Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

Talking of the Safari now - because there is no handbrake on the wheels, it takes longer the remove the wheel than changing the rear brake shoes. My Patrol have discs in the back and is just as easy to change - not sure what the difference is with the new 4.8's

Stefan wrote:Other than not being able to tow the vehicle away when parked as Herrie described, what are the advantages/uses of a transmission handbrake?

I think the principal advantage of the transmission brake is that brake torque is multiplied by the final drive reduction ratio, so the handbrake is very positive, despite being small. On the disadvantage side, the transmission brake probably costs more than a rear drum-in-disc or rear drum only setup and is more difficult to package into the vehicle layout.

Herrie wrote:One good thing with the transmission brake is that if the Patrol is parked in 4wd with the handbrake on, you can not lift the back and tow it away.

This is true with a rear-wheel only parking brake as well if the vehicle is a part-time 4wd (like the Patrol) and 4wd is selected, because the front and rear propshafts are forced to rotate at the same speed, so the park brake torque will be transmitted to the front wheels via the drivetrain.

Take good care with a transmission handbrake car that is not in 4x4,when you jack the one rear wheel. The car could run on a sloaped surface.There should be a fold-up wheel chock in the tool kit.(mine is missing) It took me a while to figgure out what this fold up plate was doing in a friend of mine's Patrol.I must make me one,or Switch to 4x4 or difflock,in case off a flat.

Good point tour de frans of hoe Stefan? .

Not a nice feeling when a vehicle rolls off a jack but fortunately it stops dead when the wheel touches ground.

Thanks for that info Frans - I have never seen that fold-up wheel chock and will have to make a plan.

Heeltmal korrek Len ! ;)

tour de frans wrote:There should be a fold-up wheel chock in the tool kit

I have the little chock, but I wonder how effective it will be at preventing a Patrol on 285s from rolling down an undulating off-highway slope. Then again, if you just remember to stick it in 4wd, there should be no problem.

The chock is there to stop the Patrol rolling off the jack

The transmission handbrake on my 4.2D is the best I ever seen on my 30° angel driveway. Three clicks and it’s stuck.