Craig from Walsall Wood Tyre & Service in Walsall, West Midlands, has taken to TikTok to warn drivers about a critical mistake.
He urged drivers to be aware of the most common cause of handbrake failure. He gave viewers a look under a car to point out the specific part that is at risk.
The handbrake lever activates and holds the brake when you pull the handbrake in your car. However, over time, this mechanism can start to stick, making it less effective.
Craig said:
"What we often see is that this particular handle can get stuck. This resets the starting point for the handbrake, making the handbrake much weaker."
If the problem becomes severe enough, it can even lead to a failure during inspection. Fortunately, the solution is quite simple and only requires a Poundland maintenance product.
How to fix it
All you need to do is apply a little WD-40 to the mechanism and operate it until it naturally returns to the resting position on the stop pin built into the brake housing.
Just pump the brake a few times and adjust the handbrake cable if necessary. However, it may be best to have the last part done by professionals.
Make sure to use wheel chocks to prevent the vehicle from rolling while you work on the handbrake, and keep it in park or in gear as an extra precaution.
Also, be aware that this tip only applies to cars with disc brakes and brake pads, while models with drum brakes or other systems likely have a different handbrake mechanism.
If you're unsure what your car has, you can check your owner's manual or take it to a garage to have the work done professionally.
Social media users were amazed by the problem. One wrote, "Good advice." Another added, "Reminded me that I need to do something about mine, which gets stuck from time to time."
Watch Craig explain in the video below
