Here's why I ask...
I drive my car year round here in Chicago and on the first warm day I wanted to put the top down. The top wouldn't go down and I noticed the handbrake light on the dashboard was not on. Knowing that this light had to be on to lower the top I figured it was a bad switch or something. I let the handbrake down and proceeded to drive away. As I started to drive away I heard a "pop" noise such as rusted rotors breaking free from the pads. It was very loud so I stopped the car and pulled up the handbrake. The handbrake light now came on! I was able to put the top down.
Still curious as to what the sound was I gently pulled up the handbrake while driving while holding in the safety button and another "pop" sound was heard...although much softer.
Since then, every morning as I slowly drive away from my home I can pull up lightly on the handbrake and hear one LOUD "pop" and if I put down and pull up on the brake lightly again I can hear successive little "pops". As if something is binding and then breaking free.
I am looking for information as to how the handbrake works. What are the mechanicals of it...before I crawl under the car and start looking at who knows what. I am fairly mechanically inclined but don't like just guessing what i'm looking at while under a vehicle.
Not looking to lock up any tires here or make sharp turns. (Although this is great fun in an old car in an open parking lot and in the snow!!!)
Thanks!
