- Description
- Specifications
- What's In The Box?
- Warranty
- Shipping
- 100 Day FREE Returns
- Why Buy From Us?
Description
A 200kg load cell handbrake built for rally and drift
Most sim handbrakes measure how far you pulled. This one measures how hard. A 200kg load cell sits behind the lever, so the input is pressure rather than distance, and that is the difference between a handbrake you yank and a handbrake you can meter.
It matters most where the car is already sliding. A light squeeze to rotate the nose on a loose gravel hairpin and a full commitment pull to break the rear away are two different inputs on a load cell, and the same input on a switch. Our sim racing handbrakes sit alongside it if you are comparing.
Key features
- 200kg load cell measures pull force, not travel
- All aluminium body with black anodised finish
- Handle adjusts to seven angles from 0 to 90 degrees
- Converts between a vertical rally pull and a horizontal layout
- Two supplied springs set the resistance you want
- Threaded cap fine tunes stiffness without tools
Seven angles, and what they are for
The extended handle sets to 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 or 90 degrees. That is not a convenience feature, it is the difference between two driving positions. Vertical is the rally pull, up beside the seat, where you want leverage and a long arc.
Flat is the street and track layout, where the lever sits closer to a centre console and the motion is more of a squeeze than a haul. A degree conversion adapter is in the box for the change, and the angle is set by removing the bolts, rotating the endstop and retightening.
Setting the resistance
Two springs come with the handbrake, red for the stiffest setting and blue for the step below it. Swapping the spring is the coarse adjustment. The threaded cap is the fine one: clockwise for more resistance, anticlockwise for less.
Worth spending ten minutes on when it arrives. A handbrake set too soft bottoms out before you have finished the input, and one set too hard turns a modulated pull into an on or off switch, which defeats the point of a load cell in the first place.
Construction and connection
The body is all aluminium with a high quality black anodised finish, so there is no plastic in the load path between your hand and the sensor. That is what keeps the feel consistent as the force climbs rather than letting flex absorb the top of the pull.
It connects by a USB A to GX12 cable, with the GX12 port at the base of the unit and the controller board built into the handbrake itself. A mode switch on the right side toggles between game mode and firmware update mode. Our racing controls range covers the wider set.
Pairing it with the shifter
Rally and drift drivers tend to run a handbrake and an H-pattern shifter together, because the left hand is doing both jobs within a corner. The VNM Dual-Mode Shifter is the natural partner, and VNM make a mounting plate that carries the two side by side.
If you are buying both, the Shifter and Handbrake bundle puts them together. Mounting clamps and bolts are not supplied with either unit.
Our expert take
"A load cell handbrake is one of those upgrades that sounds like a small thing and is not. On a switch or a potentiometer you learn a single pull and repeat it. On this you start metering, and within a week you are using half inputs to rotate the car rather than full ones to spin it. That is the whole skill of rally driving in one component."
- Blake Sterling, Founder & CEO, Gamer Gear Direct
Frequently asked questions
Is it hydraulic?
No. It is a load cell handbrake. The lever works against a spring and the 200kg load cell reads how hard you are pulling, so there is no fluid, no bleeding and nothing to leak.
Can I mount it vertically and horizontally?
The handle converts between a vertical rally pull and a horizontal street layout through the seven position angle adjustment and the supplied conversion adapter. That is a handle adjustment rather than a second way of bolting the body down.
Are mounting clamps included?
No. Clamps and mounting bolts are bought separately, which is worth knowing before it arrives.
What does it plug into?
A USB A to GX12 cable is supplied. The GX12 end goes into the base of the handbrake and the USB end goes to your PC. The board is inside the unit, so there is no separate control box.
Specifications
Sensor: 200kg load cell
Measurement: Pull force rather than travel
Body material: Aluminium, black anodised
Handle angles: 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 degrees
Resistance adjustment: Two springs plus a threaded tension cap
Springs supplied: Red (stiffest) and blue (stiffer)
Controller board: STM32, 16-bit ADC, built into the unit
Connection: USB A to GX12
Mode switch: Game mode and firmware update mode
Platform: PC
Mounting hardware: Clamps and bolts not included
Warranty: 1 year
What's In The Box?
1 x VNM Handbrake V1.5 body
1 x handle with attached screws
1 x handle extension
2 x degree conversion adapter
1 x red spring (stiffest)
1 x blue spring (stiffer)
1 x USB A to GX12 cable
1 x hex wrench set
Warranty
This VNM Simulation handbrake is covered by a 12-month warranty against defects in materials and workmanship, beginning from the date of purchase.
Normal wear and tear sits outside the warranty. Every product is 100% genuine, sourced through authorised distribution, and our Australian simulation team is only a call or email away.
All products sold by Gamer Gear Direct are genuine and sourced from authorised distributors, with full Australian support.
Shipping
Orders are typically processed within 1–2 business days and shipped via trusted Australian courier partners.
Estimated delivery times after dispatch:
- VIC: 2–4 business days
- NSW: 2–4 business days
- ACT: 3–5 business days
- QLD: 2–4 business days
- SA: 2–4 business days
- WA: 4–10 business days
- NT: 4–10 business days
- TAS: 4–10 business days
Click here to view our full shipping & handling policy
100 Day FREE Returns
Changed your mind? No problem! You can return unused, unopened items within 100 days of your order date, provided they’re in original packaging and resaleable condition. Better still, we'll cover the return shipping!
All Gamer Gear Direct products are backed by Australian Consumer Law and include a minimum 12-month Australian warranty. If there’s an issue with your product, our team is here to help and will work to make it right.
Click here to view our full returns policy.
Why Buy From Us?
Authorised Australian dealer
Gamer Gear Direct is an authorised Australian dealer for every brand we sell and is trusted by over 20,000 customers nationwide.
This means every product is 100% genuine, sourced through approved channels, and supported locally.
Fast local shipping
We ship directly from Australian warehouses, with most orders leaving within 1–2 business days.
This ensures faster delivery times and reliable tracking from dispatch to your door.
Hassle-free 30-day returns
Changed your mind? Eligible items can be returned within 30 days provided they’re unused, unopened, and in original packaging. We keep the process clear and straightforward.
Genuine Australian warranty
Every product we sell is covered by a comprehensive Australian warranty, backed by both the manufacturer and Australian Consumer Law.
You won't be left dealing with overseas support channels.
Expert support you can trust
Whether you need product advice, compatibility guidance, or after-sales support, you’re dealing with people who know the sim and gaming gear we sell inside and out.
Our sim & gaming specialists are here to make things easy. With Gamer Gear Direct you’ll get:
- Expert guidance on choosing the right gaming gear for your goals and budget
- Personalised setup advice tailored to your space and gaming needs
- Smart gear pairing suggestions for PCs, consoles, monitors, keyboards, controllers and accessories
- Dedicated account representative for ongoing support
Call us on (03) 9961 0240, talk to our gaming experts on live chat or email us: support@gamergeardirect.com.au and one of our knowledgeable experts will help you.
Trusted by professionals
The brands we stock are trusted at the highest level of performance across motorsport, golf, and aviation. This includes elite professionals such as Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Bryson DeChambeau.
The same simulation technologies are used for training, preparation, and skill development at the top level — giving you access to pro-grade equipment built for accuracy, realism, and reliability.