What are the effects of forgetting to release the handbrake when reversing?
2 Answers
The effects of forgetting to release the handbrake when reversing are as follows: Accelerated brake disc wear: It will lead to accelerated wear of the brake disc, and the brake pads will also become harder due to overheating, resulting in reduced handbrake performance and elongation of the handbrake cable. Loss of braking function: Driving for a long time without releasing the handbrake may cause the brake caliper to seize, brake fluid to leak, and the temperature of the brake fluid to rise, ultimately leading to a complete loss of the handbrake's braking function. Damage to various components: Over an extended period, you may smell a burning odor, and in severe cases, smoke may even appear from the rear of the vehicle. Driving with the handbrake engaged can also cause some damage to the vehicle's tires, and the faster the speed, the greater the damage to various components.
I've been driving for many years, and this kind of thing happens often. Forgetting to release the handbrake when reversing makes the car sluggish and difficult to move, causing fuel consumption to spike. Once, I reversed without releasing the handbrake, and within minutes, the brake pads overheated badly. Later, during repairs, abnormal wear was found, costing several hundred dollars to replace the parts. Doing this long-term can also warp the brake discs, shortening their lifespan and potentially leading to heat fade, which reduces braking effectiveness. For automatic transmission cars, the gearbox bears extra stress, increasing the risk of failure. My advice is to develop a habit: always check the handbrake position before starting, or install a reminder device to avoid small mistakes leading to big losses—after all, repair time and costs are no small matter.
