Lately I've noticed the rear end of my xb2 raises quite a bit when I park and lift the e-brake up. Anyone know why it's doing it? It use to be only on inclines but now it does it on "flat" pavement as you can see in the pics below.

I really hate the 4x4 look in the rear . I'm on trd springs btw.

 

I'm entirely clear that applying the hand brake after the vehicle has come to a complete stop does not cause the rear end to hike at all (emphasis on a complete stop). However, if the hand brake is applied and forward or rearward motion is attempted, then the rear has a tendency to hike, be it up or down, due to the brake application. That is simply a result of forgetting to release the hand brake. I think you missanalyze the situation.

 

Automatic I am assuming? Do this shift to neutral then apply ebrake then release foot brake and shift to park. This will also save tranny from slight strain over time

 

Hmm, I was certain I came to a complete stop. I haven't changed my driving/parking habits so this is why its caught my attention as of late...

 

I always stop the car (foot still on service brake), shift to Neutral, set the parking brake, release pressure on the service brake, then shift to park. This allows the car to settle against the parking brake if you're on a slope, instead of all the weight resting on the transmission's parking pawl. If you've ever been on a slope without the parking brake set, you'll know that when you shift out of park, the transmission comes out of park with a *BANG*. Thats the transmission having to use lots of force to unlock the parking pawl because theres so much weight resting on it.

 

I have a 5-speed. When I come to a stop to park I hold the brake, go to neutral, lift the e-brake, and then let go of the brake. Am I doing it right (lol)?

I'm going to pay more attention tomorrow and see if it still does it or if it's just me being in a rush

 

IMO, if you have a 5 spd manual (as I do, or an automatic for that matter) then if the vehicle is at a complete stop (no remaining momentum foreward or backward), and you apply the hand brake, then there will be no change in rear attitude. Any momentum in either direction will result in the vehicle "riding" up or down on the rear brakes (given hand brake application), and hence a change in rear attitude.

 

In both pics, you can tell the back part of the driveway is sloped. It must be trying to roll backward, hence the rear is raising.

 

Yep, you're doing it right! Once you let off the service brake and the car unloads the suspension, then you can turn it off and park it in gear (1st/reverse). With the automatic, in drive, its pulling the car forward, so when you put it in park and set the handbrake with the service brake applied, the parking brake is holding the rear back and the parking pawl is holding the front forward, essentially pulling the suspension from both ends. (Assuming you're on a flat surface). On a slope, you want to set the parking brake first, so the "slack" in the suspension gets taken up before the parking pawl is set, and the slack isn't resting on the parking pawl. Hope that makes sense.

 

I wish this was something more people with automatics knew. Great advice.