[Closed] Handbrakes- are you a clicker, or a non-clicker?

Press the button

when I drove her car for the first time in months in Dec 2019, I spotted straight away that the h/b was engaging and disengaging with no ‘feel’ on the handbrake, and hence the rear brakes or handbrake were faulty. And sure enough, when I got the car home there was a sticking o/s caliper, which needed a new caliper, new yoke cable, new rear pads and discs.

I'm so hot for you right now.

It's a while ago so I may be mis-remembering, but I think I recall my cousin getting a mark against her on her driving test for not pressing the button in.

Click up, Button down. End of (the most interesting) thread (on STW).

I was told to imagine if you were a driving test examiner, hearing that clicking about 2000 times a day, how you'd feel about it.....

I was taught to press the button in when raising the handbrake.

Button in..

And I proper lol`d at IHN

It's a ratchet. You don't press the button whilst engaging it. What fool would do that?! 😂

Does the test still have to be done in a car with a mechanical hand brake?
Wonder what's going to happen with electric hand brakes and auto hold becoming the norm.

Got to hear the clicks, y'know manual-ratchety stuff has to sound manual-ratchety.

Everybody loves a ratchet noise and if they don't they're wrong uns

I'm pretty sure the correct/instructed technique is to press the button in.

Non-clicker, not sure why, just always have.

What are you, an animal? Button in!

A mechanical lever? How quaint 😉 of course when I get back in a car with an analogue handbrake I will probably forget and have it roll into the sea...

I also picked up my dad's habit of wrenching the thing on too hard and needing a new cable almost every service and leaving the car in gear, you know "just in case"...

I was taught to hold in the button to minimise wear on the ratchet, so that's what I always did, but I can't argue with the OPs logic either, an auditory confirmation of it working makes sense too.

I was taught to have button pressed, but like the OP the logic says don't for the already agrered reasons, you also don't know if it's fully engaged as you could release the ratchet ontop of a tooth (OK unliklely, but i bet it has/does happen).

Twodogs
Subscriber
I was told to imagine if you were a driving test examiner, hearing that clicking about 2000 times a day, how you’d feel about it…..

then the examiner needs a new job - if you want to fudge an exame just beciause something that is probably the right thing to do, then you shouldn't be an examiner and mark people down for doing the correct thing..

Its funny, ther are a lot of scenarios ive been involved with, where the manufacture of something tells you to do something, becuase that's the way its designed, for then some "old sweat" comes alog and decides its wrong - just becuase... (i.e. Army and rubbing off anti-fouling coating of rifle parts becuase they like things shiny depsite what H&K say- grrrr)

I'm a none-clicker but I don't believe the line about wearing out the ratchet. No car could live long enough for you to wear down those chunky steel teeth just through normal handbrake application.

The only time I count the clicks is before an MOT.

Was taught button in when engaging and disengaging as it was more mechanically sympathetic. Regardless of whether or not that's the correct technique, I couldn't change now!

I'm a clicker - for all the reasons the OP explained.

I'm also a professional Engineer involved in the design of automotive braking systems and can confirm that the handbrake lever is tested to withstand all that clicking malarkey :o)

No handbrake, leave it in gear. Chocks for slopes.

Well well, I have an auto with an electric handbrake. My son has just started to drive and I've never noticed what he does with the handbrake! His car is fairly modern, so I wonder if it has one... I'll give him an hour to wake up and ask him.

Button in, cos it's nice and quiet.

Anyone who thinks they are being mechanically sympathetic by non-clicking is going to have a brain explosion when they realise there's a ratchet in the free hub on their bike which is clicking thousands of time per minute.
I remember thinking that non-clicking arguments where BS when I was learning (a long time ago) but went along with it in order to ensure passing my test. Then immediately became a clicker. I want to know if there's any problem with the cable tension and if my handbrake can be relied upon. Ironically being mechanically sympathetic to the needs of my car.

I Push the button in, raise until I feel tension then release the button for on or two clicks.

Non-clicker out of habit now, from the days when a short car journey was a sure fire way to send child to sleep, didn't want to wake them every time we stopped with the ratchet noise!

Shame our 10 year old CRV is cursed with the Honda squeaky clutch, great for annoying wife with when you're in the driving seat, less great for not-waking-baby whilst manoeuvring in 1st...

I was taught button in.

But then I give it one click further, just to be sure

Clicker, here.

