Mount a T598 shifter and handbrake on a side arm of your cockpit, next to your dominant hand. The shifter knob sits roughly at the height of the lower half of the wheel rim, about a hand span away from it. The handbrake goes just behind the shifter, so you reach it without leaning. On the SIMGASM Hobby, the Core side profile shifter and handbrake arm is part of the box.
Below, you find which add ons fit the T598, where each one goes and how to fine tune the position for your style.
Which add ons fit the T598 ecosystem?
Thrustmaster lists several shifters and handbrakes that work with the T598.
Shifters
The Thrustmaster compatibility checker recommends the TH8A and the TH8S shifter add ons for the T598. The TH8A switches between an H pattern and a sequential mode, so one device covers road cars and race cars. The T598 rim also has mag shift paddles, so many drivers use the shifter only for classic and rally cars.
Handbrakes
For rally and drifting, Thrustmaster recommends the TSS Handbrake and its Sparco Mod version. A handbrake asks for a strong mount, because you pull it hard and fast, often many times per stage.
SIMGASM | Hobby Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - MARINI
Where should the shifter go?
The best spot copies the layout of a real car.
Height and distance
Sit in your normal position and let your arm hang next to the seat. Lift your hand until your forearm is roughly level. That is about the right height for the shifter knob. Keep it close enough that your elbow stays bent, but far enough that your hand clears the rim when you steer.
H pattern versus sequential
In H pattern mode, you need room left and right for all gears, so leave space between the knob and the seat. In sequential mode, you push forward and pull back, so a slightly higher position feels more natural.
Where does the handbrake go?
The handbrake works best directly behind or beside the shifter.
Reach without leaning
In a rally car, your hand drops from the wheel to the handbrake in a fraction of a second. Copy that. Mount the handbrake so your hand finds it with your back still against the seat. Leaning forward every corner costs time and tires your shoulder. A slight backward tilt of the lever gives a stronger pull.
SIMGASM | Hobby Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - JPS
Why does a cockpit arm beat a desk clamp?
Clamps work, but they move exactly where you need stability.
No wobble under load
A desk clamp holds the shifter against a thin table edge. Every hard shift rocks it a little, and after a few weeks the clamp works loose. A shifter arm bolted to an aluminium profile does not move. Every SIMGASM product is tested as part of a complete simulator, including the add ons, so the arm and the frame work as one unit. When The Simpit visited the SIMGASM booth at Sim Gaming Expo 2026, the clever bracketry stood out.
More positions with an extra mount
Want the shifter and handbrake on separate arms, or on both sides? Add the SIMGASM | Shifter & Handbrake Mount - Black. It is adjustable and fits all SIMGASM simulators. You find more options in our sim racing accessories collection.
Left side or right side?
Your racing style and your favourite cars decide the side.
Follow the cars you drive
Most drivers mount the shifter on the right, like a car with the steering wheel on the left. Drive mostly Japanese or British road cars? Then a left side mount feels natural. On an aluminium profile cockpit, you move the arm to the other side in minutes. SIMGASM founder Johan Akkerman, who has raced since 2008, designed the complete range around real hardware and real driving positions.
SIMGASM | Hobby Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - RothBros
Plan the full layout
Mount the pedals and the wheelbase first, then the shifter and handbrake. That order keeps everything in proportion. Need help with the pedals? Read how do you mount T598 pedals on a cockpit in 2026. You see every compatible frame on our Thrustmaster T598 compatibility page.
Quick answers about shifters and handbrakes
Here are the answers to the questions we get most.
Is a shifter arm included with the SIMGASM Hobby?
Yes. The Hobby comes with the Core side profile shifter and handbrake arm. The shifter and handbrake devices themselves are sold separately.
Can the shifter and handbrake share one arm?
Yes, if the arm has room for both. Place the handbrake behind the shifter so your hand reaches both.
Do I need a handbrake for normal racing?
No. A handbrake mainly helps in rally and drifting. For circuit racing, the shifter and paddles are enough.
Want to learn more? The SIMGASM experts are happy to help.
