To Ratchet or not to Ratchet

[PJK]

I have a 2019 Yaris and have always applied the parking brake (hand brake) by pulling the lever straight up, using the ratchet. I am now being told that I should depress the button when pulling up the lever, therefore engaging the brake silently. Am I doing it right or wrong?

[Bernard Foy]

You should always engage the button on the handbrake pulling it or letting it off as it minimises wear on the teeth and the pawl. 

[Red_Corolla]

Disengaging the pawl using the button is the classy way to do it and demonstrates mechanical sympathy. It's always been my habit to do it that way. However, in reality, it doesn't matter. You could keep the car your whole life and you won't wear the ratchet out.

Think youself lucky you still have a real handbrake - I miss mine! 😆

[FROSTYBALLS]

29 minutes ago, Red_Corolla said:

Disengaging the pawl using the button is the classy way to do it and demonstrates mechanical sympathy.

Same here. Plus the car is left in the apprpriate gear when parked.

[adtatton]

I agree  with Red Corolla. In point of fact up here in Canada we are advised to not use the park brake at all in winter, as they can become frozen and seize the rear brakes making it a real problem if your in a hurry to get to work LOL.

[APS]

2 hours ago, PJK said:

Am I doing it right or wrong?

Does not really matter. This is something might have been a minor issue on some very well used older cars. Personally I often press and hold the button for a silent engagement, but then sometimes let the pawl click so I have a measure for how tight it is and if the adjustment has changed.  That said, I've never come across a car with a worn out, slipping ratchet. Many cars with foot operated parking brakes leaves you with no option but to let it click. And yet, they last.

Whichever way you do it, not something to lose sleep over.

[Dick_Dastardly]

The only correct answer is as per the advice of the people that made the handbrake.

Here's an example from Ford advising to never press the button. They made the thing so got to trust them on this.

Toyota don't explicitly say "do not press the button" but they only mention to apply the brake by pulling the lever. They only advise to press the button when releasing it so it's somewhat inferred to not press it on application 

 

I would imagine that the issue they're trying to prevent is you letting go of the handbrake when the ratchet might not be fully engaged. Theoretically the handbrake could then ease back a little when you're not expecting it

 

Disclaimer: I always pressed the button, regardless of what the manufacturer said, but technically I am wrong for doing this (and don't care 😉)

 

[skidlid]

Told when I was learning to drive (in 1974) not to press the button when engaging the handbrake. Makes it clear to the examiner what you are doing.

Once you have passed your test do whatever you want.

[TonyHSD]

Button always pressed when pulling up the handle.
If I hear the ratchet clicks , omg , for me it’s like failing the driving test. 😅👌

[TonyHSD]

But I know what is the point of this ratchet mechanism and why manufacturers and driving schools are advising of using it: 

Safety lock system to prevent engaging the parking brake full and lose vehicle, similar to car lifts in garages where they click the same way when lifting up the car. 

[MikeSh]

I never press the button when applying and I'm very sympathetic to machinery. I want to feel it click into a slot when I have it sufficiently applies. Ratchets should be built to ratchet, though I suspect some older British cars were so bad they probably gave rose to this advice.

[Paul john]

23 minutes ago, MikeSh said:

I never press the button when applying and I'm very sympathetic to machinery. I want to feel it click into a slot when I have it sufficiently applies. Ratchets should be built to ratchet, though I suspect some older British cars were so bad they probably gave rose to this advice.

Lol. Not just british cars. On my VW passat estate (1985 ish) you could tell the state of the rear brake pads on how verticle you could get the handbrake.

at 90 degrees, new drum pads and a new cable.  Lol

i vote ratchet

[ColinB]

49 minutes ago, skidlid said:

Told when I was learning to drive (in 1974) not to press the button when engaging the handbrake. Makes it clear to the examiner what you are doing.

Once you have passed your test do whatever you want.

My driving instructor in the mid 70s told me off for not pushing the button in when engaging the handbrake 🙄

[Paul john]

1 minute ago, ColinB said:

My driving instructor in the mid 70s told me off for not pushing the button in when engaging the handbrake 🙄

There is a lot from the 1970’s we no longer talk about….

like Jason King, Flares and Austin Allegro  

lol. 

[ColinB]

Just now, Paul john said:

There is a lot from the 1970’s we no longer talk about….

like Jason King, Flares and Austin Allegro  

lol. 

I liked my red velvet flares with a 28" waist, it was a long time ago and my waist was a lot smaller back then..... 

[Paul john]

Just now, ColinB said:

I liked my red velvet flares with a 28" waist, it was a long time ago and my waist was a lot smaller back then..... 

oh no……

double denim?

[ColinB]

1 minute ago, Paul john said:

oh no……

double denim?

Brushed cotton, with a sewn on flower patch where it wore a hole 🌸

[Cyker]

I'd always do the button too as I hate the sound the ratchet makes (Which makes the AEB triggering in my Mk4 all the more horrible as it makes that exact sound!  )

It's more personal preference than anything though - Most of the people I know who drive just yank it up.

That said, one major advantage of using the button, if you're in the habit of pulling the handbrake up as hard as you can, is it's almost impossible to pull the handbrake up so tight that you cant disengage it easily, whereas if you just do it on the ratchet, it's very easy to do that by accident!  

 

[Rhymes with Paris]

How is one supposed to keep control when performing a handbrake turn when yanking on the handbrake on the ratchet?

Much easier to pull the lever up hard with the release button pressed in while going full lock, and then at the point of the rear tyres re- gripping the road , release and complete the turn.

I dunno, ratchet handbrake indeed, some have no clue how to use them.

 

[MikeSh]

1 hour ago, Paul john said:

Flares

I've seen evidence recently that flares and mullets may be making a comeback 🤪

[donkeychomp]

My Spitfire has a quick release handbrake. It's a total bugger to use...as for my Yaris I just pull the thing up. And always leave it on gear, just in case!

Alex

[Cyker]

My dad's old Merc had one of the worst ones I ever used - You had to push down a ratcheting pedal with your left foot (That souunnddd), but to release it you had to pull some stupid handle that was in a completely different place, which took me ages to figure out, and it would just suddenly release it with a horrid sounding bang.

Perfect example of making something needlessly complicated when a simpler, more effective and intuitive solution already existed, but these car companies do love trying to re-invent the wheel  

[ColinB]

7 hours ago, Cyker said:

My dad's old Merc had one of the worst ones I ever used - You had to push down a ratcheting pedal with your left foot (That souunnddd), but to release it you had to pull some stupid handle that was in a completely different place, which took me ages to figure out, and it would just suddenly release it with a horrid sounding bang.

Perfect example of making something needlessly complicated when a simpler, more effective and intuitive solution already existed, but these car companies do love trying to re-invent the wheel  

My second generation Prius had one of those as well, horrible things

[Paul john]

35 minutes ago, ColinB said:

My second generation Prius had one of those as well, horrible things

So does gen 3 and gen 4 - no hidden handle though