I can understand holding the button in because it's quieter, but the wearing out the ratchet reasoning seems bonkers. Does anyone know of anyone who has had to replace a handbrake specifically because of ratchet wear?

No clicks.

My wife likes to leave the car in gear on the flat or anywhere, so annoying.

We have an auto handbrake and have done for years.

Button in. (makes handbrake turns easier)

I too follow the righteous path trod by seldom few above, button in then one or two just-to-be-sure clicks. Come, walk with us and follow the light.

Need to check but don’t believe ratcheting the handbrake is a points item in a driving test. I’ve met both button in and ratcheters and sadly discussed this in the past. I can tell you that many old cars, including old Minis and MGs the teeth do wear, so I’d encourage, expect people to be button pushing on these. On something more modern it wouldn’t matter as much but I’d see it as a bit lazy, though if you are on a steep hill and pull the handbrake lever, I bet most will pull it again (including me) to do a final tighten and that final pull will be ratcheting.
My only other observation is I’ve seen way more ratcheters not pull the lever on enough compared to button pushers.
In my experience this is one of the least significant issues in most people’s driving and there are are way more significant things to ‘get’.

Can we get back to bikes now...?

Button in as the noise irritates me. As someone with aspergers I get very irritated by noises that simply don't even register with other people.

I Push the button in, raise until I feel tension then release the button for on or two clicks.

This, although currently we have one car with electronic handbrake (that auto-holds at stop, auto-engages when car is switched off, and disengages itself when you want to go), and one car with a foot-operated parking brake.

Both

Button in normally, no idea why.

When I'm feeling lackadaisical, let the clicks rip! So wreckless

Button in and you still get a feel on the handbrake (it gets harder to lift) so the only reason your daughter didn't notice is probably the same reason my daughter didn't notice the noise of her wheel bearing at speed over 30 mp/h (she doesn't care till it doesn't work)

Non clicker for sure. Why would I let go of the handbrake before knowing whether it's going to stay there or not?

Definitely a clicker, the buttons for taking the HB off and handbrake turns 😎

Button in.

Hearing a specific number of clicks doesn't give you an auditory feedback on whether the brake is applied, it just tells you the lever position. Shoes / pads wear down, cables stretch and snap, so you should be doing it by feel. And leave it in gear, in case the cable snaps.

I Push the button in, raise until I feel tension then release the button for on or two clicks.

Surely this is the only way 🤷🏻‍♂️

Not that I usually use the handbrake as my car and (until last week) van are auto. I need to get used to putting it on in the new van.
If someone puts the handbrake on in an auto I usually try to drive off without taking it off.

This is a point of contention in our house. I have always left car in gear, in addition to parking brake. It's the logical thing to do, plus when I had crap cars years ago, the handbrakes really weren't reliable!

Mrs always tells me off. She starts the car without depressing the clutch (I know, I know!).

My son starts with button, then clicks the last one or two. Says his handbrake is weird 🙂
But thinks I'm weirder for asking the question.

What are you, an animal? Button in!

This 👆

Although in reality in german automatic estate cars it's a case of just pressing the brake pedal a bit firmer and then pressing the accelerator to release 🤷‍♂️

button in.

That does beg the follow-up question though, car in gear (with or without h/b) or in neutral?
[in gear, h/b on]

On the mechanical sympathy meets driving front, change down when approaching junction (with a bit of light braking) or full on brake then change right down at last minute?
[change down 1/2 gears at a time, light braking til the junction]

a)I get an auditory confirmation that the h/b has engaged

Does the handbrake stay up? It's engaged. And if for some utterly bizarre and random reason it wasn't "engaged" it'd drop to the next tooth on the ratchet.

b)I get to count the clicks needed for engagement, telling me if the h/b needs adjustment, or the rear brakes are faulty

You need to count clicks in order to but the brake on? How do you cope in a new car?

In the history of ever, have you ever gone "ooh, six clicks instead of five, best get the brakes checked"?

Mrs CdB (ex-IAM) says:
a)press the button while lifting, as it needs less effort, and doesn’t wear the ratchet out…

You've both got habits that you're making up reasons to justify. In 30 years of driving cars that were anywhere from brand new to to 15 years old I've not once had "worn handbrake ratchet" as an issue or heard of anyone else that has.

