2011 Toyota RAV4 AWD 2.4L, A/T
I serviced my front brakes today, and after I wrapped everything up, I pressed the brake peddle with the engine off to re-engage both caliper pistons. A few hours later, I went for a test drive. As I'm shifting into Drive to roll forward out of my garage, I noticed the brake peddle feeling soft. I quickly pumped the brakes, and depressed all the way to unsuccessfully slow my roll from idle (never hit the gas). As I panicked, I quickly shifted from Drive to Park while holding the brake peddle all the way down, I heard a faint clicking/grinding noise in my ~5ft roll, and as a last step, pulled the E-brake to come to a full stop.
How much damage could I have caused to the tranny and transfer case? What do I need to do to check... change the tranny and transfer case fluid, and inspect both old fluids for metal bits? I normally shift only after full stops, so I know I made a stupid mistake here. I got out, checked for leaks, and any missed parts. After pumping the brakes a few more times, the peddle finally got firm and drove fine for 10 miles. So, I miscalculated how much the caliper pistons had to travel after full depression.
I had to put all the old hardware back on as my parts store didn't have the parts till tomorrow after ordering, long story. The pistons probably had under a half inch to travel with reusing the old pads.
You can destroy the pawl doing that, if you want to test it after your brakes are done find a steep hill to park on & let it sit for 20 minutes.
If it stays put, chances are there's no real damage. If you hear a "clunk" then it starts rolling, your pawl snapped.
I would not worry about it.
You were hardly moving if it came to a stop in 5 feet. A friend of mine had his brakes go out in his 2001 Tiburon coming down an off ramp going highway speed. He shifted it into park without thinking, somehow the parking pawl held up to that abuse and stopped the car! My old Pontiac stalled last year when I was creeping in traffic and I accidentally shifted to park to restart it, not neutral. It clicked a couple times then I caught it and fixed my mistake. I haven't had a problem. My truck's parking brake had sticking problems and one time the left side randomly let go while the truck was parked on a pretty steep incline with the brake off. It suddenly lurched forward and stopped. The pawl survived. It was quite unnerving seeing that. I've fixed the parking brake since.
