Parking Brake if applied at speed.

[EriCal]

Have any of you applied the parking brake at speed? How does the car react?

My Wife and I periodically do a practice "take the wheel from the right seat and stop the car" exercise. (I am 80). We have not yet done this with my new '16 S7 since I do not know how the car responds. d.

Thanks, Eric

[Kevin1]

I have not tried it. But big props for being 80 years old and driving an S7.

[MileMan402]

I have not attempted this, but this is my understanding from previous research on the subject:

If you are traveling at speed there are two scenarios depending on the operator's input:

Scenario A) You pull and release the parking brake switch (as you would when parking) - The car will warn you audibly and visually, but the car will not apply the brakes.

Scenario B) You pull and hold the parking brake switch - The car will apply maximum braking pressure hydraulically to all four corners to stop the car as quickly as possible.

Congrats on the new S7. Enjoy it!

[BurgerGawd]

I'm not sure about the results of this.
About a day after getting my windows tinted I was driving on base and had to present ID to the gate guard. Not wanting to roll my windows down and ruin the new tint, I decided to just crack my door and hand the guard my ID.
Rolling up at about 5 mph, I crack my door and the car slams to a stop!

That said I would exercise caution pulling on or pressing that parking brake at "speed". Maybe try it at around 10 mph and check?



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[EriCal]

Kevin, I sold a 08 S6, a 15 S5 (6mt) and a 02 Viper to buy it. Motorcycles were already gone.

[MikeDwerks]

80 and driving a twin turbo V8

[tenspeed]

Head to a empty parking lot and try it at different speeds.

[SilveR316]

I have not attempted this, but this is my understanding from previous research on the subject:

If you are traveling at speed there are two scenarios depending on the operator's input:

Scenario A) You pull and release the parking brake switch (as you would when parking) - The car will warn you audibly and visually, but the car will not apply the brakes.

Scenario B) You pull and hold the parking brake switch - The car will apply maximum braking pressure hydraulically to all four corners to stop the car as quickly as possible.

Congrats on the new S7. Enjoy it!

This. It functions as an emergency brake. It won't lock up your tires, but it will apply maximum braking until you release it or come to a complete stop.

[AdrianLee]

I hope im driving an S6/RS6 S7/RS7 when im 80! also, I have not tried the parking brake at speed and have often thought about what would happen.

[parkstr8]

On this...my mother was riding with me the other day an said..."what happens if I push the stop/start button while you are driving..." i said...please, lets not try it now.

[MileMan402]

On this...my mother was riding with me the other day an said..."what happens if I push the stop/start button while you are driving..." i said...please, lets not try it now.

Pretty sure it's similar to the parking brake switch. You have to hold it and be traveling under like 5 mph while braking. Not positive on this one, but a think it's along those lines. Check the manual.

[PKmode]

This. It functions as an emergency brake. It won't lock up your tires, but it will apply maximum braking until you release it or come to a complete stop.

Err. It WILL lock up your tires. I have done it at speed. If under 5mph, it only locks up the rear wheels. If over 5mph, all four corners will lock. Due to this, there is no fun to be had engaging the parking brake in an attempt to slide the car.

Also, there was semi recently a video of someone here who had the parking brake engaged after a launch and when he let off the gas, the car screeched to a halt.

[SilveR316]

Err. It WILL lock up your tires. I have done it at speed. If under 5mph, it only locks up the rear wheels. If over 5mph, all four corners will lock. Due to this, there is no fun to be had engaging the parking brake in an attempt to slide the car.

Also, there was semi recently a video of someone here who had the parking brake engaged after a launch and when he let off the gas, the car screeched to a halt.

If you're at speed, and you engage it, it should not lock up your tires. I've tested this many times in both my S4 and S6. At speed, the car engages emergency braking mode, which brakes as fast as it can with all 4 wheels before ABS engages.

If you're stopped, it will act as a normal parking brake and lock up the rear wheels. If you're stopped, and start going without disengaging the parking brake, it will continue to function as a parking brake. The video you are talking about shows this. The launch was abnormally slow, and the general consensus was that the inexperienced driver left the parking brake on while doing a launch. Once they let off the gas pedal, the parking brake locked the rear wheels and the car screeched to a halt.

The only thing that video didn't explain is how the parking brake did not disengage itself. In every situation I've tested, my parking brake has disengaged itself as soon as there was enough load on the engine to get moving. It's possible the driver did not have their seat belt on, which may have caused the parking brake to not disengage.

[PKmode]

Hmm, I tested it with the traction control off as we were on the ice for a driving event. It certainly slid but as described, with all 4 four corners locked up, not just the rears. That must be because I had disabled the traction control.

I've never thought of using it in any type of normal driving and don't know it would be my go to in an emergency but I can see the OPs point. Maybe worth a test at 6-10 mph to see.

[EriCal]

I tried applying the parking brake at speed today and would describe the result as 'violent'. The brakes are applied suddenly and with max braking. The tires did not lock up. I will not depend upon the parking brake except in the most dire circumstances.

After evaluating the parking brake, my Wife and I did a few 'take-the-wheel' drills. It appears the best way for my passenger to get control is to grip the steering wheel with the left hand to steer and shift to neutral with the right and using the parking brake only if absolutely necessary. My wife has a Tesla and this is the procedure we use with her car.

Thanks for your input and kind words. (smile)

Eric

For info, I often use the parking brake when starting on a hill and it releases automatically as soon as I press the accelerator. My previous '15 S5 was exactly the same on that count.

[Roadwarrior]

Well glad you have your solution. Congrats on two amazing cars (yours and your wife). You have to love having a wife that also appreciates cars. I hope you enjoy your new car.

[MileMan402]

I tried applying the parking brake at speed today and would describe the result as 'violent'. The brakes are applied suddenly and with max braking. The tires did not lock up. I will not depend upon the parking brake except in the most dire circumstances.

After evaluating the parking brake, my Wife and I did a few 'take-the-wheel' drills. It appears the best way for my passenger to get control is to grip the steering wheel with the left hand to steer and shift to neutral with the right and using the parking brake only if absolutely necessary. My wife has a Tesla and this is the procedure we use with her car.

Thanks for your input and kind words. (smile)

Eric

For info, I often use the parking brake when starting on a hill and it releases automatically as soon as I press the accelerator. My previous '15 S5 was exactly the same on that count.

It's seriously great that you both prepare for the worst, although we all hope it never comes to that.

In regards to applying the parking brake on a hill. Unless I'm crazy I'm pretty sure the C7 auto holds the brakes for a second when on a hill. So there is no need to do what you describe unless you are taking your foot off the brake pedal while waiting for the light to turn green...

[antivirus]

In my old car the drivers up/down window button is where the parking break button happens to be in the Audi A7. A couple of time driving the car after I bought it I accidentally pressed this button to open the window, so what I can report is that max brakes are applied with out locking the wheels and a brown stain is applied to the drivers seat at the same time.

[Joe @ 2017 S7]

I believe the Audi folks protect owners from themselves. I press the start / stop button for unexplainable reasons at speed, nothing happens. I don't believe Audi would ever allow a owner to shut down the car at speed. (I have done this with my 1970 car) . Have also flicked the parking brake (not hold) at speed, nothing happens unless under 5 mph. I have not held it buy expect it would act as an emergency brake if held (like explained above).