cyberleader

I need to speak to everyone who has installed a 4th gen e-brake handle. I just bolted one in and got the cable hooked up, no problem. But unlike the 3rd gens handles, in order to drop the 4th gen console back down, the e-brake handle and the release **** need to come off. After drilling out the rivet in the handle and playing with it for a while I got them off and dropped the console back down. Now I can't figure out how to put the handle back together. I've played with it all night and tried everything I can think of. The **** actually doesn't come off by itself, it's permanently attached to a 6" long question mark shaped rod with a spring around it. Somehow it attaches to the release tab mechanism. I cannot for the life of me figure out how to put this back together. Please help!!!

Al Hasse

I ended up leaving the handle on and VERY carefully eased the console cover over it. Took a while and I thought I may have cracked it a couple of times. The rubber gasket type piece in my console isn't in the greatest of shape anyhow and hasn't been since I've had the car, that may be why I could ease the console over the handle.

cyberleader

That is what I may have to do... but either way I still have to get this e brake back together... especially since my car is manual! I am asking if someone, anyone who has a 4th gen e brake, if they can shoot me a pic of the underside of the handle (preferable with the handle off) so I can see how the enclosed spring is oriented. That's the only part I can't figure out! I could easily admit defeat and buy another entire assembly but I don't want to... yet!!!

Thanks guyz
Cheers Tom

alloy

iTrader: (16)

It's not difficult at all to put the handle back on. I took a small block of wood and proped the brake lever up some, slid the handle on til it hit the rod in the sleeve, then took a small phillip's head screw driver and slide up under the handle in the groove and pushed the rod up, and slid the handle on. You will feel it slide over the pin and catch. Took a couple of tries to make it work. I practiced on the lever and handle before I installed the handle setup. Once you figure it out takes about 30 seconds to put the handle back on.

cyberleader

Thanks for replying alloy.... I got that part you described figured out... what i don't understand is how the spring is oriented...

alloy

iTrader: (16)

I'm not sure what spring you are referring to. In the handle or the return spring?

In my car the handle setup would not clear my console. The bracket on the back of the unit had a tab for the return spring and it hit my console big time. So I cut that little tab off and moved it to my floor board off to the left at about a 30 deg angle. Drilled a couple of hole for small bolts and nylock nuts and attached the spring and it's been working great for well over a year now.

cyberleader

the one in the handle that goes around the rod. it causes the rod to stay in place otherwise it would fall out and it causes the thumb button to spring in and out. can't figure out how to align it. I'll post some pics later today.

i looked at the 3rd gen one i took out of the car for reference and it's easy to see how that one goes back together... there are two tabs present that aren't on the 4th gen version!

cyberleader

This is the spring that is causing me grief. How is it oriented inside the handle?

alloy

iTrader: (16)

My setup is all together and when I pulled the ebrake up I couldn't see the spring inside the lever at all.

84 1LE

iTrader: (9)

If that spring is anything like a 3rd gens.It is sandwiched between the **** & the end of the e-brake lever.If not then maybe between the **** & handle.

cyberleader

Well, after a few sleepless nights and enough swearing to turn the air in my garage blue, I finally have a functioning 4th gen e-brake again.

Al Hasse is right, there's no need to take the handle apart in the first place, the slot in the console fits over the handle just fine. I had it stuck in my head that the handle (which is riveted onto the brake) had to come off to pass through the slot in the console.

The key is the rivet (or screw since I drilled out the rivet) in the handle. It's doing double duty. Not only is it holding the handle on to the metal lever, but it's also routing the rod inside the brake downward, causing it to put pressure on the release tab. If the rod if routed on the wrong (upper) side of the rivet or screw, there will be no pressure on the release tab and the rod will just keep falling out.

The spring had nothing to do with it. It fits in one place and one place only: between the thumb **** and the end of the metal lever.

The moral of the story: don't take the handle apart! Slide the slot in the console over the handle! Sheesh.

The End