Go to footer

Handy tip ref your MINI handbrake!

All your technical, mechanical, electrical, exterior, interior, I.C.E. and even baby seat questions go in here. We've a lot of Mini gurus on the forum who'll be glad to help out with whatever technical probllems your Mini is having, or if you'd like to upgrade/modify yours we'll try to help too.

Moderator: MiniMpi


Handy tip ref your MINI handbrake!

Postby MiniMpi » Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:08 am

I have known about this for a while, as have other's on here, but for those of you who didn't know here is what i'm on about!!:

ALWAYS put your MINI into gear when you park your car.
Some people don't and just use their handbrake, which is fine and you should! BUT as the MINI's handbrake works off the rear disc brakes, after a drive the brakes get very hot-when you then stop and park, the discs cool down and contract slightly and even though you have your handbrake on, it is like for all the world like you only half pulled it up.
What happens then is your lovely MINI will, if on a hill, roll down the road and smack into something!!!! :1icon_eek:

But, if the MINI was in gear it wouldn't go anywhere.
The reason i brought this up again is because a friend at work told me of his boss's daughter's incident with her MINI...........the 'above' happened and when she arrived out next morning to her car...it wasn't there! It was after rolling down the road hitting a ditch, then went over the ditch and into the field :1icon_cry: Not a good outcome you'll agree!

Moral of the story: PUT YOUR MINI INTO GEAR AND PULL UP YOUR HANDBRAKE ;)
Ferg
MiniMpi
Membership Secretary
 
Posts: 7238
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 1:00 am
Location: Driving my Volcanic Orange F56 Cooper Petrol


Re: Handy tip ref your MINI handbrake!

Postby Derfinn » Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:09 pm

Crikey! The poor girl.......
Hope her MINI wasn't badly damaged.

But good advice, and a great tip!
And, it's a good habit to be into, no matter what the car!
User avatar
Derfinn
I'm spending far too much time here
 
Posts: 1221
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 1:00 am
Location: Balbriggan, Co. Dublin


Gears!

Postby Bawnee » Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:14 am

Good advice, does it matter what gear, some say reverse if your on the flat, and reverse if your on the bottom of a hill?
Image
Bawnee
I'm spending far too much time here
 
Posts: 2000
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 1:00 am
Location: Co Wexford


Postby MiniMpi » Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:38 am

I always leave it in 1st gear ;)
That will do all situations far as i know.
Ferg
MiniMpi
Membership Secretary
 
Posts: 7238
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 1:00 am
Location: Driving my Volcanic Orange F56 Cooper Petrol


Postby eas » Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:51 pm

I've always left my card in gear when parking, very good habit.

Another thing I do when parking on a hill is crank the steering into the curb, so if the brake lets go or somehow gets knocked out of gear the car will simply (hopefully) just roll into the curb and stop. Sounds like this could have saved the poor girls mini as well.
User avatar
eas
I'm becoming a MINI adict
 
Posts: 52
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 1:00 am


Postby Bawnee » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:08 am

Good idea eas, just make sure your alloys avoid the curb too! Its true - simple things can make all the difference!
Image
Bawnee
I'm spending far too much time here
 
Posts: 2000
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 1:00 am
Location: Co Wexford


Postby ONED » Mon May 11, 2009 10:36 pm

Shell had the car "run away" on her a few weeks ago! :1icon_eek:

I have always said to leave car in gear!! :1icon_cry:

No harm done tho
Image
User avatar
ONED
I'm spending far too much time here
 
Posts: 1157
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 1:00 am
Location: Nearly there


Postby Derfinn » Wed May 13, 2009 12:08 am

ONED wrote:Shell had the car "run away" on her a few weeks ago! :1icon_eek:

I have always said to leave car in gear!! :1icon_cry:

No harm done tho


That would have been a bit of a shock! :1icon_eek:

Glad it turned out well! :1icon_cool:
User avatar
Derfinn
I'm spending far too much time here
 
Posts: 1221
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 1:00 am
Location: Balbriggan, Co. Dublin


Return to Board index

Return to Technical Questions and General Mini Help

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 11 guests