C5 Handbrake

mooseshaver · Post by **mooseshaver** » 18 Jul 2006, 08:56

Not a problem, but just interested, is the C5 Handbrake really on the front wheels?

LeeDJC · Post by **LeeDJC** » 18 Jul 2006, 09:13

I can't give you a definite answer, but seeing as the BX and Xantia h/b is (and others I expect) I wouldn't be at all surprised.

IMHO the handbrake on the front is much nicer

The car doesn't do all sorts of funny things when you apply the handbrake

mooseshaver · Post by **mooseshaver** » 18 Jul 2006, 09:15

Thanks LeeDJC. Perhaps explains why handbrake turns jsut don't work

LeeDJC · Post by **LeeDJC** » 18 Jul 2006, 09:16

Nope, they def won't work.....unless you try it in reverse

406 V6 · Post by **406 V6** » 18 Jul 2006, 09:37

Like all HP Citroëns it is on the front wheels. Not very hard to check it out, really....pull it while driving and watch the front sink!

SimonM · Post by **SimonM** » 18 Jul 2006, 10:48

Out of interest how come it is on the front wheels?

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 18 Jul 2006, 11:27

The reason hydraulic citroens have the handbrake on the front is beacuse they have trailing arm rear suspension.

If you stop a ZX or other car with a rear handbrake and trailing arms on a hill with the front facing up the hill it will run back slightly and tuck the trailing arms underneath itself a bit. No real problem - and the passengers don't really mind when the back goes down as you drive off.

Do the same on a hydraulic Citroen and different things happen. The height is controlled from the rear anti-roll bar so: Imaginary back handbrake on, car rolls back and suspension rises. Anti-roll bar rotates - operating height corrector - which opens to lower car. As the back wheels are locked the car doesn't respond - but the cylinders discharge due to the spheres. So rear of car is raised, no back suspension pressure - release handbrake annd back comes crashing down.

Not as much fun with a front brake but more comfortable!

You can demonstrate the reverse. Drop car, and then raise it with the brakes firmly applied. Nothing happens for a bit then if you release the brake the rear will jump up. The wheelbase alters slightly as the rear rises (wheel rolls forward) and so by locking it with the brake you are preventing this. release brake - and it goes to its preferred position.

Not very good for the suspension (heavier than normal loadigs) - but can cause some amusement in traffic queues. Better in a BX as it has a bigger pump and so rises quicker.

Post by **RichardW** » 18 Jul 2006, 11:29

It's on the front because of the self levelling and rear suspension configuration - since they use trailing arms, the wheel needs to rotate to allow the suspension height to correct. If you clamp the rear wheel with the handbrake, the suspension will over correct, and that would lead to it dropping to floor, or shooting up to max height when you let the handbrake off. Bit like my Hydractive car then.

wheeler · Post by **wheeler** » 18 Jul 2006, 18:34

406 V6 wrote:Like all HP Citroëns it is on the front wheels. Not very hard to check it out, really....pull it while driving and watch the front sink!

Not quite,the C6 handbrake acts on the rear wheels.

Although slightly different as it is electrically operated.

406 V6 · Post by **406 V6** » 18 Jul 2006, 21:45

Well...then again, the C6 "isn't" exactly a HP Citroën, as it lacks the trailing arms

IMHO, front handbrakes are superior and safer to use in an emergency as the car won't oversteer and the braking forces can be bigger.

ChevronMicky · Post by **ChevronMicky** » 19 Jul 2006, 01:02

My C5's handbrake does indeed operate the front wheels.

But it's not all about having hydropneumatics -- my old Dyane (and the 2CV) also operated the front wheels too. As a result, I understand it was one of the most efficient handbrakes ever devised!

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 19 Jul 2006, 06:58

Come to think of it my Renault 4 had rthe handbrake on the front wheels too. This also had trailing arms and I suppose on a steep hill may have tried to tuck them underneath itself which would have been ineteresting.