DOH! Drove for awhile with the hand brake engaged

[123386]

So I realized earlier today that I drove for awhile with my hand brake engaged, including some freeway driving. It wasn't fully cranked up, but it was almost fully engaged. Could I have done any serious damage to my brake system or engine?

Also, is it better to leave the car parked in gear? Or out of gear with the hand brake engaged? Or both?

[-Zodiac-]

I've done this before, when I first got mine. They could have gotten so hot to warp the drums. I don't think mine warped.
I use my hand brake without the transmission engaged. You can use the transmission, I probably would if I was on a hill.
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1973 karmann ghia - current, not the last VW.
1947 Chevy stylemaster - gone, but not forgotten.
1995 Ford F-150 - gone, hatred for it lives.

[ZENVWDRIVER]

I have done that several times, in the past. I'd bet you're okay.

I am now in the habit of never using the hand brake on any of my cars, including my modern Hondas and Toyotas, for the very same reason as you stated. I only put the cars in first gear to hold them in place, when parked.

Have been doing this for 30 years...some others will disagree with the method, but i'll continue anyway...a good habit to get into, in my opinion
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[c21darrel]

[calexican]

In my 1960 beetle handbook it said to put the car in gear when you park, but someone, and I'm thinking it was the dealer, marked it out in pen and wrote on the side, Don't do this! In large letters and underlined twice. So I don't do it, I got into the habit of using the e-brake, in my mind I'm thinking it's not putting any undue pressure on the trans. I've done what you did too, and I drove around a few months with the valves adjusted completely wrong, these cars can take a lot of abuse, even when we don't realize it.

[kiwighia68]

My (late) stepfather said that you should park your car in your garage in neutral and with the handbrake off so that, in case of a fire, you can pull it out of the fire by the bumpers.

If you have a problem with that, he said, put an old shoe you can kick out of the way behind a wheel.
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[Northof49]

If you don't use your E brake it often seizes up. It was meant to be used.
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1958 Karmann Ghia owner

[akear]

My father (also late) always said neutral when parked on street. You don't want your transmission ruined too if you are hit when parked. (But I always leave in gear + handbrake wherever I park.)

[123386]

U guys rock. Thank you for your opinions.

Once I realized it was still engaged, I did smell a bit of a brake overheating, but not very intense and it was short lived.

I am still kinda newbie, so that's why I was worried about my engine. it's a solid rebuilt 1600cc and it was making a different sound after i released the brake. i may have just been hearing things, since it has been a VERY long day. I will know more during tomorrow's drive.

From what I have researched, the engine should not have been damaged by this oversight, and I seriously doubt the rear drums got warped. But I will do my due diligence this week and investigate as I need to make a front brake adjustment anyways. I love my Bentley book (love u blue!!)

kiwighia68, if I had the ability to like your comment I would, as I too had a step father with the similar snarky. Cheers to you. I hope to visit your great country someday soon!

Thanks guys for putting a newbie at ease. Be well.

[Abscate]

You won't hurt the engine driving with the parking ( e, emergency, hand) brake on.

Usually what goes wrong first is the heat kills the seals in the wheel cylinders and you get a massive hydraulic failure. Pay attention to both both your fluid level in the reservoir and smell your rear wheels after each drive for a few weeks to check for this.
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[123386]

I just looked at the reservoir and it is completely empty, bone dry. Last time I looked at it, about a month ago, it had sufficient fluid inside (if I remember correctly, lots going on in my head these days). If the seals in the wheel cylinders blew, shouldn't I be seeing brake fluid stains and possibly fluid on the inside of the rear tires and on the garage floor? I didn't drive it at all yesterday after that drive with the parking brake engaged.

[-Zodiac-]

Yeah look for brake fluid seeping out onto the wheels, look for it by the brake pedal and by the master cylinder.

It should just disappear

So put some in it and see where it goes.
_________________
1973 karmann ghia - current, not the last VW.
1947 Chevy stylemaster - gone, but not forgotten.
1995 Ford F-150 - gone, hatred for it lives.

[123386]

So far from what I can see, the leak is at the master cylinder, considering the amount of caked fluid I see around there, and the stains underneath on the pan. But none of it was really fresh to touch. And as I stated before, I never saw any puddles on the garage floor.

I had a friend over late last night and I put some fluid in the reservoir and had her pump the brakes, but i never saw any fluid squirting out of that line. Maybe there is still a bunch of air in the line? I would think it would get to the MC fairly quickly.

The line at the MC, from the reservoir, has alot of play in it. I see the seal is raised, there is a gap. Should the line be that loose? And that seal popped up like that? The Bentley doesn't really give specifics...

Any thoughts guys?

[c21darrel]

Yeah, thats a nasty M/C leak. You are going to want to clean it all off before it removes all your paint. Go around all your wheels and check the slave cylinders for leaks too. That fluid doesnt just disappear. You really need to go thru the whole brake system front to back. Stopping is kinda important.

Also the E-brake pushes the front shoe of the rear brake for stopping. Get a look at the front brake shoes on the rear brakes to make sure they are not toast.
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[123386]

Thanks. As far as cleaning brake fluid, soap and hot water? Simple green? Any thoughts?

So do you agree the leak is at the line to the MC? Should the line fit very snug in the MC or have some play? Why no fluid coming out when the resevior was filled and the brakes pumped last night?

Thanks again man.

[c21darrel]

[123386]

The new M/C is in and there are no leaks there at the new seal or switch. But I am curious what all of you are running on the line from from reservoir to the M/C? My 4 inches of hose is leaking slightly...

Should I clamp at the plastic tip coming from the reservoir?

[67jason]

[RHough]

[c21darrel]

Like Jason revealed, you cant use fuel line for brake lines. Start over with the blue brake line or get a reservoir that mounts directly on top of the M/C and forget about leaks from supply lines forever.

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