New owner and dumb handbrake question

sailaholic · Postby **sailaholic** » Tue Mar 04, 2014 7:31 am

Engine would have been fine, brakes are more likely to be a concern, but probably not too bad if the car was driving with them on.

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Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Tue Mar 04, 2014 9:31 am

no expert on NC but I would have thought there was a warning light re h/brake on. Anyway these things happen. I suggest pop around to someone like ABS and get them to take a squizz at the rear brakes and see if they have been overheated. If you bought from a dealer then they might take a complimentary look at it for you.

droo · Postby **droo** » Tue Mar 04, 2014 9:37 am

the concern would be that you'd have used a bit of your brake pads life. Just check your rear rotors to make sure they're still shiny and smooth. If they are, keep calm and carry on. If they're now concentrically grooved/wavy, then thats bad - new pads and rotor machining (or replacement rotor) time.. That said they'd still work ok but the pads will wear out a little bit quicker - so you'd have a good few months to sus out replacement rotors.

(Many years ago, I intentionally did similar while trying trying to load the engine of my previous car for some ECU mapping- but i also had spare rotors and pads..)

Regie · Postby **Regie** » Tue Mar 04, 2014 9:38 am

have a look at the rear rotors, If they have a purple haze to them they would have been a tad cooked.

it was only a short distance, no harm would have been done id imagine

taminga16 · Postby **taminga16** » Tue Mar 04, 2014 2:28 pm

Regie wrote:have a look at the rear rotors, If they have a purple haze to them they would have been a tad cooked.

it was only a short distance, no harm would have been done id imagine

Greg.
Note. Familiarise yourself with what's what on the dashboard, the owners handbook would be a good start.
"There are no Dumb questions, only stupid answers".

bootz · Postby **bootz** » Tue Mar 04, 2014 4:28 pm

I remember a certain hunter GT (showing our age are we not) in which I was a passenger with the Hbrake on. After a brisk test drive we stopped and the smoke and smell from the rear drums was awful. Strange the driver didn't notice.

Even stranger is that you did not notice a big red handbrake warning light in the middle of the dashboard. :roll:

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Tue Mar 04, 2014 4:43 pm

Here's something else I learned. When I apply the handbrake, I always hold the button down and release it at the top point. Just prevents the ratchet teeth wearing down (very unlikely to happen though). Gets rid of the ratchet noise at least.

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Tue Mar 04, 2014 8:04 pm

Michelinstar wrote: ... and the wife was in the car for the first time too ...

umm yeah ... anyone know where the warning light is for that ... !? :mrgreen:

Welcome Michelinstar

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Tue Mar 04, 2014 9:11 pm

It's an audible warning usually.

Postby **Okibi** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 12:36 am

Were the rear brakes smoking?

Wouldn't hurt to change the brake fluid too.

Postby **Okibi** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 10:17 am

Seems like a good sign they didn't get really hot.

22Silver · Postby **22Silver** » Thu Mar 06, 2014 3:46 pm

When I was a kid I went go-karting in Penang or some other small island I visited.
I had never dríven anything before, and I was scared of the speed these things were capable of, so I rode the brakes.

Actually lit one brake/pad/tire/corner/something-back-there on fire!

They tried to make me pay for it but I was like 11 so I just ran away