Handbrake makes loud "POP" noise

[denverpete]

I'm a bit confused, but maybe this can help a bit.

It's not necessary to push the button when you raise the hand brake. It's not a safety button, it's a release button. The handbrake is nothing more than a ratchet (gear wheel and pahl). As you pull it up, the pahl clicks into teeth on the gear wheel. The button releases the pahl and allows the handbrake to go back down. So, as you pull up without using the button, you will hear clicking. If you use the button, you shouldn't hear any clicking. Either way, it doesn't affect how the brake operates.

I admit I don't really know much about the mechanicals of the Boxster hand brake, but I doubt they have really changed much, even for a Porsche. As such, they are typically a mechanical as opposed to hydraulic operation. This is for safety in case the hydraulics fail (hence it's often known as a safety brake). As the hand brake is raised, a wire (which splits into two wires) is pulled and manually activates the rear brakes. The typical adjustment is done by hand by tightening or loosening the wire mechanism (usually under the car where the wire splits from one into two wires).