What happens if you drive with a handbrake half way up for 4-5 miles?
 

OK,

I bought a new car yesterday. Today I went to register it etc. and seems from the dealer > home I drove with a handbrake partially up (not full way up, maybe half).
After like 4 miles, I felt a smell coming from the front...thought it was because the car is new.

So, what did I fuck up :)? Does the handbrake has to do anything with the engine or it just locks the brake pads, and if it's the latter... which brakes, front or rare or both?

After that, I drove the car like 50 miles or so, it was ok. Went to the dealer, he looked at the rare brakes only with a flash light (I dont have alloys yet) - and told me like - ok, but still...should I change the brake pads alltogether and have I messed something in the engine?

damn, it messed my day :)



:ak47: me, stoopid

nah you basically just wore down the front and rear break pads to the tune of about a months usage... nothing big, just dont do it anymore.

... are u blond?

if its still new.. nothing to worry bout

I believe it would damage the drums in the rear.

Depends what its 'half way up' :Graucho

Your brakes might squeak for for a while when you brake but it should clear up after few hundred miles or so.

Just keep doing it and let us know when something interesting happens. We can all learn something from this.

It's disk brakes on all four wheels, no drums.

Half way > well, the brake had maybe 15% influence in the speed, made it unnoticable.

If only the brake pads were affected, no big deal, they're like $50-$100.

I'm not blonde though :). I rarely use handbrake too, I'm a 500cmm bike driver. The handbrake seems was used by the diler when they were fitting the plates. Plus the car has like, tons of electronic stuff and displays, board computer with tons of info so I was amused watching how much fuel I waste while driving :) ...

lol Tuga :)

EZRhino: they squak, the squak is high pitched barely noticable though, only when being soft on the brakes.

Last car I drove was a diesel, with 72 hp, no turbo or anything,
this car however is almost twice the hp and runs on gas.

:1orglaugh

Don´t worry, I once drove about 3 miles with my hand break tottally up... and it still works fine. Actually, I´ve done that many times. LOL

I know, I´m a lousy driver, no one needs to tell me that again. :)

BTW, I´m not blonde.:321GFY

You'll need to give the car to someone. Like me. It's worthless now - so no use in keeping it.

My bro-inlaw drove about three miles with his hand brake up and it nearly ruined first gear of his automatic transmission.

gl

Would you like to buy some idiot insurance?

why do americans fancy automatic gear shifter, it takes all the fun away..

I have 5 speed manual transmission

If you were able to drive at all with it totally up, then it doesn't work..

You felt a smell ???

Dont worry worst you could have done is burnt out your handbrake, and chances are you didnt even do that , prob just wore it down a bit.

I think everyone has driven a few clicks with the handbrake on from time to time. If it was a brand new car it prob just smell worse.

It's likely you simply wore down your pads some, no biggie.

Possible, but probably unlikely you damaged the rotors. But rotors and pads are cheap if you can do it yourself. Easiest thing in the world to change, will take you an hour to do both wheels. Cost maybe $150 total for brand new rotors and pads, bit more if you get the good stuff.

Brake place will nail you though. Probably $600+ for new pads and rotors, I dunno.

I wouldn't worry too much unless you notice problems in braking.

-Phil

I drove with the hand brake on for about 300 km (180 miles) on the freeway once. It smelled very funny after that and the hand brake didn't work very well either, wonder why :winkwink:

Luckily it was only a rental car :)

The brake pads will be glazed over. Have them sanded to break the glaze or replace them.

:Graucho

sell it and get out while the gettin is good!

Not All Americans..
I won't buy a car that isn't a manual trans. (4 speeds preferred)

Trust there are plenty of Americans who insist on sticks!

Also you may need to have your brake cable torqueed/retensioned. No big deal just dont make a habit of it.

I like automatic but every car I get is stick. The only time it sucks is when you get stuck on a steep hill and have to stop and go. After awhile it just becomes second nature and you dont even think about it. Unless you got a Willies Jeep or something that required throwing your body around to shift the damn thing. My Jetta, I know... fag car, you can shift with a single finger and barely have to move your wrist. But since my wrist is always limp...