The Thrustmaster TSS Handbrake is a two in one unit, a progressive handbrake that also works as a sequential shifter, built around an aluminum knob and lever shaped to fit the hand, and in handbrake use it runs two selectable lever positions: a vertical Rally position and a horizontal GT position. At about 4.4 lb (2 kg) and built from 90 percent metal, steel and aluminum, it is meant to take a sharp, repeated yank rather than sit as a light desk accessory.

With 49 verified buyer reviews averaging 4.5 out of 5, feedback on this listing is deep enough to lean on alongside Thrustmaster’s published specifications, and you can read how we weigh the two on how we review.

What it is and where it fits

A handbrake earns its place on a rig for two disciplines: rally, where a hard pull rotates the car into a hairpin, and drift, where a controlled yank breaks rear traction on demand. The TSS Handbrake switches between a vertical lever position for Rally use and a horizontal position for GT style drifting, so the same unit covers both instead of forcing a choice at purchase time. It also switches into a sequential shifter mode, so the same lever can work as a plus and minus gear shifter, or a second unit can sit beside it for a rally style layout. The shaped aluminum knob is a small detail, but it signals the unit is built with a motorsport adjacent feel in mind rather than as a generic add-on.

Build and mechanism

Ninety percent metal construction, steel and aluminum, is what lets the TSS Handbrake absorb a hard pull without the housing flexing, and that matters because a handbrake that gives under load blunts exactly the abrupt weight transfer a rally yank is supposed to deliver. Thrustmaster’s H.E.A.R.T Hall effect sensor reads lever position magnetically, and the company describes the resulting lifespan as effectively unlimited since there is no physical contact point to wear down the way a potentiometer does over years of hard pulls. That combination, a metal body and a non-contact sensor, is the pairing you want in a part of the rig that takes sudden, high force input every time it is used.

Compatibility and mounting

On PC the TSS Handbrake connects over USB and works alongside any wheel brand. On PlayStation and Xbox it runs through a compatible Thrustmaster wheelbase, and Thrustmaster lists the T128, T248, T-GT and T-GT II, T300 series, TS-XW, TX series, and T598 for console use. Like any handbrake, it only performs as advertised when it is bolted to something rigid. Mounted to a flexing rail or a light desk clamp, the unit will telegraph that flex straight into your hand instead of the car, which undercuts the whole point of the metal build and the Hall effect sensor underneath it.

Pros and cons

What works:

  • 90 percent metal construction built for repeated hard pulls, not a light desk accessory
  • Hall effect sensor should hold consistent readings for years rather than wearing down like a contact based sensor
  • Rally and GT mode switching covers both drifting and rally use without buying two handbrakes

What to weigh:

  • Only pays off when mounted to a rigid rail or plate, a flexible mount undermines the build
  • A niche tool: drivers who mostly race circuit and GT content will rarely reach for it
  • On console it needs a compatible Thrustmaster wheelbase; other wheel brands can use it over USB on PC only

Who it is for

Rally drivers who need a fast, repeatable pull to rotate the car into hairpins are the core audience here, and drift drivers looking to initiate and hold a slide get real use out of the two mode design. It also suits Thrustmaster wheelbase owners who want a handbrake built to match their existing gear rather than a generic third party unit, and rig builders who already have a rigid side rail or shifter plate ready and want a matched, purpose built lever rather than an improvised desk clamp accessory.

Who should skip it

If you mostly race circuit and GT content without any rally or drift in the mix, a handbrake is dead weight on the rig and the budget is better spent on pedals or a better seat. Anyone without a rigid side rail or mounting point should hold off too, since the build quality here only shows up when it is bolted to something that will not flex under a hard pull. See the wider field in best sim racing shifters and handbrakes, our dedicated best handbrake for rally sims roundup, and browse more in handbrakes.