To press the button in on my hand-break before pulling it up to put the break on

[DuelingFanjo]

because I did in my mum's car and she said 'don't push the button in, just pull it up'.

I have always pushed it in.

[caroldecker]

don't think i've used the handbrake for about 20 yrs, so no help i'm afraid

[DuelingFanjo]

Does she drive a Vauxhall though?

[beginnings]

I've always pushed the button as the noise sets my teeth on edge. My mother never does and it drives me bonkers.

Who knew I wasn't supposed to!

[ShatnersBassoon]

The ratchet isn't damaged by not depressing the release button. A ratchet is designed to be ratcheted (!) ie you don't have to have a smooth action around the teeth.

[specialsubject]

I guess that is because they want to make sure you put the handbrake on firmly so they don't get sued when your car rolls away. They will assume that you are too dumb to check.

and of course when the handbrake wears prematurely, you pay them to fix it!

[DuelingFanjo]

Dunno - if you watch the video I linked to but they say for a vauxhall you shouldn't push the button.

[specialsubject]

you always push the button in unless you like spending excessive amounts on fixing your car.

in the same way as you drive smoothly and anticipate to avoid wasting fuel. Most people don't know that either.

OP - your mum is wrong.

[valiumredhead]

Use the button!

[ShatnersBassoon]

I hold the button in so far, then release and pull up for one more notch. That final click is reassuring

[OddBoots]

I always used to but now I drive a Prius and it has a foot version with no button so you always get that grating noise.

[FeckOffCup]

I never thought you had to put the button in to apply the handbrake until my husband explained to me that noise when applying it=bad, my dad never ever put the button in to put it on so I thought it was supposed to make that noise.

[IcingTheCake]

YADNBU My dad does this, because he says he can't be bothered to push the button! He also does it while the car isn't fully stopped. I'm going to be so smug when his handbrake needs replacing!

[BrokenBanana]

I do that all the time and am constantly getting told off by my driving instructor! He reckons you should push in every time

[RobotBananas]

Agree that you should push it in. Advanced driving instructor told me to. You'll wear it out otherwise

[DuelingFanjo]

argghh - I did it again. Hand BRAKES I mean. doh.

[DuelingFanjo]

watchdog piece on handbreaks. The car I was driving is a Vauxhall!

Driving standards agency says generally you should push the button in but some manufacturers say you shouldn't.

[SoniaGluck]

DH winds me up with this.

He swears you don't need to press the button and he never does. My argument is that my driving instructor told me to do it to reduce wear and tear, as other people have said, and I always do.

His evidence is that on television dramas you always hear the grating when they put the hand brake on. It's true, you do. But that doesn't necessarily mean that it's right.

[eurozammo]

Yep, I agree with the others - she is wrong and wearing out the teeth on the brake mechanism.

[DuelingFanjo]

see, when I think back the creaking sound is something I remember from my childhood trips in cars - is this perhaps something that the older generation (I am 43 so I mean, like, really old ) do?

Really mortified by the break/brake thing!

[Thumbwitch]

more evidence against your mum

[DuelingFanjo]

doh - sorry - spelling. Brake! Doh (I am a numpty!

[DuelingFanjo]

isn't it a break. i said Hand-break too!

hmm, Kato - officially we are supposed to just pull up then

[Trazzletoes]

YANBU you should push the button in when putting the brake on.