Do You Need to Press the Clutch When Pulling the Handbrake?
2 Answers
Pulling the handbrake does not require pressing the clutch. The parking brake, commonly referred to as the handbrake, is designed to provide resistance to prevent the car from rolling when parked. Parking brakes come in various forms, including handbrakes, foot brakes, and electronic handbrakes. The Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) system integrates the temporary braking function during driving with the long-term braking function after parking, and it achieves parking braking through electronic control. The electronic handbrake, which also uses electronic control to implement parking braking, operates on the same principle as the mechanical handbrake—both rely on the friction generated between the brake disc and brake pads to control the parking brake.
This actually depends on your specific parking situation. If your car is already completely stopped, applying the handbrake is purely about activating the parking system and has nothing to do with the clutch pedal. Remember that the handbrake works by pulling cables to lock the rear wheels, regardless of the transmission state. However, in practical operation, especially when parking on slopes, I prefer to first press the brake pedal and shift to neutral, then engage the handbrake firmly before releasing the clutch. This way, the car is held securely by mechanical braking, preventing any sudden lurch forward when releasing the clutch. But if you pull the handbrake while the vehicle is moving, it's dangerous—even with the clutch depressed, the wheels could lock up and skid.