Spring Brake Thingy Review: The Ultimate UTV Parking Brake Solution

We’ve all been there – you park your UTV on a slight incline, put it in “Park,” and hear that unsettling creak as the weight of the vehicle strains against the tiny metal pawl in your transmission.

Or worse, you return to your machine after a short break only to find it has rolled several feet despite being “in park.”

These moments aren’t just unnerving; they’re warning signs that your UTV’s factory parking system has serious limitations.

Enter the Spring Brake Thingy parking brake – a deceptively simple yet incredibly effective solution that’s rapidly becoming a must-have accessory for UTV enthusiasts.

This American-made device addresses one of the most overlooked aspects of UTV ownership: properly securing your vehicle when parked, especially on uneven terrain.

In this comprehensive review, we’ll explore what the Spring Brake Thingy parking brake is, how it works, why it’s superior to relying solely on your transmission’s “Park” setting, and how easily you can install one on your own UTV.

Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a serious off-roader, this small investment could save you from costly transmission repairs and dangerous roll-away incidents.

 

What Exactly Is the Spring Brake Thingy?

 

Despite its playful name, the Spring Brake Thingy parking brake addresses a serious issue. It’s a mechanical device designed specifically for UTVs that creates a true parking brake by physically holding your brake pedal in the depressed position.

Made in America and available for various UTV brands including Polaris, Can-Am, Honda, and CF Moto, this device consists of a spring-loaded lever mechanism that mounts to your UTV’s firewall.

The genius of the design lies in its simplicity. There are no electrical components to fail, no complex mechanisms to break, and no modifications required to your UTV’s existing systems.

It’s a purely mechanical solution that works with your vehicle’s existing brake system to provide a level of security that the factory “Park” setting simply cannot match.

 

Why Your UTV Needs More Than Just “Park”

 

To understand why the Spring Brake Thingy parking brake is so valuable, it’s important to understand the limitations of your UTV’s factory parking system:

 

The Park Pawl Problem

 

When you shift your UTV into “Park,” you’re engaging a small metal component called a park pawl – essentially a pin about the size of your pinky finger that locks into a notch on your transmission’s output shaft.

This tiny piece of metal becomes the only thing preventing your multi-thousand-pound machine from rolling away.

On flat ground, this system works adequately. But on any kind of incline, the entire weight of your UTV strains against this small component.

Over time, this creates wear that can lead to expensive transmission repairs. In extreme cases, the pawl can fail entirely, allowing your UTV to roll freely despite being “in park.”

 

The Hill Safety Factor

 

If you’ve ever parked on a hill and felt your UTV “settle” with an unsettling clunk when you release the brake, you’ve experienced the park pawl taking the vehicle’s weight.

This isn’t just disconcerting – it’s potentially dangerous. A UTV rolling away can cause serious injury or property damage, not to mention the damage to your machine if it rolls into an obstacle or tips over.

 

The Transmission Wear Issue

 

Even if your park pawl never catastrophically fails, the constant strain from parking on inclines accelerates wear on your transmission components.

This wear manifests as increasingly difficult shifting, that notorious “clunk” when moving from Park to Drive, and eventually, expensive repair bills.

 

How the Spring Brake Thingy Works

 

The Spring Brake Thingy parking brake tackles these issues with elegant simplicity.

 

The Mechanical Advantage

 

The device mounts to your UTV’s firewall near the brake pedal. When engaged, a red lever hooks onto your brake pedal arm, physically holding the pedal in the depressed position. This maintains hydraulic pressure in your brake system, keeping the actual brakes applied rather than relying on the transmission.

What makes it particularly clever is the spring-loaded design. When you press the brake pedal again, the device automatically disengages, allowing normal brake operation.

There’s no separate lever to release, no complex procedure to remember – it works intuitively with your normal driving habits.

 

Operation in Practice

 

Using the Spring Brake Thingy parking brake becomes second nature after just a few tries:

1. Press the brake pedal firmly with your right foot (or left, depending on your UTV’s configuration).
2. While holding the brake down, use your other foot to slide the red lever over until it catches on the brake pedal arm.
3. Slowly release the brake pedal, allowing the red lever to take over holding the pedal down.
4. Shift into Park as an additional safety measure.

To disengage, simply press the brake pedal again. The spring mechanism automatically pulls the red lever back, freeing the pedal for normal operation.

The beauty of this system is that it holds the actual brakes applied, rather than relying on a small transmission component.

This distributes the holding force across all braking surfaces instead of concentrating it on one small part.

 

 

 

 

Installation Guide: Surprisingly Simple

 

One of the most appealing aspects of the Spring Brake Thingy parking brake is how easy it is to install. Most UTV owners can complete the installation in 10-15 minutes with basic tools.

 

What You’ll Need

 

• Socket wrench (typically 10mm or 13mm, depending on your UTV model)
• The included hardware from your Spring Brake Thingy kit
• About 15 minutes of time

Step-by-Step Installation

 

1. Locate the mounting points: The Spring Brake Thingy mounts to existing bolts on your UTV’s firewall. These are typically near the brake pedal assembly.
2. Remove the factory bolts: Using your socket wrench, remove the specified factory bolts as indicated in the included instructions.
3. Position the Spring Brake Thingy: Place the device onto the mounting points.
4. Replace and tighten the bolts: Use either the factory bolts or the included longer bolts (if required for your model) to secure the device to the firewall.
5. Test the operation: Press the brake pedal and practice engaging and disengaging the device several times to get comfortable with the motion.

