Slight roll when putting in Park...

[AntRock]

Has anyone else here noticed if their explorers roll back a few inches after you put it in park? It's not a big deal to me but my wife is freaking out about it thinking she is going to hit a kid (She's a Teacher) or something.

 

[Baddecision93]

I have never seen an automatic transmission not do this.

Some vehicles do it a little more than others but rest assured it's never going to move more than an inch or two. It's a combination of a little bit of "slop" in the parking gear, the suspension, and the drivetrain. All these parts that are designed to move will naturally move to a resting point.

It will never go more than an inch or two. Might scare a kid if it were to bump them but won't move far enough to hurt anyone.

 

[jeeden]

Yea, only way to avoid it would be to put it in park and before you let off the brake, put the parking brake on. Even then, your going to get a little bit of shift in the vehicle as it settles and torques against the brake.

 

[justinf89]

At least your not one of those freaks who uses the e-brake with an automatic. I hate those people lol.

 

[SoonerMD]

At least your not one of those freaks who uses the e-brake with an automatic. I hate those people lol.

Then what is the e-brake for?

I use it when parking on hills, just in case.

 

[mpntball2012]

The parking (e) brake should always be used as a back up. Parking on steep to slight hills, a driveway, or anywhere really.

I could be wrong but isn't the back or forward motion when you put it into park the parking pin finding the next notch as well?

 

[Baddecision93]

I'm with the pro e-brake people here.

Not only is it extra insurance but ever driven a vehicle ten years old with a non-functioning e-brake? There's a reason why. If you don't use it you lose it (not necessarily but using it helps prevent it seizing up and/or rusting to a point of ineffectiveness).

Not to mention have you ever had a vehicle become really hard to put into gear after being parked on a steep grade? That's torque lock and it's caused by all the weight of the vehicle pressing against the parking gear tooth and you're just forcing it out of that position with shear force. Think that's good for a car?

 

[jeeden]

I'm with him, your all freaks for putting the parking break on

Ok, I can see the argument on a hill or something, but in parking spots? In the garage? No way.

Someone mentioned about using it or losing with because it won't stay lubricated etc. Point taken.

However, what about freezing weather? I have seen many a parking break that will NOT RELEASE because of the slush, water, snow, etc that is in the cable and linkage and frozen solid.

Edit: Auto only, for manual, I'm right with ya!

 

[mpntball2012]

There's not much to be lubricated on the brake itself, it's just a cable. Which is why it will tend to rust in place if not ever used. I've heard of the parking pin becoming worn very quickly on these trucks, which is why I always use it on my 11 year old vehicle as backup. I mean, I don't see why you wouldn't utilize the extra piece of insurance by your left foot. Only using that single pin to keep your vehicle in place?

 

[AntRock]

so i am guessing no one here but me has noticed the excessive play when putting it in park?

 

[JDraper]

Nope.

 

[jeeden]

If you don't release the brake pedal as fast when you park it there should be less jarring. It will roll the same amount, but you can "brake" through the couple of inches of roll so it doesn't do the lunging thing when you hit the parking gate on the transmission.

 

[Willard]

For all the people that think it's dumb to put the parking brake on with an automatic, you are wrong.

Every single automatic transmission equipped vehicle I've seen, the owner's manual suggests you use it every time you park. The parking pawl on an automatic is not really designed to hold the weight of the vehicle, it's just there in case. A manual transmission vehicle won't roll if it's in gear and parked, but you still use the parking brake.

If you don't believe me find a picture of how the parking pawl looks and tell me you trust it to hold your vehicle on a hill. I've driven heavy duty trucks with automatics (think f-550) and they don't even have park on the gear selector since it wouldn't be able to hold the truck anyways. They only have a normal parking brake.

 

[cbx1047]

my garage has slight slope and the explorer does roll back when put in park. never had a car roll back as much as this explorer does. I agree but I just pull up a little further to adjust for it. thank you

 

[1995E]

It must depend on the positions of the gears when you put it into park because I have different roll distances when I put it into park. The new Explorer has the same amount of roll when it's in park as my old one so it is normal.

On slopes, you should use your e-brake. You don't want to risk your car rolling back, causing an accident and scratch your brand new Explorer. On level ground it should be fine to leave it.

Just make sure you let your Explorer slowly slide into its park gear by using the brake so you don't slam your vehicle's weight on the transmission and totally mess up the gears.

 

[sm4astan]

I've never used the parking break except for on inclines. EVERY time I do, I forget about it when I return to the car.

We actually took our X over to the in-laws a few days after we got it, put the parking break on because their driveway has a good slope to it, and a few hours later as I'm pulling out of their drive and starting to head down the street, I realize the beeping from my X isn't that my back-up is picking up the lights on the side of their driveway, it's the warning the my e-brake is still on...DOH!!!!

On the other hand, the manual does say -

Parking brake
Apply the parking brake whenever
the vehicle is parked. To set the
parking brake, press the parking
brake pedal down until the pedal
stops.

So maybe I'll try to re-train myself.

 

[Bohunk]

I notice it, too and feels like I'm still moving.

 

[cbx1047]

you are right, it is a problem with all front wheel drive cars, and that includes the new awd too.

 

[w1kedz]

That's only a problem with FWD cars....

Since I'm in a harping mood.. in what world would this only be a FWD problem? You're saying a hand/foot parking brake can't freeze on a RWD vehicle?

 

[Rhyalus]

I am chiming in here - we also see more slop on this Explorer than on the other cars / trucks that we have owned.

This is when there is no incline / decline.

R