Sim-Lab XB1 Loadcell Handbrake - precision 150 kg loadcell detail

Precision 150 kg loadcell

Sim-Lab's patented 150 kg loadcell sits directly in the brake stack and measures the force you apply, not how far the lever travels - the same principle as a loadcell brake pedal. Because muscle memory works with pressure rather than distance, your inputs stay repeatable: the same pull always produces the same amount of handbrake, corner after corner.

Sim-Lab XB1 Loadcell Handbrake - dual stage damper system

Dual stage damper

The two-stage damper replicates the handbrake feel of rally and drift cars: the initial travel of the lever simulates pressurizing the brake system before the resistance firms up, just like in a real hydraulic setup. Prefer a direct, immediate response? The second stage can be removed, leaving the brake stack on a single elastomer.

Sim-Lab XB1 Loadcell Handbrake - motorsport grade aluminium design

Motorsport grade aluminium construction

The XB1 is machined from aluminium throughout - lever, body and brake stack - so it handles hard pulls without flex. Resistance is tuned mechanically on the unit itself: adjust the pre-load and damper, or swap between the three included elastomers to change the overall stiffness of the lever.

Sim-Lab XB1 Loadcell Handbrake - plug and play USB connection

Plug & Play on PC

The XB1 connects over USB and works as a standard game controller in any PC racing title - no software installation needed. The free Sim-Lab RaceDirector software is optional and adds calibration and braking curve adjustment, letting you shape how the 150 kg range maps to in-game input.

What our customers say about this product

FAQs

Is a handbrake worth it for sim racing?

For rally, drift and rallycross - yes. A dedicated handbrake gives you analog control over rotating the car into hairpins and holding drift angle, which a button press cannot do. The XB1 adds a loadcell on top of that: it measures the force of your pull, so the same input always produces the same result.

What is the difference between a loadcell handbrake and a regular one?

A regular handbrake reads how far the lever travels; a loadcell handbrake measures how hard you pull. Muscle memory works with pressure rather than distance, so force-based input is more repeatable - the same principle as a loadcell brake pedal. The XB1 uses a patented 150 kg loadcell design.

Does the XB1 work on Xbox or PlayStation?

No - the XB1 is PC only. On PC it works plug and play over USB as a standard game controller in any racing title, with no software installation required; the free RaceDirector software optionally adds calibration and braking curve adjustment.

How do I mount the XB1 to my rig?

Two holes on top of an aluminium profile are the standard mounting, with hardware included. For an angled position there is the optional angled mounting bracket, and for Sim-Lab's 40 mm profile series the Shifter & HB bracket.

Sim-Lab XB1 or Heusinkveld Handbrake V2 - which one?

The XB1 is the simpler, more affordable option: full aluminium, a 150 kg loadcell, a two-stage damper with three elastomers and a 3-year warranty. The Heusinkveld Handbrake V2 adds a linear 22 kg measuring range at the lever, horizontal or vertical lever and base positions with a yaw-adjustable plate, and SmartControl software with output curves and on-the-fly profiles. Both are PC only.