Do you press the button when applying the handbrake?
Poll: Do you press the button when applying the handbrake?
Total Members Polled: 447
Discussion
Never press the button, I like the sound and if it isn't there it feels like something is wrong. On a side note relating to the not resting on the gear stick, the owners manual in the Panda say this, even the lightest force can cause wear, although with the italians this is probably because the gear box is made from cheese.
Paul_M3 said:
Perfect answer Meoricin.
It seems to me on this thread that people who press the button in 'have been told to do it' or 'think' it's the right thing to do.
Those with mechanical understanding or an engineering background just pull up the lever and use the ratchet as intended.
The wear on the ratchet mechanism should be so slight that it becomes completely insignificant.
(Of course it could be that engineering types just love the sound of a ratchet engaging. Put a pair of ratchet crimpers in front of anyone at work and all you'll hear is click click click click for the next 30 minutes. )
OP here - dad was an engineer who worked for a car maker. In his time he built several cars (1960's kits) and a steam engine from scratch using the lathe and milling machine in our garage. He also built a boat. It seems to me on this thread that people who press the button in 'have been told to do it' or 'think' it's the right thing to do.
Those with mechanical understanding or an engineering background just pull up the lever and use the ratchet as intended.
The wear on the ratchet mechanism should be so slight that it becomes completely insignificant.
(Of course it could be that engineering types just love the sound of a ratchet engaging. Put a pair of ratchet crimpers in front of anyone at work and all you'll hear is click click click click for the next 30 minutes. )
Brother is also an engineer, he always presses the button too.
So it seems not all engineers see it your way.
I don't press the button on either of them, they make a satisfying ratchety noise.
If I'm doing a quick hill start, for example, just stopped on a hill, need to immediately set off again, then I will use the button.
Or if I'm doing a handy b to impress the women. Then I remember I'm driving a diesel Passat.
If I'm doing a quick hill start, for example, just stopped on a hill, need to immediately set off again, then I will use the button.
Or if I'm doing a handy b to impress the women. Then I remember I'm driving a diesel Passat.
I always press the button in, for two reasons, which completely go against each other.
1. I'm mechanically sympathetic when I can be.
2. When I had my first car, during handbrake turns it was easier to get a feel of when the brakes were biting without the inhibited drag of the ratchet mechanism.
1. I'm mechanically sympathetic when I can be.
2. When I had my first car, during handbrake turns it was easier to get a feel of when the brakes were biting without the inhibited drag of the ratchet mechanism.
blueg33 said:
Paul_M3 said:
Perfect answer Meoricin.
It seems to me on this thread that people who press the button in 'have been told to do it' or 'think' it's the right thing to do.
Those with mechanical understanding or an engineering background just pull up the lever and use the ratchet as intended.
The wear on the ratchet mechanism should be so slight that it becomes completely insignificant.
(Of course it could be that engineering types just love the sound of a ratchet engaging. Put a pair of ratchet crimpers in front of anyone at work and all you'll hear is click click click click for the next 30 minutes. )
OP here - dad was an engineer who worked for a car maker. In his time he built several cars (1960's kits) and a steam engine from scratch using the lathe and milling machine in our garage. He also built a boat. It seems to me on this thread that people who press the button in 'have been told to do it' or 'think' it's the right thing to do.
Those with mechanical understanding or an engineering background just pull up the lever and use the ratchet as intended.
The wear on the ratchet mechanism should be so slight that it becomes completely insignificant.
(Of course it could be that engineering types just love the sound of a ratchet engaging. Put a pair of ratchet crimpers in front of anyone at work and all you'll hear is click click click click for the next 30 minutes. )
Brother is also an engineer, he always presses the button too.
So it seems not all engineers see it your way.
I push the button in because my dad, also qualified mechanic, taught me to drive, and that's how he does it.
So +2 for an argument against that stupid post which told us all engineering-types would use the ratchet on the way up.
blueg33 said:
Paul_M3 said:
Perfect answer Meoricin.
It seems to me on this thread that people who press the button in 'have been told to do it' or 'think' it's the right thing to do.
Those with mechanical understanding or an engineering background just pull up the lever and use the ratchet as intended.
The wear on the ratchet mechanism should be so slight that it becomes completely insignificant.
(Of course it could be that engineering types just love the sound of a ratchet engaging. Put a pair of ratchet crimpers in front of anyone at work and all you'll hear is click click click click for the next 30 minutes. )
OP here - dad was an engineer who worked for a car maker. In his time he built several cars (1960's kits) and a steam engine from scratch using the lathe and milling machine in our garage. He also built a boat. It seems to me on this thread that people who press the button in 'have been told to do it' or 'think' it's the right thing to do.
Those with mechanical understanding or an engineering background just pull up the lever and use the ratchet as intended.
The wear on the ratchet mechanism should be so slight that it becomes completely insignificant.
(Of course it could be that engineering types just love the sound of a ratchet engaging. Put a pair of ratchet crimpers in front of anyone at work and all you'll hear is click click click click for the next 30 minutes. )
Brother is also an engineer, he always presses the button too.
So it seems not all engineers see it your way.
To be fair though, the car does need to be old before a ratchet neds replacing, but then again there are a lot of classic cars out there.
I do see the handbrake/ratchet thing as a bit of a 'knowledge' thing, which may or may not be a fair reflection, but there you are.
BigBen said:
Mercs nearly all have foot operated parking brakes which ratchet by default. Never heard of one not working.
Ben
a couple have failed at my work (long stay car-park)Ben
also, i had to replace the entire handbrake assembly on my first Corsa as the ratchet had been worn smooth in places by the pawl
heebeegeetee said:
blueg33 said:
Paul_M3 said:
Perfect answer Meoricin.
It seems to me on this thread that people who press the button in 'have been told to do it' or 'think' it's the right thing to do.
Those with mechanical understanding or an engineering background just pull up the lever and use the ratchet as intended.
The wear on the ratchet mechanism should be so slight that it becomes completely insignificant.
(Of course it could be that engineering types just love the sound of a ratchet engaging. Put a pair of ratchet crimpers in front of anyone at work and all you'll hear is click click click click for the next 30 minutes. )
OP here - dad was an engineer who worked for a car maker. In his time he built several cars (1960's kits) and a steam engine from scratch using the lathe and milling machine in our garage. He also built a boat. It seems to me on this thread that people who press the button in 'have been told to do it' or 'think' it's the right thing to do.
Those with mechanical understanding or an engineering background just pull up the lever and use the ratchet as intended.
The wear on the ratchet mechanism should be so slight that it becomes completely insignificant.
(Of course it could be that engineering types just love the sound of a ratchet engaging. Put a pair of ratchet crimpers in front of anyone at work and all you'll hear is click click click click for the next 30 minutes. )
Brother is also an engineer, he always presses the button too.
So it seems not all engineers see it your way.
To be fair though, the car does need to be old before a ratchet neds replacing, but then again there are a lot of classic cars out there.
I do see the handbrake/ratchet thing as a bit of a 'knowledge' thing, which may or may not be a fair reflection, but there you are.
2 - It doesn't matter
3 - It really doesn't matter.
4 - The engineers who made the cars suggest that you don't press the button in. A quick FMEA will show you why. It's because possible future replacement of a part beyond it's design life is less important than possible failure of that part in service from misuse.
5 - While using the ratchet or not isn't an indicator of good or bad driving, having a car roll away is definitely a sign of bad driving, so we should pick on those people for a bit.
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