It appears my parking brake doesn't hold the car in place. I engage the gear into "P", press the parking brake button, red light activates and I hear the parking brake operating but as soon as I release my foot from the brake pedal the car rolls for about 2 inches until it stops by the gearbox lock. Of course if I am parking on a hill this roll movement gets worse and I hear an annoying click on the gear,,,,,, Is this normal? Do you have the same issue with your parking brake? I am just concerned this may have bad effect on gear box....

Thank you

 

My experience is that if you park going up hill, it tends to roll more backwards than when you park going downhill (it does not roll forwards).

While the parking brake is a physical "drum" style brake that works one (I think) rear wheel, it does allow the car to roll more than a traditional handbrake.

 

Activate the parking brake in a hill while the car is in neutral. If it rolls then take it to the dealer.

 

Hmmm. Doesn't sound right to me. Don't take any chances and get it over to your dealer ASAP.

My '14 C4S PDK experience over past 7 months has been that when I engage p-brake the car "locks" into place. Seems very solid. Literally feels like something just grabbed hold of the rear and won't let go! I had the car up on rhino ramps recently to change oil and p-brake alone kept the car rear partway up the ramps (I stopped part way up to check alignment on the ramps) and I don't recall any movement in the slightest when engaging.

 

OK, will try the park brake on Neutral tomorrow.....

BTW, would it make a difference if you press the p-brake BEFORE the PDK is engaged into "P"?

 

+1 ^^^^^

 

Did some tests today....

A) car on a hill, PDK on "N", parking brake applied then foot off brake pedal....: car still rolls for about 2 inches then stops and holds solid in place

B) car on a hill, PDK on "N", foot off brake pedal, car starts to roll then parking brake applied.....: the car stops suddenly and holds solid in place....


It appears as though, this electronic parking brake doesn't apply full strength until car starts rolling. May be I should apply the p-brake on neutral, allow the car to roll the 2 inches until the p-brake fully applied then move the gear to "P".... Annoying but safer for the gearbox?!?!

 

This is an interesting post, I've noticed the same thing. I'm on a downward slope, put it in park, then press the parking brake and it rolls forward slightly. Some days it doesn't do this, but most days it will roll a little. I also wondered if the parking brake was working. I'll have to do a test in neutral.

 

Just to put in my 2c - I think what happens is that the parking brake engages at a minimal level, and if the car senses movement the parking brake force gets clamped down.

So for instance if I get into the car too forcefully (i.e. really fall into the seat) and push the car backwards, I can hear the parking brake increase its force. I think it's pretty cool actually – the car uses as much force as needed but not too much.

 

For the last two mornings I tried putting the e-brake on before moving it into park and it doesn't roll at all. I find it odd that if I put it into park first, then push the e-brake it usually rolls a little...