Leaving E brake on in freezing temps

I hope this isn’t a stupid question, but I couldn’t find any clear info anywhere else.
I make a habit of applying my parking brake every time I park to take strain off the transmission pin. We have a few nights ahead of us in the low 20’s and barely above freezing during the day. Any bad reason or damage that could be done by leaving the parking brake on overnight? Can it freeze in place while engaged?

 

there was at least 1 post this week due to weather that likely was due to leaving the e brake on. did not see the end result but seems to be all bad. if you don't need to put it on seems like it would be good to leave it off.

 

If you drive through slush, or a carwash the rear brakes can freeze up. That being said, I live in MN, and I always use my e-brake in the winter with no issues.

After a carwash though mine are guaranteed to freeze, so I leave the e-brake off when I park after a carwash.

 

Thanks for the response. I had a feeling it might not be the best idea… if you link that thread that would be great

 

If it does stick, 4 low, and gently rock will free it right up.

 

De Ja Vu

 

there is NO strain on the parking brake

it has a huge strong detent altho if on a incline it takes a bit o effort

to disengage ..............essentially NO strain !!!!

for decades i worked for the largest on call utility communications company

Company policy .............DO NOT USE HANDBRAKS IN WINTER

at all !!!!!

the drum / shoes will stick together stronger than motion * rocking with transmission will allow disengagement

especially in climates that are COLD with High Humidity.............greta lakes regions etc

 

The problem is caused by moisture. You should be okay unless you’ve washed your vehicle or run it through a puddle ir a car wash and apply the brake before things have dried out. Happened to me, once, a couple of years ago.

 

I believe he’s talking about this thread I just read.

 

Had my 07 taco since new. Use my e brake every night all winter every winter. Temps commonly see -10c to -20c. Never once had brakes freeze.
Lots fo freeze thaw cycles in winter.

Just my experience..

 

We got 15F at right now and my truck lives outside. I even rinsed all the salt off yesterday and my drums did not seize this morning. Not sure why some folks have issues with drums seizing, I never experienced it.

 

Colder than that here and no issue other than after a carwash and then I parked outside below zero. I just rocked it until it [violently] broke free. Ha. If I go to the carwash in winter I make sure to do it at the beginning of my errands or whatever instead of at the end.

I suppose if it was mild with a lot of road spray and then got colder it could freeze up as well but less likely.

 

Only if you apply the ebrake while the drums are still wet and leave it for awhile, like overnight. It happened to mine left overnight in a parking garage. Ebrake would not release. Had to rock it a bit to get it loose. Never happened since.

 

Interesting.

In winters they use a lot of salt here, so I try to rinse the undercarriage everytime I come home. Never had my drums seize in 4 years.

 

if this happens reach in the rear wheel well and grab the parking cable and jerk it around a bit on the side thats locked up, that frees it right up. This happened to both my old 2nd gen and current 3rd gen. Its not the drums that freeze, its the cable. On more than one occasion i jacked up the seized side, took the wheel off and put heat to the drum. Does nothing.

If you want to free it up using 4lo do it in reverse only. This happens more often to newer Tacomas, perhaps because the pads are still thicker?

Anyhoo try jerking the cable with the parking brake off of more often than not it will release right away.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. For the few nights it’s really cold and snowy I’ll just leave it off to be safe as my driveway is flat.

 

Never had issue with my 2017 and 2021 with always putting on ebreak.

Didn't had issue and did it 12 years on my old Yaris with drums.

Apperently can be an issue if you carwash or something. It's winter I never understood why you would want to wash it anyway the roads are always crap. Never wash if goes under 0 (Celsius).

 

In winters, I rinse my undercarriage pretty much everytime I get home. I’m planning to keep my truck for 15-20 years so I am a bit paranoid about rust.
Never had issues with stuff freezing.

 

Is that because of salted roads in your area? We don’t salt the roads where I’m from so I haven’t really given much thought to rinsing the undercarriage. I also would like to have my truck for a decade+ or more

 

Exactly