Parking Break Off Road 'Trick' Dealio?...

[biju]

It's no secret. I'm an off-roading nooob - learning and what not. With that said, I'm still a little confused by something...

At last years Zu I was encouraged by several people to lift up gently on my parking break on tougher obstacles when I noticed my wheels slipping (screeching). It worked like a freakin' charm and helped me get up quite a few spots, but I don't quite understand WHY it worked.

Could somebody break this down for me and explain WHY it works, and exactly what applying parking break tension does for our 4x4?

-biju.

[Locomigo]

You have LSD (Limited slip/posi-traction) in the rear axle. When you apply the parking brake, it provides additional resistance on the clutch packs to engage the posi more effectively on demand. sometimes it works, other times not so much.

thats it in a nutshell.

[E-ZooZoo One]

Before reading his reply, I was about to say the same thing as Keith…
(only nowhere near as succinctly! )

[biju]

So help me understand this a little further... isn't it safe to assume, then, that I should just give the parking brake a pull to a few clicks and just leave it there when in 4L? - Essentially keeping this 'posi' engaged more throughout the trail?

(searching google right now to learn what 'posi-traction' is...)

-biju.

[Ldub]

So help me understand this a little further... isn't it safe to assume, then, that I should just give the parking brake a pull to a few clicks and just leave it there when in 4L? - Essentially keeping this 'posi' engaged more throughout the trail?

(searching google right now to learn what 'posi-traction' is...)

-biju.

Not so good...you would over heat the parking brake drums.

Ldub

[biju]

good point - understood.

When I do end up using the break again - is there any real danger in using it for that purpose, then? In other words, am I doing any real harm to my rig?

That's about it for my Q's. Thanks, all.

-biju.