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What the Clicks of the Handbrake Indicate

Model: (Various brands) Various
Part: Parking brake

Video tutorial

What do the "clicks" we hear when pulling the handbrake indicate? It is the sound of an internal mechanism that works somewhat like this: there is a fixed gear wheel connected to the car's structure, with specific teeth that are straight on one side and have a curve known as "serrated teeth" on the other.

A small component (connected to the lever we pull) is held against this wheel by a spring.

As we pull the lever, this component skips over the teeth one by one, slides over the curved part, and then clicks when it meets the straight side: this is why we hear rhythmic "clicks". It is the component jumping from one tooth to another. The shape of the teeth allows the component to rise but prevents it from descending, like a hinge.

When we press the button, we deactivate the spring that holds the component against the teeth. Without that pressure, there is no longer a lock, and it is possible to lower the lever.

Regarding the electric handbrake, there are no clicks, as an electric motor directly tightens the pads onto the rear discs: no toothed mechanisms, no sound.


Posted on 21 September 2026 by ScegliAuto


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