Hello, someone told me the other day that I should not put the handbrake on in the winter because it could freeze and cause some problems sticking. Anyone confirm this? It's my first year ever having to drive in the snow for more than a couple days (yuck!). I don't park on a hill but it's become routine for me to put the handbrake on anytime I exit the car (as I've been doing this for about 8 years). Thanks!

-Rupes

 

If I can't use my handbrake how will I exicute my final turn into my garage once the snow is on the ground? :D

 

The snow should not effect the handbrake. However melting snow, ice and junk can freeze over the night and could make the brake stick. That's the issue with some cars and trucks and not sure on the RX. I would say in below freezing temps its good not to set the hand brake if it can be avoided.

 

It does happen- I had mine stuck a few times last winter after parking at work when there was snow/melted snow on the road. With the exception of February, my garage stays warm enough to keep it from freezing. However, it was never stuck bad enough that reversing slowly didn't pop it free... so it's really nothing to worry about too much.

 

Stuck in what way? The pads stick to the rotor? Or the cable sticks, freezing the brake in the "applied" position?

 

Pads freeze to the rotor... kinda like when washing a car, putting in the garage with wet rotors, and the film of rust causes the pads to stick... except the ice holds a lot stronger.

 

Rupes, Don't take this the wrong way but please do a search. This subject is kinda like the winter tire threads.

My experience was that the brakes didn't freeze together so much as the brake handle would seize and not stay down. There is a little plastic protector at the front of the brake handle that slides just under the center console. When it gets cold outside (close to or below freezing) this dust protector gets hard (it's normally quite flexible) and doesn't allow the brake handle to go down all the way until the cab starts to warm up. That is of course unless it's -25*F like it was last winter for me and the plastic protector snaps off. After that I didn't have any problems with the brakes... :shrugs:

If you leave your e-brake off and your car moves out of its' parking spot and causes any damage to your car or anything else you are liable. If the plastic protector breaks (as it did in my case) it's protected under warranty. I say put the brake on and let Mazda figure out how to fix it.

 

I forgot about how the ebrake handle likes to stay up a couple of degrees (angular, not temp) when it's really cold out. I noticed a few times it stayed up just high enough to trigger the ebrake warning dummy light on the dash. After a few minutes of driving and warming up the cabin, it would settle back down. Now I know all I have to do is wait for the plastic thing to get brittle and break it off

 

I actually just read this in the manual, and when I was in the dealer I asked my salesperson about it. He said it's nothing that he's seen so far, as last winter he parked several 8's outside with no problems.