Should You Shift Gears or Apply the Handbrake First When Parking?

[PeytonAnn]

When parking, you should first apply the handbrake and then shift into gear. The principle behind the handbrake stopping the vehicle is to clamp the rear brake discs, preventing the rear wheels from rotating. Mechanical cable-type handbrakes use a steel cable to pull the brake caliper, which then clamps the brake disc, while electronic handbrakes operate by controlling a servo motor on the brake caliper to clamp the disc. The P (Park) gear locks the front wheels, and the handbrake locks the rear wheels, ensuring the vehicle cannot move. However, if you try to push the car while only in P gear, you may notice the vehicle can move slightly. This is because the pawl and gear have a relatively large meshing gap. Additionally, the P gear's pawl gear has a self-protection mechanism—once the pushing force reaches a certain level, the pawl will disengage to avoid damaging the transmission. Therefore, the P gear is not as reliable as the handbrake.