerupper]

The fly off hand brake on my Peugot pick up with a bench seat so it's was on the righthand side .totaly confused the MOT examinar, he was gonna' fail it until I explained how to use it ....jeff...

 

[Bill Edwards]

Holding in the button stops the mechanism wearing. A worn mechanism may eventually fail to hold the handbrake on, and I believe it's taught that you should hold in the button.

If in doubt, hold the button in then let it out for the last click - you'll have the reassurance of feeling it click but avoid most of the wear.

But what you really should do is leave the vehicle in gear and make sure to put it in neutral before you start the engine. That way it won't matter what the handbrake does, it still won't move.

 

[rtbcomp]

That is how the handbrake on l/rover is tested on mot.

Years ago they used to drive my Landy to a slope to test the handbrake, but since they stopped doing road tests they tested it on the rolling road - much to my horror!

Another trick Landy handbrakes play is that if you jack a rear wheel up the handbrake no longer holds the vehicle, so if you need to change a tyre engage 4WD before jacking the vehicle.

A variation on this trick is if you park with one wheel on mud or ice and the other on tarmac the vehicle can still roll down a slope. The wheel on the slippery surface can lose grip allowing both wheels to turn. The one on the slippery bit will rotate the wrong way, it's weird watching your Landy rolling backwards with the wheel turning forwards,

 

[normspanners]

permenant 4x4 You are supposed to road test with a de-celerometer, but supposed to keep the button pressed on lever to release the brake force if snatch occurs.

 

[Gareth J]

I'm with you.makes me feel incompetent to need to use handbrake for hill starts. But I do do things slightly differently.
Don't find the biting point then release the footbrake as I know where that is - same place I left it. Just release the footbrake, and the clucth then hit a suitable amount of gas for the hill all in one swift motion. The inertia of the car and the fact it wont stall instantly gives you the necessary nano seconds to find the gas pedal.

Also use handbrake if waiting for a length of time, both for my comfort and the driver behinds' eyes. Sometimes illuminate brakelights with handbrake on if sometging approces from behind quickly. Am conscious of disk warp too, any post spirited driving sessions get time to cool

 

[Cyberprog]

Years ago they used to drive my Landy to a slope to test the handbrake, but since they stopped doing road tests they tested it on the rolling road - much to my horror!

Another trick Landy handbrakes play is that if you jack a rear wheel up the handbrake no longer holds the vehicle, so if you need to change a tyre engage 4WD before jacking the vehicle.

A variation on this trick is if you park with one wheel on mud or ice and the other on tarmac the vehicle can still roll down a slope. The wheel on the slippery surface can lose grip allowing both wheels to turn. The one on the slippery bit will rotate the wrong way, it's weird watching your Landy rolling backwards with the wheel turning forwards,

Landrovers (well, Disco/Rangie anyway) are permanent 4WD, what you're referring to is the centre diff lock.

 

[normspanners]

I never use handbrake or use the clutch to hold vehicle, for hill starts as john above, because I am using a trailer a lot, and the vehicle handbrake are not always enough, but I use my right foot on the throttle and brake, I just alter the angle of my foot to start moving, same when going up car ramps holding against the brake.
Also with cornering I brake and accelerate with the same foot then release the brake, similar to left foot braking but with one foot,
If I drive an auto I do with two feet, two pedals two feet simples .

 

[rtbcomp]

Landrovers (well, Disco/Rangie anyway) are permanent 4WD, what you're referring to is the centre diff lock.

I was thinking of the Series landrovers with part-time 4WD, the later ones with permanent 4WD you do indeed need to lock the centre diff.

 

[mart]

Are you referring to an automatic here? If not, then I`m missing something as how can you “find the biting point” (both feet required) and still keep your foot on the foot brake?

 

[normspanners]

You easily can use three pedals with two feet, as above, I do ALL the time.
I have driven my transit with a plastered right ankle in the foot well, before now, using one left foot for the three.

 

[rtbcomp]

You easily can use three pedals with two feet, as above, I do ALL the time.
I have driven my transit with a plastered right ankle in the foot well, before now, using one left foot for the three.

I bet Mr Plod wouldn't been too impressed!

 

[octo0072000]

Are you referring to an automatic here? If not, then I`m missing something as how can you “find the biting point” (both feet required) and still keep your foot on the foot brake?

1 foot on clutch 1 heel on brake toes on throttle known as heel & toe
see link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heel-and-toe