• Mustang Forums
  • 2005 - 2014 S-197 Mustang -General/Talk-

Is This Normal

  • Thread starter Thread starter 07ToRcH
  • Start date Start date Jul 5, 2008

07ToRcH

Member
May 30, 2008
0
0
6
Harlingen, Texas
Jul 5, 2008
#1
  • Jul 5, 2008
  • #1
When ever I put my car in park and release the brake pedal, my car rolls forward, then the shift knob moves also, Its an automatic so I dont understand why this happens,
Is it normal, or should I have it checked out?
 

stangdude2000

Founding Member
Jun 23, 2001
1,727
0
0
Northern VA
Jul 5, 2008
#2
  • Jul 5, 2008
  • #2
It sounds normal to me. When you stop the car with the brakes, it usually won't have all the teeth of the gears (and all other moving parts) resting perfectly against one another - this is called the backlash in the system. With your foot on the brake its going to stay in one spot, but once you release your foot, the car can easily roll forward (a few inches) until there is no more slack in the moving components.

Its the same explanation as why you can move the steering wheel on your car slightly without changing the tracking. At least on older cars and those that don't have drive by wire steering systems.
 

stangdude2000

Founding Member
Jun 23, 2001
1,727
0
0
Northern VA
Jul 5, 2008
#3
  • Jul 5, 2008
  • #3
double post sorry
 

Art161

Member
Sep 26, 2006
130
0
16
San Francisco
Jul 5, 2008
#4
  • Jul 5, 2008
  • #4
Do you apply the parking brake before you take your foot off the brake pedal?

If so, the parking brake may need to be adjusted.

If not, then apply the parking brake before taking your foot off the brake pedal.

It is better to use the parking brake as the primary restraint than it is to use the transmission for that purpose.
 

UrbanRedneck

New Member
Mar 27, 2008
173
0
0
Jul 5, 2008
#5
  • Jul 5, 2008
  • #5
It is deffinetely normal for it to roll a little. Just like stangdude said, there can be a little backlash in the gears, but also the transmission holds the car in place with a parking pawl, which is basically a toothed wheel and a pin or block that engages the wheel to hold the driveshaft in place. When you stop and put the car in park, it may have to roll an inch or two before the pawl engages one of the teeth on the wheel.

The shifter moving could be the same thing, if you mean it just sorta twitches a little. The shift lonkage is directly connected to the parking pawl, so when you put it in park it is all in a certain position, but then once the car rolls and the pawl engages, the linkage will move slightlt due to the pawl "snapping in", so the shifter, of course, will move slightly.

So if it is no more than a few inches that the car rolls, and the shifter just jerks slightly, I would not worry at all.

EDIT: Also like Art said, even with an automatic trans it is reccomended that you use the parking brake rather than relying on only the pawl. You can actually brake a parking pawl by rocking the car hard enough. The owners manual probably says to put the parking brake on before you let go of the brake, this puts the force required to hold the car on the parking brake, rather than on the pawl.
 
S

stanmckinney

10 Year Member
Mar 30, 2005
1,188
5
49
Jul 5, 2008
#6
  • Jul 5, 2008
  • #6
Mine does it, but not all the time. I too think it is normal.
 

07ToRcH

Member
May 30, 2008
0
0
6
Harlingen, Texas
Jul 7, 2008
#7
  • Jul 7, 2008
  • #7
Thanks alot, that explains it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

2008 Mustang Bullitt stuck in Fifth gear
  • Jester67
  • Jul 15, 2025
  • 2005 - 2014 S-197 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
10
Views
411
2005 - 2014 S-197 Mustang -General/Talk- May 27, 2026
Jester67
Drivetrain Sticky clutch pedal
  • keel
  • Jul 31, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
23
Views
867
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Oct 17, 2025
Mindseye007
P
67 Mustang, with the 302 want to convert auto back to the original manual
  • Pdunn
  • May 3, 2026
  • Classic Mustang Specific Tech
Replies
2
Views
139
Classic Mustang Specific Tech May 7, 2026
Mcmahst
3
B&m hammer shifter c4 question
  • 387lx
  • Mar 18, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
4
Views
300
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Mar 19, 2026
387lx
3
D
Drivetrain car still rolling while in gear and off
  • dqureshi06
  • Jan 24, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
3
Views
235
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jan 24, 2026
General karthief
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 2005 - 2014 S-197 Mustang -General/Talk-
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?