Beware of parking on a slope!

Thomas99

I parked my car infront of my garage last night, and it was touching the garage door when i left to go to work this morning. It was in gear and the hand brake was on. The slope is down, around 15°. The snow must have melted, then froze, then expanded and shifted the car. The garage door handle hit the metalic paint bumper (Lexus) and caused a dent into the plastic about the size of a 10 pence coin. Don't know how much it will cost to fix :mad:
Garage is full of junk, so can't park in there at the moment

Rikki

I would hate to have to park on any slope in this weather.

* One tip is to turn your steering towards the kerb in case the car does slip.

sarahg1969

My dad once parked his car on a sloping road in ice and when he came back out, he thought it had been stolen. It had slid down the road, over the edge and was upside down in a tree!!!

His literally just slid down the ice, though.

vikingaero

Could be the hot brake discs/calipers/pads rapidly cooling/contracting which releases the grip from the handbrake ?

pulliptears

Same happened to me this evening, parked on a mates drive, not a huge incline. Left 6ft between back end of car and garage and left the car in gear, handbrake on. After an hour I had a thought that as it gets Icier I may struggle to get off the drive so fortunately went to move the car to the road. The space behind my car and the garage door was down to about 6 inches!!!

Close call....

Bob63

Rikki wrote: »

* One tip is to turn your steering towards the kerb in case the car does slip.

In San Francisco, where my office is based, you are obliged by law to leave your wheels towards the kerb when you park on a hill.

Reggie_Rebel

Thomas99 wrote: »

Garage is full of junk, so can't park in there at the moment

Sling it out then, problem solved.

wallacebob

Just went a driver awareness course, and this problem was discussed. Apparently several manufactures have this, usually when the hand brake acts on the disc not a drum: disc shrinks when cold, and pads lose grip. Always park in gear, and with wheels pointing to kerb is advice they gave. In very cold weather, don't use hand brake at all, as it may freeze on! Don't hold me liable for that one tho'.

Lorian

OP said it was in gear though. Either very strange thawing effect or maybe someone could have given it a help?

Steve_xx

I know that it is common to leave the vehicle in 1st gear when parking. I wonder whether this problem could be avoided by leaving it in reverse gear when parking?

DGJsaver

Steve_xx wrote: »

I know that it is common to leave the vehicle in 1st gear when parking. I wonder whether this problem could be avoided by leaving it in reverse gear when parking?

You cant out a car in reverse when it`s not started.......can you ????