All your "auditory feedback" is telling you is that the ratchet is working, anything else is confirmation bias. Horseshit did you hear a stuck caliper, arguably you might have felt something was off in the resistance of the brake handle but that's bog all to do with any clicks.

The bottom line answer to your question is, "it doesn't matter." What I do is hold the button in to reduce the noise and release it a moment before 'full draw' on the handle so I get the last click or two. I'd suggest trying that as a compromise and then making sure your next vehicle has an electronic one.

Non clicker for the same reason as @Kerley up there. But I only ever use the handbrake on the ferry, leave it in gear everywhere else.

Mrs always tells me off. She starts the car without depressing the clutch (I know, I know!).

There's only one option, buy a new car! Our 17 plate with doesn't allow you to start the engine without depressing the clutch!

Clicker. Just pull the thing up. One of the best sounds ever. Jeez, some wronguns on this thread. What would AvE say...

Mrs always tells me off. She starts the car without depressing the clutch (I know, I know!).

This is an easy one.

Aside from the fact that leaving it in gear acts as a backup for the brake, if you don't depress the clutch when starting then the starter has to do more work. Indeed, I've driven cars that you cannot start without depressing the clutch.

Plus, it's a safeguard in case the previous driver left it in gear...

Does anyone know of anyone who has had to replace a handbrake specifically because of ratchet wear?

Yes, my Dad had to, twice, in a Renault 4. But it was bit of a crap handbrake, the ratchet indents were on a straight bar that you pulled out rather than teeth on a curved track that you have with most handbrakes.

Button in here, out for the last couple of clicks. I broke the handbrake cable in my Dad's Viva (after the R4) on my driving text, button in or not...

Surely button in as when applying whilst cornering you wouldn't use the ratchet? Nope, just me?

I always pressed the button, just because I liked to.

How you are supposed to effect a handbrake turn with these weird electronic handbrakes I am not sure.

Electric thing here. But in the olden days, definitely a non-clicker, quite apart from the fly off handbrake which is a non-clicker anyway.

Another non clicker, just because.

Came here to post this...

button in.

But then I give it one click further, just to be sure

You should treat your handbrake like you treat your woman - press gently on the button then slowly pull until you feel some resistance...

I spotted straight away that the h/b was engaging and disengaging with no ‘feel’ on the handbrake

I don't see how clicks have anything to do with that. If anything, I'd have thought that clicking would mean you're less able to feel the cable tension.

'Aidy
Member
I spotted straight away that the h/b was engaging and disengaging with no ‘feel’ on the handbrake

I don’t see how clicks have anything to do with that. If anything, I’d have thought that clicking would mean you’re less able to feel the cable tension.'

Over some months, my wife had failed to notice that the handbrake was taking longer and longer to engage. It was as a result of a progressively binding rear caliper, which was slowly becoming stuck on. Because it took time to develop, she hadn't twigged that day by day it was getting worse.

I drove the car for the first time in 3 months, clicked up the handbrake, noticed that it took 7 clicks instead of its usual 4. If she'd been a clicker, she'd have spotted the issue the day it took 5 clicks to hold.

22 years ago when I learnt, button in was taught.

Thanks all. Long and short of it is: formal lessons, and the driving test itself, both look for a button being pressed in to engage.

I think thats crazy, as an audible cue adds safety, and as handbrake cables stretch, and brakes wear, some kind of engagement indicator such as number of clicks must be a good thing- but I'll now teach her with the official method.

I drove the car for the first time in 3 months, clicked up the handbrake, noticed that it took 7 clicks instead of its usual 4.

Sure. That's not a "no feel on the handbrake" thing, though.

press button in only when pulling handbrake turn, surely?

Does anyone know of anyone who has had to replace a handbrake specifically because of ratchet wear?

Mrs OTS used to yank the handbrake on full force, even when parking on the level and in gear.
I suggested many times that it wasn't necessary and was likely to cause damage.
Oh how I laughed when the handbrake lever assembly had to be welded back into place at one of the subsequent MOTs. 🤬

Just because it's taught without rational reason doesn't mean it's the correct way.

I recently resat my test after 10 years of driving and some of the giberish the instructor came out with about wear and tear was mental.

It's almost like they are out to **** your first cars clutch.

And don't you dare drive with economy in mind. You'll get marked down for not making progress..... Ie you see a 30 coming up so you lift off to avoid braking hard at the 30. Nope you will do the limit till nigh on the 30 then brake forcefully.

