Guest markrush Posted May 6, 2014 Share Posted May 6, 2014 I happened to read a trouble shooting Q&A column in the latest Hemmings. The guy had brakes frozen up. Part of the response was to never leave your parking brake on. Is this true? I block my wheels, of course, because there is no back-up to the brake, but I prefer redundancy when it comes to safety. Is leaving the parking brake on a bad idea? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted May 6, 2014 Share Posted May 6, 2014 It is on most cars because they use a cable to operate the rear brakes. If left on for more than a week it can rust and freeze up, locking the rear brakes, and making it impossible to remove the brake drums for repair.As in most things, the old Chryslers are better than this. They have a brake on the back of the transmission. It is completely separate from the wheel brakes and does not get frozen up as easily.I still wouldn't leave it on for more than a week or 2. For longer periods, block the wheels or jack the car up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countrytravler Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 (edited) I happened to read a trouble shooting Q&A column in the latest Hemmings. The guy had brakes frozen up. Part of the response was to never leave your parking brake on. Is this true? I block my wheels, of course, because there is no back-up to the brake, but I prefer redundancy when it comes to safety. Is leaving the parking brake on a bad idea?MarkYour e brakes are located behind the trans. They most likely wont freeze up in the climate were end. I left your e brake on for months at a time with no problem. Edited May 7, 2014 by countrytravler (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Fortunately my garage floor is flat. I never park with the parking brake in storage. However some Mopars do not have a park in the tranny so I have to rely on the parking brake most everywhere else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 I think they all have a park position (except for Fluid Drive models) but may not be on the quadrant or pushbuttons. There is a trick to it, you have to push N then D with the engine stopped or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countrytravler Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 With fluid drive, putting it in gear makes no difference. It will roll. It will roll because of the fluid coupler isn't locked with engine off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countrytravler Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Just explained it differently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 My 1964 Plymouth with push buttons had a separate lever next to the buttons to engage the "Park" action. Without that lever in the park position the car could be moved as the trans was in neutral.Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countrytravler Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 Some of the old hydramatics in the GM cars, park is in the ® position. I.m working on a 47 CADILLAC and it wont move in r with the engine off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted May 8, 2014 Share Posted May 8, 2014 The 56 Imperial does not have a park position. I know that the later trannys have a lever.I have never seen the N then D thing that Rusty mentions. I would love to be enlightened if one could show me how that works.I have never been able to get my cable adjusted to my liking, when I get drive, neutral, and reverse i cannot get the thing to lock into any lower gears. It is hilly where I live and I usually like to use some compression on long downhills.I have had the thing on the lift numerous times in an attempt to get the cable adjusted correctly.On a recent drive I was going down a long hill and tried to get into second or lo (to no avail), when I got to my destination I only had drive. I was able to park so that I could drive away without having to use reverse. I had the parking brake applied and jumped the starter and started at idle then drove it home and onto the lift. Was able to get it to have D, N, and R again but cannot seem to find any lower gears.I have owned several push-button shift cars over the years and this one is the only one that I have ever had trouble with.But its drivable so what the heck, live with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted May 8, 2014 Share Posted May 8, 2014 It doesn't work. I made it up because I could not remember how it worked but I knew they had a Park position even though it was not on the pushbuttons.Terry B explained that it was a separate lever on Chrysler products. Contrytravler explains that on some old GMs you shift into neutral then reverse with the engine off to go into park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted May 8, 2014 Share Posted May 8, 2014 56 Imperial only has 2 gears, it was the last year of Powerflite 2 speed before they made the Torqueflite 3 speed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted May 9, 2014 Share Posted May 9, 2014 Rusty, mine is a late 56 with three gears. I always get Torqueflite and Powerflite mixed up. But mine has three forward gears. I see some 56s that have only two so I assume that it was a running change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 1957 was supposed to be the first year for Torqueflite but they sometimes put new improved parts on Imperials first. There must be a way to adjust the trans, do you have the factory repair manual?You may find some helpful information here.http://www.imperialclub.com/Repair/Lit/Master/index.htm#1956 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 I have the Chrysler Torque-Flite transmission manual for sale in the Chrysler buy/sell section. The manual is dated 3-1956 and contains all the repair and ajustment info you might need, Jack. Let me know if you want me to look up something for you.Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 I have a manual. I am thinking that the cable must be stretched a few thousandths. And although I have had it out of the car once and made much effort I can live with it. It is not tight, it slides vary easily.There has been comment that there may be something in the transmission itself that wont let it adjust.This is not the only Imperial that I have seen with three forward speeds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countrytravler Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 Some of the old hydramatics in the GM cars, park is in the ® position. I.m working on a 47 CADILLAC and it wont move in r with the engine off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 Thanks for that Dave. I had a 50 Cadillac back in the day and you jogged my memory about the 'park' in that car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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