Eclass rolls forward after parking.

[Markssl]

Is it just me but when parking on a slight slope, usually my drive, I select park and put the park brake on then the car rolls forward. Used to happen on my 320 and now my 350. It’s like the brake does nothing and the park holds it.
Anyone else notice this?


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[Abcan]

Yes mines the same unless you really push the foot brake in hard. It rolls until the gearbox pawl engages. Got the knack now after nearly 2 years!

 

[Markssl]

Yes mines the same unless you really push the foot brake in hard. It rolls until the gearbox pawl engages. Got the knack now after nearly 2 years!

My family members have got used to it!!!


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[Bobby Dazzler]

Sounds like you need to push the parking brake down harder/further, or it needs adjustment.

 

[artyman]

My W204 does the same

 

[such01]

I usually put parking brake on, put in N, press harder on the parking brake if it rolls and then put into P. This ensures the PB is holding the car not the pawl.
If my car is held by the pawl and not PB it makes a big thud when selecting D when moving off. I initially thought this was a problem with the GB until I started parking it with the HB holding it.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Do you know that your parking brake is actually working OK?

If the car is in Neutral, does the parking brake hold the car?

When I bought my W221, the parking brake had seized (open, obvs) because the chauffeur hadn't used it at all for several years. (Apparently it's a common problem on the W221)

This kind of issue should be picked up by the annual MoT, but it's still worth asking the question.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

Does anyone know of a pawl breaking?

 

[zipdip]

Do you know that your parking brake is actually working OK?

If the car is in Neutral, does the parking brake hold the car?

When I bought my W221, the parking brake had seized (open, obvs) because the chauffeur hadn't used it at all for several years. (Apparently it's a common problem on the W221)

This kind of issue should be picked up by the annual MoT, but it's still worth asking the question.

I had this on my W221 you have to use the electronic parking brake,it is a case of use it or lose it,I was lucky I managed to get it to work ,I now never put the parking brake which operates the prawl in the gearbox

 

[CarlPea]

Due to the use of drums for the parking brake there is always going to be some movement, even after it's been applied.

You should be able to 'feel' the difference between the parking brake and the gearbox holding the car in place.

 

[Markssl]

I took my old W211 for an MOT and was amazed when the guy said the park brake passed with flying colours. I’m obviously not pressing it hard enough. Parked my W212 earlier and really pressed the pedal as far as it would go. No roll forward!! Probably jammed on now!!!


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[Celicasaur]

Mine does this all the time and it's really annoying. It has been on my 'to do' list for years, but it's such an unglamorous task to attend to when you can be doing more exciting things

 

[brucemillar]

Does anyone know of a pawl breaking?

No. ;^) They do not break, but I believe it is a good "urban myth". Why should they break? They are made of solid steel and are not holding any weight or tension. It is a "pawl" that slots into an opening (made of steel) where it sits until the drivers de-selects it. At this point the inertia and weight of the car should allow the car to move until you engage a wheel brake. A parking pawl will offer greater security than a twisted steel cable that has been known to stretch/brake/fail.

 

[Flackadder]

You will really need to stand on the parking brake. Anything less and movement occurs.

 

[190]

I took my old W211 for an MOT and was amazed when the guy said the park brake passed with flying colours. I’m obviously not pressing it hard enough. Parked my W212 earlier and really pressed the pedal as far as it would go. No roll forward!! Probably jammed on now!!!

The bar is set low for an MOT pass on the parking brake at 16% efficiency. Compare that to the service brake pass mark of 50% which in itself is not wonderful. What the percentages means is 50% efficiency will do a 0.5g stop which is not great because the highway code stopping distances are based on 0.66g or 66% and you really want to do better than that. Cars can have relatively poor brakes by modern standards and still pass an MOT.

It's the same on my 39 year old motorcycle. It always passes with flying colours but in reality the brakes are quite poor.

 

[brucemillar]

As an aside: In San Francisco is is the aw that must park:

Handbrake on
Car in 'P' or in Gear.
Wheels turned to face the kerb.

Most "runaways" occur when the handbrake cable eventually stretches.

 

[MancMike]

As said, pawl isn’t going to snap.

I still use my foot brake, but I fixed mine so I can now stop the car fairly quickly on it and do occasionally to keep the drum and shoes fresh. Somewhere safe of course, not on a road, brake light won’t indicate and esp can’t release it.

If you tighten the shoes with a flathead screwdriver through the hole in the rear disc drum, then apply the brake gently, then building in strength from about 15 mph, your foot parking brake will stop the car very effectively and won’t budge on with about 4 clicks.

Think about it, if it’s only ever applied when completely stationary, it’s going to rust up and never get cleaned.