Racing Hand Brakes

No matter what type of racing you are doing, your one and only goal is to be the first crossing the finish line leaving all other racers in a cloud of dust. Just pushing the gas pedal to the floor isn’t enough to achieve that goal. Experienced racers use various driving techniques like heel-toe shifting, accelerating, and many others that allow for improving handling, lap time, etc. Drifting is one of the most often used techniques. It allows for quick turning tight corners or returning to the race track in case you go off it without losing too much speed. Racers typically use their hand brakes to initiate that drift.

Hand brakes can lock the rear wheels. If you use them while driving, a large amount of weight will be transferred to the front tires increasing their adhesion to the road surface. At the same time, the rear wheels will be very light and able to easily swing around. Compared to the primary braking system, hand brakes have fewer components. Typically, they consist of an intermediate lever available in multiple types and steel cables. To guarantee effective performance, all components should be in their peak condition and capable of withstanding the extreme heat generated from stopping a car at high speeds.

Nowadays, aftermarket manufacturers offer a vast range of hand brakes to meet the specifications of different makes and models and various racers’ needs and wishes. They come in two main types: mechanical and hydraulic. The latter ones are the most common choice among racers. And there is a number of reasons for it. First of all, they have no cables that can stretch and/or go out of adjustment. In addition, hydraulic hand brakes are easier to engage when the engine is running and the wheels turn at a high speed.