Are the handbrake and foot brake the same braking system?
3 Answers
The handbrake and foot brake are not the same brake pads. The handbrake, commonly known as the parking brake, is a braking device used to keep the vehicle stationary when parked, and it only brakes the two rear wheels. The foot brake, commonly known as the service brake, is used to slow down or temporarily stop the vehicle while it is in motion, and it brakes all four wheels. Introduction to the handbrake: The parking brake, generally referred to as the handbrake, provides resistance to prevent the vehicle from rolling when parked. It locks the drive shaft or rear wheels and exerts much less force compared to the service brake. Handbrake system: The electronic parking brake system integrates the temporary braking function during driving with the long-term braking function after parking, and it is controlled electronically to achieve parking braking. The electronic handbrake uses electronic control to achieve parking braking, and its working principle is the same as that of the mechanical handbrake—both rely on the friction generated between the brake disc and brake pads to control parking braking. The only difference is that the control method has changed from the mechanical handbrake lever to an electronic button.
I've been driving a manual transmission old car for over a decade, and these two are completely different things. The foot brake is a hydraulic system used while driving - when you press it, all four wheels brake simultaneously, providing exceptionally smooth deceleration. The handbrake is purely mechanical, only locking the two rear wheels, meant for parking to prevent rolling. Never rely on pulling the handbrake to slow down during normal driving - the noise would be thunderous, and you risk locking the tires completely and spinning out. Last month in our neighborhood, some young guy did exactly that and ended up warping the rear suspension. The proper technique is to engage the handbrake after coming to a complete stop, and use it with the clutch during hill starts to prevent rolling and damaging the transmission.
A girl who just got her driver's license tells you: The foot brake is like the main attacker in braking, responsible for emergency stops while driving. The handbrake is more like a support player, specifically managing parking and preventing rollback. You see, when you press the foot brake in a Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the ABS kicks in to prevent locking, so it's very gentle; the handbrake relies entirely on a steel cable for a hard pull—if I don't use it when parking on my garage slope, the car will definitely roll three meters by the next day. Also, with the widespread adoption of electronic handbrakes, now when you stop at a red light and press the foot brake firmly, the auto-hold feature activates, so you don't even need to touch the handbrake. But remember, don't touch the electronic handbrake button while driving—the system will judge it as a mistake and won't engage the brake.
