What is the difference between P gear and handbrake?
2 Answers
P stands for Parking gear, used when parking (when turning off the engine and idling for a long time). The principle is to lock the car using the internal device of the transmission, so it must be used only when the car is completely stopped. The handbrake prevents the vehicle from sliding through the braking system. Here are some extended information: 1. The importance of P gear and handbrake: When parking, if only P gear is engaged without pulling the handbrake, parking on a slope can put a lot of pressure on the gear lock mechanism of the vehicle's transmission. In severe cases, it may cause damage or oil leakage to the transmission, and there is a high chance of the car rolling away. If only the handbrake is pulled without engaging P gear when parking, the vehicle's transmission is still in a separated state, which can also easily lead to the car rolling away. 2. Parking an automatic transmission car: When parking an automatic transmission car, it is essential to firmly pull the handbrake and then shift into P gear. P gear serves as an auxiliary brake, acting as a backup. Sometimes, if you directly shift into P gear and turn off the engine without firmly pulling the handbrake while stepping on the brake, there will be a slight impact when releasing the foot brake, especially noticeable when parked on a slope. At this point, P gear comes into play, with the lock pawl engaging with the parking lock wheel and tightly locking together, creating tension. This is also why it is often difficult to shift out of P gear; P gear can be easily disengaged only in a natural state, so the handbrake needs to be firmly pulled first.
Over the years of driving, I've concluded that the biggest difference between P gear and the handbrake lies in their working principles. P gear is a locking mechanism in the transmission. When you shift into P gear, a metal pawl inside the transmission engages with the gear, effectively locking the driveshaft directly. The handbrake is an entirely different system; it controls the rear wheel brake calipers via cables, belonging to the same family as the foot brake. On flat roads, using just P gear might suffice for parking, but it's risky on slopes. Once, I forgot to engage the handbrake in a mall parking lot, and the P gear made the transmission click loudly. Actually, it's best to first stop the car firmly with the foot brake, then pull the handbrake to let the brake pads grip the wheels, and only then shift into P gear. This way, the car's weight isn't entirely on the transmission. Regular maintenance is also important; the handbrake cables are prone to rust and seizing, so their tension should be checked periodically.
