Should You Shift to Neutral or Apply the Handbrake First When Parking a Manual Transmission Car?

[DelGrant]

According to driving test standards, you should first apply the handbrake and then shift to neutral. After stopping, first engage the handbrake, then shift to neutral, straighten the turn signal, and turn off the engine. The principle of handbrake parking: The handbrake stabilizes the vehicle by clamping the rear wheel brake discs, preventing the rear wheels from rotating. Mechanical cable-type handbrakes use steel cables to pull the brake calipers, which then clamp the brake discs, while electronic handbrakes operate servo motors on the calipers to clamp the discs. Parking on a slope: Especially when parking on a slope, you should always apply the handbrake first before shifting gears. Otherwise, the ratchet and pawl mechanism will bear the slope's component force on the vehicle, which can tightly press the pawl gear even if it doesn't damage it, making it difficult to shift out of P gear or causing metallic noises. Applying the handbrake first ensures the slope's component force is borne by the handbrake, which is much better for the transmission.