As a serial driver of old and high milage (and even crap quality old cars like mg and rover) ......I've never had a ratchet wear out and I rarely press the button.

I doubt your wife would notice 5 instead of 4. I wouldn’t, life’s too short to count handbrake clicks. I have no idea how many clicks my car takes.

Occasionally I pull it on to clean the Handbrake drums add otherwise they’d never get used, I have no idea if this actually makes any difference or not but feels like preventative maintenance.

'Aidy
Member
Sure. That’s not a “no feel on the handbrake” thing, though.'

Maybe bad explaining on my part. I meant that no resistance was felt in raising the lever until a fairly high point, despite it travelling through 7 clicks. With it being a fault that was apparently slow to develop (or so I was told), this increased travel hadn't got spotted.

Press the button definitely. However, I had a boyfriend who i dated very briefly and when driving anywhere he would randomly click the button... A LOT. Most of the time he didnt even know he was doing it, he even wore out one button and had to replace it.

Maybe bad explaining on my part. I meant that no resistance was felt in raising the lever until a fairly high point, despite it travelling through 7 clicks.

I still reckon the resistance/lack of would be easier to feel with the button in, so that you're not overcoming the friction of the ratchet.

Fair enough that clicking lets you spot increased travel, but I don't think that "feel" is a good argument at all.

Also: Having not driven it for a while, you're more likely to spot a change that's developed over time that she is, regardless of clicks or not.

Push the button, that's how I was taught by my instructor years ago.

Do the clickers still click when pulling the handbrake on for a hill start?

That would feel really weird.

The only people that shouldn't press the button are actors/actresses

I was taught button in to avoid wearing the ratchet. But the same course also taught me double de clutching so maybe neither are necessary.

and when driving anywhere he would randomly click the button… A LOT.

He was pretending that it was the fire button for the heat seeking missiles.
I do it too.
There are a lot of arseholes on the roads who need exploding.

Advanced driving course instructor who was also a mechanic said push the button in, that will do me.

I dont know what I do? I've never thought about it.

My mind is blown.

*Runs to drive car round the block.....

Non-clicker, have always been. I also have always left the car in gear, even before cars required the clutch to be depressed to start. The only time that I wouldn’t have the handbrake on as well was if the car was to be left for more than a couple of weeks. My current car has an electric handbrake with auto hold but I always lift the button at traffic lights to stop dazzling person behind with brake lights. I was laughed at about this when taking a test drive but everyone to their own.

My current car has an electric handbrake with auto hold but I always lift the button at traffic lights to stop dazzling person behind with brake lights.

Surely the brake lights are only on with the brake pedal depressed.

If she’d been a clicker, she’d have spotted the issue the day it took 5 clicks to hold.

I've done 90,000 miles in my car in nearly a decade of owning it and I couldn't tell you how many clicks my handbrake takes, so I wouldn't notice one more by the sound alone.

@trail_rat, the making progress spout is as you say way out - goes against all 'look ahead and anticipate' teaching IMO. Not the same as dawdling, but why would one behave as if the 30 sign was a total surprise?

Probably - for me as others have said - best push for my driving was sitting motorbike test - lot more anticipation and consequences if not. Not that I was actually very good on bike..

My current car has an electric handbrake with auto hold but I always lift the button at traffic lights to stop dazzling person behind with brake lights.

Better to dazzle the person behind than pollute the planet with diesel fumes, I always think.
Foot on brake = engine cut-off.

Mrs always tells me off. She starts the car without depressing the clutch (I know, I know!).

Aside from the fact that leaving it in gear acts as a backup for the brake, if you don’t depress the clutch when starting then the starter has to do more work. Indeed, I’ve driven cars that you cannot start without depressing the clutch.
Plus, it’s a safeguard in case the previous driver left it in gear…

I'd like you two to meet my wife (in a non-biblical sense).

Her - "You left the car in gear, and I nearly hit the front wall when I started it"

Me - "Sorry about that, but you should really check the car isn't in gear before you start it anyway"

Her - "But I never leave it in gear"

Me - "But you're not the only one that drives the car"

Her - "I know, and you shouldn't leave it in gear"

Me - "I don't, generally, but sometimes I might forget. That's the reason you check a car isn't in gear before you start it"

Her - "But I never leave it in gear"

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