What is the best way to put Bronco in park

[Victorsen]

To keep the transmission happy and failure free is it worth putting it in neutral, then parking brake and then in park.

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[Huntsetter1]

Yes

 

[Beach_Bum]

To keep the transmission happy and failure free is it worth putting it in neutral, then parking brake and then in park.

To clarify, the steps you outlined should be followed to alleviate pressure on the pawl. It keeps the transmission "happy" by preventing undue wear on the pawl when that alone is used to sustain "Park". When the pawl fails, your transmission will no longer be "happy".

Make a habit of it and you won't think of the steps as a hassle.

 

[misterspivey]

You don't need to shift into neutral first. Just apply the parking brake BEFORE shifting into park. That's what I do and that's what the manual says to do. Doing it this way, you're just changing the order of steps, not doing any extra steps.

At the Bronco Off-Rodeo they told us to shift to neutral first, but I found that extra step inconvenient and unnecessary. With the Bronco you can feel it when you do it wrong. If you're on a hill, the truck will lurch a few inches downhill when you take it out of park if you didn't set the parking brake before shifting into park.

 

[Solfive]

To clarify, the steps you outlined should be followed to alleviate pressure on the pawl. It keeps the transmission "happy" by preventing undue wear on the pawl when that alone is used to sustain "Park". When the pawl fails, your transmission will no longer be "happy".

Make a habit of it and you won't think of the steps as a hassle.

First thing I taught my daughter when she started driving. This isn’t a shot at the OP but I’m shocked how many people I know that don’t do this.

 

[AKBronc49]

I've never done the parking brake, unless I have a trailer attached. Never had an issue with a parking pawl in any of my vehicles, many I've had over 15 years.

 

[gmannerino]

I apply the parking brake anytime I park on the slightest incline or decline, before shifting into park. My carport isn't that steep, but the one time I shifted to park too early, the slight and sudden lunge forward made a noise I don't want to make again.

 

[grayshadow]

I can’t find “P” I only have neutral so have to set parking brake, always

 

[Fordified1]

I've never done the parking brake, unless I have a trailer attached. Never had an issue with a parking pawl in any of my vehicles, many I've had over 15 years.

And then there’s that one time you park on a hill, get out and get run over by your own vehicle. Or it runs over some kid. It happens.
Have you ever physically seen a parking pawl? Not very beefy. There’s a reason MSHA requires parking brakes set and wheel chocks.

 

[Ducati1098]

And then there’s that one time you park on a hill, get out and get run over by your own vehicle. Or it runs over some kid. It happens.
Have you ever physically seen a parking pawl? Not very beefy. There’s a reason MSHA requires parking brakes set and wheel chocks.

They’re pretty beefy. It’s a 1/2” thick piece of steel, more than likely engineered to hold far more than it needs to for obvious safety reasons.

That being said, I do completely agree that it’s very illogical not to use the parking brake when on an incline/decline for safety. Because at the end of the day, things fail when you least expect it.
Which is also why Ford has programmed the parking brake to apply when parking on certain slopes as an additional safety measure.

 

[AKBronc49]

And then there’s that one time you park on a hill, get out and get run over by your own vehicle. Or it runs over some kid. It happens.
Have you ever physically seen a parking pawl? Not very beefy. There’s a reason MSHA requires parking brakes set and wheel chocks.

Definitely seen them, if it happens it happens I've dealt with a lot of my fleet customers who's drivers never use the parking brake and zero pawl failures...I'll take my chances.

 

[KT_bronco]

I press the brake first then pull the hood lever, curse a bit, then the parking break lever. Then I put the car in park and shut my hood.

Works a treat plus get to vent the motor a bit.

 

[5GENIDN]

The only thing that frustrates me about the damn parking brake is that my old work truck you push on the foot pedle to set it and then pull on the lever to release... So my wife's German car you push on the lever to set it and pull on the lever to release.... Ford fricking went the opposite.... pull to set and push to release.... Half the time I get it wrong.

 

[Y2KFirehawk]

At the Bronco Off-Rodeo they told us to shift to neutral first, but I found that extra step inconvenient and unnecessary. With the Bronco you can feel it when you do it wrong. If you're on a hill, the truck will lurch a few inches downhill when you take it out of park if you didn't set the parking brake before shifting into park.

This is because you're in 4WD with additional driveline pressure. 2WD you're fine to do. Their procedure is what needs done in 4WD.

 

[Beach_Bum]

This is because you're in 4WD with additional driveline pressure. 2WD you're fine to do. Their procedure is what needs done in 4WD.

Agree. But I feel that one shouldn't have varying steps depending on whether they are in 4WD or 2WD. Just keep it simple and follow the same steps no matter. It will become routine and one won't think about the additional step of applying the parking brake in neutral as a hassle or inconvenience. Neutral - Set Brake - Park. Easy.

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