How to pull up the handbrake correctly: Explained
A parking brake or handbrake is one of the very crucial components of any vehicle. It is engaged when a vehicle is parked to ensure that it does not roll forward or rear. Now, as we all know, when we engage the handbrake, we hear a clicking sound, and it is very normal. However, some people believe that engaging the handbrake with this sound means that the gears of its mechanism are grinding and causing wear. So, to prove that this is not true, a video on how to properly engage a parking brake and what the mechanicals behind it are has been shared online.
This video, explaining how a parking brake works and how to properly engage it, has been shared on YouTube by Engineering Explained on their channel. It starts off with the host mentioning that there is a myth that goes around in which it is mentioned that the ratcheting sound that the handbrake makes while its engagement causes it to wear.
He then continues and states that this is not true. On the contrary, the handbrake mechanism is designed in a way that this ratcheting makes no harm to the system. To prove his point, the presenter completely disassembles his handbrake mechanism to show how exactly it works.
How do handbrakes work?
Following the disassembly, the presenter starts explaining that the parking brake is a mechanically operated system. When the driver pulls the handbrake lever, it creates tension on a cable. This cable then applies pressure to the rear brake pads. Following this, he adds that this is an entirely mechanical system and it is not hydraulic or electronic.
Moving ahead, the presenter highlights that the handbrake has a ratchet mechanism which engages and locks in place as you pull up the lever. He adds that when you push the button, it disengages the ratchet. This then allows the lever to move down freely. The presenter shows the lever of his 17-year-old car and mentions that there is no wear on his old car with over 1,00,000 miles.
Detailed explanation on wear and tear
Following this demonstration, the presenter explains what wear and tear actually means and how it is caused. He states that the wear and tear of any mechanical part is caused due to heat and not ratcheting. To clearly explain his point, he gives the example of brake wear. He mentions that brake pads last differently when used in different ways.
The host states that when a vehicle is driven on a race track at its full potential and where brakes are used extensively, the brake pads don't last a complete day. However, when the same brake pads are used normally on the streets by the vehicle, they can last over 30,000–40,000 km.
He then mentions that this difference is caused due to the amount of heat generated. During track days, the brakes are heated to extremely high temperatures, causing a lot of wear. However, when used in normal conditions of daily driving, there is not so much heat generation. As a result of this, the brakes last much longer.
The host concludes by stating that the same is the case with the handbrake. He adds that normal application of the ratcheting mechanism does not generate any significant heat on the gear. So, the handbrake generally lasts till the lifetime of a vehicle. It only wears significantly if someone abuses it during drifting.