Does the car handbrake engage the front or rear wheels?

[Sheila]

The car handbrake engages the rear wheels, and the electronic parking brake also engages the rear wheels. The handbrake is frequently used during normal vehicle operation. After parking and turning off the engine, it's necessary to firmly engage the handbrake to prevent the vehicle from rolling. Mechanical handbrakes have a handbrake cable beneath the handbrake lever, which connects to both rear wheels. Electronic parking brakes feature electric motors on the rear wheels that clamp the brake pads when the button is pressed, preventing the vehicle from rolling. When driving, don't forget to release the handbrake, as failure to do so will accelerate wear on both the handbrake system and the tires. When parking on a slope, ensure the handbrake is fully engaged to avoid rolling. After engaging the handbrake, an indicator light will illuminate on the dashboard, which will turn off when the handbrake is released.

[McAna]

Hey, I know this question like the back of my hand! The parking brake (also called handbrake) in cars almost always brakes the rear wheels. It's a completely separate system from the foot brake pedal (service brake) we normally use. Why is it designed for the rear wheels? Mainly because parking brakes typically use mechanical cables, and the rear wheel position makes cable routing more convenient. Simply put: the foot brake stops all four wheels together, while pulling the handbrake only locks the rear two wheels. I remember once at the repair shop, the mechanic demonstrated how lifting the handbrake made the rear wheels jam and stop turning, while the front wheels could still be pushed slightly. Many older cars used drum brakes for parking brakes, while modern disc brake cars often have a small additional drum brake mechanism inside the rear brake disc. If you drive manual transmission, just using the handbrake on a slope isn't stable enough - it's safer to also engage a gear. By the way, handbrake cables can stretch over time, so regular inspection and adjustment are necessary.

[CarolineLee]

In principle, the handbrake systems of most household cars act on the rear wheels. This design is deliberate. The hydraulic foot brake is responsible for deceleration during driving, distributing force to all four wheels, while the handbrake is an independent mechanical device with a relatively simple structure, using steel cables to lock the rear wheels. This arrangement is cost-effective and easy to maintain. I've noticed that many car enthusiasts upgrading their rear brake performance also aim to improve handbrake effectiveness. Of course, electronic handbrakes are more common now, but they essentially control the rear brake calipers or the motors within integrated calipers. If you forget to release the handbrake after parking and drive off, dragging the rear wheels for a few kilometers, you'll quickly smell burning. By the way, if the car still rolls on a slope despite pulling the handbrake tight, it's likely due to cable aging or worn rear brake pads needing adjustment.

[LilyLee]

The handbrake in a car indeed brakes the rear wheels. This design has remained unchanged from classic vintage cars to modern electronic handbrakes. Unlike the hydraulic system of the service brake, the handbrake uses a purely mechanical cable structure (even the final actuator of an electronic handbrake still acts on the rear wheels). The advantages of this design are its simplicity and reliability, as well as providing redundant capability to stop the car by locking the rear wheels in case the foot brake fails. Try pulling the handbrake tightly on a flat surface and pushing the car—you'll find the rear wheels are basically locked. However, note that some large SUVs or pickup trucks have four-wheel parking brakes, but most ordinary family cars only brake the rear wheels. Remember to release the handbrake before starting off each time; driving with it engaged for long periods is bad for both the rear brake pads and fuel economy.