RobbieTheStiff
June 25th, 2004, 11:19 PM
Sorry, no video on this one, but plenty of pictures and CENTRAL knowledge to walk you though.
You will need to remove your centre console in order to do this -- I don't have any pictures of the procedure since I already had mine removed following "The Milkshake Incident". Â But all you have to do is remove the screws on either side, slide the console towards the back of the car a little to clear the dashboard, and then remove through the back door.
Now that the console is removed, we can very easily work on the e-brake handle..
http://chris.flow.cx/2004-06/IMG_0756.JPG
Step 1 - Remove the e-brake handle assembly:
It will be much easier to complete this mod if you remove the handle assembly from the car first. First, very carefully remove the retaining screw for the DRL/e-brake warning light sensor and make sure you don't lose the spring and plastic bit. Then, remove the 10mm nut from the brake cable linkage and free the cable from the handle. And lastly there are two 12mm bolts that secure the handle to the floor pan.
This picture shows what needs to be removed:
http://chris.flow.cx/2004-06/IMG_0758.JPG
Step 2 - Remove the molded rubber handle:
In order to fit the new handle on, the old molded rubber handle has to be taken off. Unfortunately, the only way to do this is with a sharp knife. Just cut away and eventually you will get it all off. It's not particularly difficult, just make sure you have a sturdy, sharp knife and be careful not to take any fingers off.
Once you have all the rubber off, your e-brake handle assembly will look very naked:
http://chris.flow.cx/2004-06/IMG_0769.JPG
Step 3 - Test fit new e-brake handle:
Slide the new handle on to see how it fits. In the case of the Ractive handle shown in this install, I had to use the medium-sized end in order to clear the button, but unfortunately the handle was a bit too long and did not leave enough room for the button to travel. So, I had to whip out the Dremel and cut away a bit at the curve on the underside so the new handle would slide on far enough.
Here is the result:
http://chris.flow.cx/2004-06/IMG_0770.JPG
Now when I put the new handle on, there is plenty of room for the button to travel and properly release the brake.
http://chris.flow.cx/2004-06/IMG_0771.JPG
Step 4: Reinstall the assembly
Install the handle assembly back into the car. Make sure you tighten the two 12mm nuts very well -- you don't want that handle wiggling around when you're trying to get the back-end to ... I mean when you're parking the car! And you can double-check you've got the handle sensor connected properly just by looking for the e-brake warning light on your instrument cluster.
And speaking of the handle wiggling, make sure the set screws that come with the handle are tight as well using the supplied allen key. My handle came with two different lengths of screws -- I only needed the shorter ones.
http://chris.flow.cx/2004-06/IMG_0772.JPG
http://chris.flow.cx/2004-06/IMG_0776.JPG
http://chris.flow.cx/2004-06/IMG_0777.JPG
Well that takes care of the handle! The boot is a different story... It doesn't fit very well, because our e-brake handles are so short and are mostly inside the console anyway. I'll have more on that tomorrow when I figure out what to do...
<span style='font-size:12pt;line-height:100%'>CENTRAL OUT</span>
You will need to remove your centre console in order to do this -- I don't have any pictures of the procedure since I already had mine removed following "The Milkshake Incident". Â But all you have to do is remove the screws on either side, slide the console towards the back of the car a little to clear the dashboard, and then remove through the back door.
Now that the console is removed, we can very easily work on the e-brake handle..
http://chris.flow.cx/2004-06/IMG_0756.JPG
Step 1 - Remove the e-brake handle assembly:
It will be much easier to complete this mod if you remove the handle assembly from the car first. First, very carefully remove the retaining screw for the DRL/e-brake warning light sensor and make sure you don't lose the spring and plastic bit. Then, remove the 10mm nut from the brake cable linkage and free the cable from the handle. And lastly there are two 12mm bolts that secure the handle to the floor pan.
This picture shows what needs to be removed:
http://chris.flow.cx/2004-06/IMG_0758.JPG
Step 2 - Remove the molded rubber handle:
In order to fit the new handle on, the old molded rubber handle has to be taken off. Unfortunately, the only way to do this is with a sharp knife. Just cut away and eventually you will get it all off. It's not particularly difficult, just make sure you have a sturdy, sharp knife and be careful not to take any fingers off.
Once you have all the rubber off, your e-brake handle assembly will look very naked:
http://chris.flow.cx/2004-06/IMG_0769.JPG
Step 3 - Test fit new e-brake handle:
Slide the new handle on to see how it fits. In the case of the Ractive handle shown in this install, I had to use the medium-sized end in order to clear the button, but unfortunately the handle was a bit too long and did not leave enough room for the button to travel. So, I had to whip out the Dremel and cut away a bit at the curve on the underside so the new handle would slide on far enough.
Here is the result:
http://chris.flow.cx/2004-06/IMG_0770.JPG
Now when I put the new handle on, there is plenty of room for the button to travel and properly release the brake.
http://chris.flow.cx/2004-06/IMG_0771.JPG
Step 4: Reinstall the assembly
Install the handle assembly back into the car. Make sure you tighten the two 12mm nuts very well -- you don't want that handle wiggling around when you're trying to get the back-end to ... I mean when you're parking the car! And you can double-check you've got the handle sensor connected properly just by looking for the e-brake warning light on your instrument cluster.
And speaking of the handle wiggling, make sure the set screws that come with the handle are tight as well using the supplied allen key. My handle came with two different lengths of screws -- I only needed the shorter ones.
http://chris.flow.cx/2004-06/IMG_0772.JPG
http://chris.flow.cx/2004-06/IMG_0776.JPG
http://chris.flow.cx/2004-06/IMG_0777.JPG
Well that takes care of the handle! The boot is a different story... It doesn't fit very well, because our e-brake handles are so short and are mostly inside the console anyway. I'll have more on that tomorrow when I figure out what to do...
<span style='font-size:12pt;line-height:100%'>CENTRAL OUT</span>