 

 

 

Common Installation Tips

 

• Some UTV models may require slightly longer bolts than the factory ones. If the included bolts don’t work, a quick trip to the hardware store for bolts that are 3/8″ longer than stock usually solves the issue.
• Make sure the device is positioned so the red lever can freely engage and disengage from the brake pedal arm.
• After installation, test the device by parking on a slight incline. You should notice significantly less “settling” or movement when shifting between Park and Drive.

Real Benefits of the Spring Brake Thingy

 

The Spring Brake Thingy parking brake delivers several tangible benefits that make it worth far more than its modest price tag.

 

Transmission Protection

 

By taking the strain off your transmission’s park pawl, you’re potentially saving yourself from expensive repairs down the road.

UTV transmission work isn’t cheap, and preventing wear is always more economical than fixing damage after it occurs.

Users consistently report smoother shifting between Park and Drive after installing the Spring Brake Thingy, particularly when parked on inclines.

That harsh “clunk” is noticeably reduced or eliminated entirely because the vehicle’s weight isn’t resting on the transmission components.

 

 

 

Enhanced Safety

 

The primary safety benefit is obvious – preventing your UTV from rolling away when parked on hills.

This is particularly important in scenarios like:

• Parking at scenic overlooks or on mountain trails
• Loading and unloading from trailers
• Stopping on inclines to take photos or enjoy the view
• Parking at camp when the only available spot isn’t perfectly level

The peace of mind that comes from knowing your UTV is securely held in place is invaluable, especially if you frequently ride in hilly or mountainous terrain.

 

Convenience Factors

 

Despite adding an extra step to parking, most users report that using the Spring Brake Thingy parking brake quickly becomes second nature.

The motion is intuitive – press the brake, slide the lever, release. The automatic disengagement when you press the brake again means there’s no complex procedure to remember when starting off.

 

User Experiences and Testimonials

 

The UTV community has embraced the Spring Brake Thingy parking brake with overwhelmingly positive feedback.

Forum threads are filled with satisfied owners sharing their experiences:

• “I love mine. Installation was simple once I got the right bolts. Now I don’t worry about parking on hills anymore.” – RZR Forum user
• “The potential strain placed on the brake system is one heck of a lot easier and less costly to fix versus the strain placed on the transmission.” – Polaris General Forum user
• “Simple product that works perfectly.” – YouTube reviewer

The most common praise points to: * Ease of installation * Noticeable reduction in transmission “clunk” * Peace of mind when parking on inclines * Durability and reliability of the simple mechanical design

The few criticisms typically center around: * Occasionally needing different bolts than those supplied * The learning curve for the foot motion (though most report this becomes automatic after a few uses)

 

Spring Brake Thingy vs. Alternatives

 

How does the Spring Brake Thingy parking brake stack up against alternatives?

 

Factory Parking Brakes

 

Some UTV models come with factory parking brakes, but these vary widely in effectiveness.

Many are separate hand levers that require a distinct action to engage and disengage, making them easy to forget.

The Spring Brake Thingy integrates more naturally with your normal braking action.

 

Other Aftermarket Solutions

 

There are competing products, but few match the Spring Brake Thingy’s combination of simplicity, effectiveness, and ease of installation.

Some alternatives require more extensive modification or have more complex engagement mechanisms.

 

DIY Options

 

Some riders attempt DIY solutions like brake pedal blocks or homemade levers.

While creative, these lack the refined engineering and testing of the Spring Brake Thingy, and may not disengage as reliably in an emergency situation.

 

Is the Spring Brake Thingy Worth It?

 

At around $100-150 (depending on your UTV model), the Spring Brake Thingy parking brake represents excellent value when you consider:

• The cost of transmission repairs can easily run into the thousands
• The potential damage from a roll-away incident
• The peace of mind it provides, especially for those who frequently park on uneven terrain

For UTV owners who regularly ride in hilly areas, frequently load/unload from trailers, or have already experienced transmission issues related to parking, this device is essentially a no-brainer.

Even for those who primarily ride on flat terrain, the transmission protection alone makes it a worthwhile investment for the long-term health of your vehicle.

 

Conclusion: Simple Solution, Significant Impact

 

The Spring Brake Thingy parking brake exemplifies great engineering – it solves a real problem with elegant simplicity.

By addressing the fundamental limitation of relying solely on your transmission for parking, it provides enhanced safety, mechanical protection, and peace of mind.

Installation is straightforward enough for most owners to handle themselves in minutes, and operation quickly becomes second nature.

The all-mechanical design means there’s little to go wrong, and the benefits are immediately noticeable, especially when parking on inclines.

If you’ve ever felt that moment of uncertainty when parking your UTV on a hill, or winced at the “clunk” when shifting out of Park, the Spring Brake Thingy parking brake deserves a place on your must-have accessories list.

Your transmission will thank you, and you’ll enjoy your rides with one less worry on your mind.