What is a Car Handbrake

The braking system is one of the most crucial components of a vehicle when it comes to safety and control. Apart from primary pedal-operated foot brakes, there is another important brake type that is an integral element for any vehicle, regardless of its fuel or transmission type. Yes, we are talking about the handbrake, one of the most vital parts of the braking system, which plays an important role in maintaining your vehicle’s overall safety, control, and stability. Whether automatic or manual, knowing how to effectively use a handbrake can go a long way in ensuring that your car remains safe at all times. So, if you are wondering what a handbrake is and how it actually works, then you are in the right place. In this article, we explore everything you need to know about the handbrake system.

What is a Handbrake in a Car?

The handbrake is a type of manual lever that brings your vehicle to a stop in case the primary pedal brake system fails. Handbrakes are also referred to as parking brakes, as they also play a crucial role in preventing the vehicle from rolling backward when cruising on a slope or being parked on one. Other common names of the handbrake include emergency brakes or e-brakes. 

In most vehicles, the handbrake is located between the driver’s and passenger’s seat as a stick-like lever with a button that is pressed to move the lever upwards and released to engage the handbrake. In modern-day vehicles, manual handbrakes are replaced with automatic ones that engage when the vehicle is halted and disengage when it starts moving. In totality, the handbrake is like a backup plan for when the primary brake system fails and is a method of controlling the vehicle on slopes and inclines. 

Components of a Car Handbrake

The way the handbrake works is rather simple, and that is the reason why there are not many sophisticated components that make up the handbrake. Talking about the conventional pull-over manual handbrake systems, the main components that make up the manual handbrake system are: 

Handbrake Lever

The handbrake lever is the stick-like pull-over lever that is located inside the cabin. The primary job of the handbrake lever is to engage the handbrake when pulled up.

Cable Assembly

The heart and soul of the handbrake system, the cable assembly is a flexible steel cable that connects the handbrake lever to the rear brake callipers or drum brakes.

Equalizer Mechanism

The equaliser mechanism distributes the force applied on the handbrake lever proportionally to both rear wheels. The equaliser mechanism ensures that the brakes are applied simultaneously to both sides of the vehicle.

Rear Brake Calipers or Drum Brakes

The parking brake cable connects to the Rear Brake Calipers/Drum brakes, depending on the type of vehicle you drive. Whenever the handbrake is engaged, the brake cable tightens, causing the rear brakes to hold the vehicle in place.

Adjusting Mechanism

Last but not least, the adjusting mechanism ensures proper tension of the handbrake cable, ensuring that the cable is tight enough at all times to hold the vehicle stationary at its position.

While the basic working of the handbrake system remains the same, in electronic handbrake systems, the gear lever is often replaced with either a handbrake button or an automatic system that applies the handbrake every time the vehicle is stationary and disengages the system upon movement. 

How does a Car’s Handbrake work?

Now that you are familiar with all the components of the handbrake system, it is time to understand how the handbrake actually works.

In a vehicle with a manual handbrake, the braking works when the brake lever is pulled upwards, creating tension in the cable assembly wire. When tightened, the cable assembly wires push the brake pads or shoes tightly towards the disc/drums, with the equalizer mechanism ensuring that proportional force is applied to each rear brake. The adjusting mechanism ensures that the tension of the cable assembly is good enough to hold the vehicle in place.

In vehicles with an automatic handbrake system, the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) module monitors, regulates, and controls the electronic handbrake system. The handbrake switch, when pressed, sends a signal to the ABS module, which uses sensors to check if the handbrake can be applied and then operates the brake actuator motors that apply the rear brakes. When the driver releases the handbrake switch, another signal is sent to the ABS module, which then checks the ignition state and position of the brake pedal to determine whether or not the parking brakes can be released. If everything is good to go, the module controls the actuator motors to release the brakes.

Types of Car Handbrakes

The most common types of handbrake or parking brake include:

Lever Operated Handbrakes

This is the most common type of handbrake that is typically located between the driver’s and passenger’s seat as a pull-over stick lever with a push button at the front.

Button-Operated Handbrakes

A commonplace in modern cars, button-operated handbrakes replace the traditional handbrake lever with buttons that engage and disengage the handbrake electronically via the ABS module. 

Foot Pedal Handbrake

The foot pedal handbrake is engaged and disengaged by pressing the foot pedal placed near the foot of the driver, usually at the extreme ends. This feature offers easy access while driving and also saves cabin space when compared with traditional lever brakes.

Handbrake Usage Best Practices

Now that you know all about the functioning of the handbrake and the components that make up the handbrake system, it is crucial to know the best usage practices to ensure that your vehicle’s handbrake system goes a long way without any excessive wear and tear as well as failures.

• Before applying the handbrake, make sure the vehicle is at a complete halt to prevent unnecessary wear and tear of the cable assembly and brake pads.
• Make sure that before applying the handbrake, the vehicle is on level ground to prevent uneven tension on the rear wheels.
• When on an uphill road, put the vehicle in first gear and then apply the handbrake to ensure a smoother movement once the handbrake is released.
• When using a manual car, press the brake pedal before letting go of the handbrake.
• When releasing the handbrake, do so slowly and avoid any jerky movements.
• Do not drive with the handbrake engaged as that will cause excessive wear and tear of the brake pads and overheating of the discs.

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