458 - Parking brake if in storage? | FerrariChat
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458 Parking brake if in storage?

Discussion in '458 Italia/488/F8' started by chatfer, Oct 5, 2025 at 7:11 AM.

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  1. chatfer

    chatfer Rookie

    Nov 24, 2024
    38
    UK
    #1 chatfer, Oct 5, 2025 at 7:11 AM
    Hi All,

    Just need some advice on storage, normally for manual cars I would leave in gear and keep the handbrake off to stop the park brake binding.
    How does it work for the 458 should I just let it do it's thing and put into park if storing over the winter period?

    Any tips appreciated.
    Cheers.
     
  2. Kent Adams

    Kent Adams F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 11, 2020
    3,498
    #2 Kent Adams, Oct 5, 2025 at 7:57 AM
    I never put it in park when its in my garage. Maybe I should but I never do.
     
  3. chatfer

    chatfer Rookie

    Nov 24, 2024
    38
    UK
    #3 chatfer, Oct 5, 2025 at 8:45 AM
    How do you not engage park - I thought it automatically puts in park when engine key is turned off? Thanks
     
  4. Kent Adams

    Kent Adams F1 Rookie
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    Sep 11, 2020
    3,498
    #4 Kent Adams, Oct 5, 2025 at 10:11 AM
    There is a park button on the left hand side. I never use it. Maybe it does automatically put in park when the engine key is turned off. If it does, what's the point of your original question?
     
  5. chatfer

    chatfer Rookie

    Nov 24, 2024
    38
    UK
    #5 chatfer, Oct 5, 2025 at 10:26 AM
    So in my manual stick shift cars, I put it in 1st gear and don't engage the manual handbrake to avoid the parking brake binding in extended storage. Can this be done on the F1 gearbox or does it apply it automatically? The dealer said it automatically applies the handbrake even if I turn off the engine in 1st gear so by the sounds of things not possible and hopefully not a problem in extended storage.
     
  6. Kent Adams

    Kent Adams F1 Rookie
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    Sep 11, 2020
    3,498
    #6 Kent Adams, Oct 5, 2025 at 10:40 AM
    The 458 has a DCT gearbox. From my experience, handbrakes are much more reliable and I'd rather have one than an electronic parking brake.
     
  7. ShadowLAP

    ShadowLAP Formula Junior

    May 15, 2017
    596
    SW Suburbs of Chicago, IL
    Full Name:
    Lawrence P.
    #7 ShadowLAP, Oct 5, 2025 at 12:57 PM
    My 458 Spider automatically sets the parking brake when i turn off the vehicle. I’ve never had a problem leaving the brake set all Winter. (November-March).
     
  8. ipsedixit

    ipsedixit Formula 3

    Aug 21, 2014
    2,410
    Behind the wheel of a Pista
    #8 ipsedixit, Oct 5, 2025 at 1:16 PM
    Just let it do its thing.

    These cars are (generally*) idiot-proof.

    Don't outhink the room.

    (*The one caveat is if you're tracking a DCT Ferrari, a 458, 488, F8/Pista), and you come in from a hot lap, do not engage the parking brake, just park it in 1st gear.)
     
  9. chatfer

    chatfer Rookie

    Nov 24, 2024
    38
    UK
    #9 chatfer, Oct 5, 2025 at 2:03 PM
    Thanks - so after track use, just leave it in 1st gear, will the DCT automatically not engage the brake in these circumstances?
     
  10. Trev450

    Trev450 Formula Junior

    Mar 11, 2024
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    UK
    Full Name:
    Trevor H
    #10 Trev450, Oct 5, 2025 at 2:05 PM
    That's right. The same applies to leaving it in neutral as well.
     
    chatfer likes this.
  11. ipsedixit

    ipsedixit Formula 3

    Aug 21, 2014
    2,410
    Behind the wheel of a Pista
    #11 ipsedixit, Oct 5, 2025 at 2:11 PM

    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
    Kent Adams likes this.
  12. forty1

    forty1 Karting

    Jul 4, 2024
    145
    Australia
    Full Name:
    Nico
    #12 forty1, Oct 6, 2025 at 3:47 AM
    When you have a strong battery. As soon as you get some voltage drop on these cars things start to go haywire, and the epb may fail to release itself.

    If people experience this you should check the battery first before you follow the manual release procedure for them.

    I haven't researched best process for long term storage but if it was me I'd probably click it into neutral, turn off the EPB as above and then chock the wheels. Then even in a low volt situation you should be able to fire it again and get it moving.
     
  13. chatfer

    chatfer Rookie

    Nov 24, 2024
    38
    UK
    #13 chatfer, Oct 6, 2025 at 1:44 PM
    Thanks, so it sounds like there are 2 "brakes" -
    1st parking brake that selects P and then the 2nd Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) that you can manually turn off and on -
    I may disengage the EPB by pressing the autopark button with "Park Off" for longer term storage in that case. The car will be on a battery tender but can't be too careful.
    Cheers.
     

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