Do You Need to Press the Button When Pulling the Handbrake?
3 Answers
When pulling the handbrake upward, it is generally not necessary to press the handbrake button. Pressing it while pulling reduces gear friction and avoids the sound of gear scraping. From a durability perspective, it is advisable to press and pull, though not pressing it also works since the handbrake gear is unidirectional, albeit with some noise. Relevant details about the handbrake are as follows: 1. Point One: The main function of the handbrake is to control the speed of the rear wheels, but its braking effect is minimal at high speeds. 2. Point Two: If the driver pulls the handbrake while driving at high speed, it can easily cause the rear wheels to lock up, the cable to snap, leading to vehicle skidding or even rollover. 3. Point Three: Additionally, during sharp turns or when driving in rain, snow, or icy conditions, avoid sudden use of the handbrake, as this can disable the ABS system, causing the rear wheels to lose rotation signals, which may result in veering or fishtailing.
I've been driving a taxi for over a decade, and this issue is really common. There are two types of manual handbrakes: one requires you to press a button when pulling it up, and you also need to press the button when releasing it, otherwise it'll make a creaking noise; the other older type can be pulled up directly without pressing any button. Electronic handbrakes are even simpler - just press the switch, no buttons involved at all. I remember last time when I drove an old Jetta, I pulled it up without pressing the button, which caused severe brake pad wear and cost me over 200 yuan to fix. Nowadays, most new cars require button operation - it's best to develop this habit to avoid damaging the car and wasting money.
Car repair shops often encounter handbrake issues. Most modern mechanical handbrakes require pressing the button during operation, especially when releasing, to allow the ratchet mechanism to unlock smoothly. Forcing the handbrake without pressing the button accelerates component wear and, in severe cases, can lead to brake cable loosening. Electronic handbrakes are fully automated and do not have button operation issues. For daily maintenance, it's recommended to test the handbrake after getting in the car: when pulling up, check if there's any resistance difference when pressing the button, and observe whether pressing is needed when releasing. It's also essential to check the brake pad thickness weekly.
