Seized Handbrake

Hi.

As I commute to work by train it's not unusual for my car to go unused for two or three weeks.

This morning when I started the car and went to pull away I found that the rear passenger wheel was seized solid (and got dragged a good couple of feet). Eventually by rocking the car forwards and reverse it freed off.

My drive slopes down, so I can't leave the car without something to stop it rolling. Is it better to leave it with the handbrake off and in gear? Will this cause any damage if done long term?

Thanks.

it is dust on your brake shoes get a jet washer and get at them from behind you should do it at least every other month it is the same as when the brakes squeel == brake dust unless they are worn out

Leave in 1st or reverse gear, handbrake off with a brick/chock for good measure behind a wheel....ebt

It can also be the handbrake linkage inside the drum requires freeing off and lubricating with golden (antisieze) grease. Fitted new shoes, drums and freed off the linkage on mine last year, had no problems since.

It could also be a seized cable. There's one each side, linked behind the handbrake by a single cable. The individual ones have a tendency to seize up. This happened to me. New cable sorted it out. Not a difficult fix, but a bit fiddly as you have to dismantle the affected rear brake to get the cable off/on.