I have a tendency to use the parking brake quite often. I also have a tendency to pull out or back up with the parking brake still engaged usually until I get the warning buzzer that the parking brake is still engaged. Question #1. - Will this habit cause damage to the parking brakes? Question #2 - When is it really necessary to use the parking brake compared to just using Park to immobilize my truck? Thanks in advance guys!

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Slate Metalic, 5.7 L V8, SR5 DC w/ 6.5' Bed & TRD - MODS - Steelcraft Stainless Steel Nerf Bars, Carriage Works Polished Aluminum Billet Grill, Line-X Xtra Spray-In Bedliner, Toyota Underseat Cargo Storage Tray, FormulaOne Driver & Passenger Sides Window Tinting

I have often wonderd about damaging the parking break when I forget about it and I get the alarm, and to that I do not know, I would assume, that the alarm is there to prevent any damage, but it also depends on how long u drive with the alarm beeping.. As far as using the parking break it is good as per Tox that u should use the parking break every so often cause the use of the parking break squeezes the pads onto the discs, and evens them if there are any uneven wear spots.. As Per Toyota they say use it all the time.. I hope I helped you out. Take care and talk to you soon

But the parking brake doesn't use the discs like other vehicles do. It uses drums in the rear for the parking brake and the 4 disc brakes for the pedal. So setting the parking brake on flat surface should do nothing for brake life. So I would say use it on angled surfaces. I use it most of the time.

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2007 SR5 Crewmax 5.7L 4x4
Mods: nerf bars, Truxedo tonneau, radar detector power, fog lights, black billet grille, rear differential breather, parking sensors, Line-X, power tailgate lock, hood safety latch mod, one off driving lights behind grille, Pioneer NAV w/ OEM camera, Flowmaster 50 SUV dual/dual, blue LED dash lights, Volant CAI
All mod descriptions and pictures © 2007,2008 by Toxarch. They may be copied only for personal use and the mods may be done for non-profit only.

I use my parking brake mostly when truck is on incline or I am hooking up a trailer and have the truck just right to connect it and don't want the truck moving from there. I have occasionally left parking brake on and drove the vehicle until I realized the brake was on, but apparently never fast enough or long enough to trigger the alarm (in fact I didn't even know there was an alarm because I don't recall ever hearing it).

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2007 Tundra Limited Double Cab 4x4 Super White
Key FOB Tailgate Lock (courtesy of Toxarch)
OEM back-up camera w/flip down monitor
Sirius Satellite Radio
20" OEM alloy wheels
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UWS Black Powdercoat Low Profile Toolbox
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Lund Interceptor II Bug Shield
Tekonsha Voyager Brake Controller

Thanks for the responses as always guys. Anyone know the details to my first question about parking brake damage? I'd love a piece of mind on this, maybe it will help me pay more attention.

I've had my Tundra for 6 months now. For the first four months, I kept popping the hood every time I went to take off the parking brake. Old habits die hard, I guess.

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'07 Tundra 4x4 SR5 DC i-Force 5.7
De-Badged Silver Sky Metallic
Extang Trifecta
Tinted Windows - Side Window Vent Visors
Lund Bug Deflector
Tekonsha Primus BC

I've never heard a parking brake alarm either. The brake does hold my truck in place so I am used to just putting it in ear and letting go of the brake to start going. If the truck doesn't move, I know the parking brake is on.

if anything the damage that could be measured would be the brakes lifespan, and the rotor if done while it is raining, or wet outside...

but this is just my guess, as i am no mechanic by any means