Emergency Brake Release Lever

[86VickyLX]

Well my lever came off in my hand today. Broke off clean. Anyway, I see how it goes all together except for a snap ring that I just don't know where it goes. Has anyone had the lever apart before? if so where does this snap ring go? If nobody, knows, I'll just see where it goes at a junkyard, if I ever get a chance to go back. Thanks,
John.

[1987cp]

I've been releasing mine for a few years now by reaching way up under the dash to the metal part. But I've got a good assembly that I took off the '79 and haven't swapped in yet ... maybe pics of that could help figure out how it goes together.

[gadget73]

where did it come apart? Just the plastic handle popeed off the metal part, or did it come apart farther up on the mechanism?

[1987cp]

where did it come apart? Just the plastic handle popeed off the metal part, or did it come apart farther up on the mechanism?

That's how it happened on mine - plastic part actually broke. Maybe instead of swapping the assembly I should make a new handle out of metal ....

[gadget73]

mine broke too, i replaced it from a junkyard car. Theres a pin, a washer, and a jesus clip in there if I remember right. Washer goes between the plastic handle and the jesus clip. Theres a hole in the pin that it goes through.

[1987cp]

sounds like how I remember the '87 edition .... so Vicky might only need a $0.15 hitchpin from the hardware store

[Brown_Muscle]

Does the emergency brake not auto-release when you put it in drive for you guys?

[1987cp]

not with the vacuum hose disconnected :p I'd like to revive that feature one of these days, though.

[86VickyLX]

mine broke too, i replaced it from a junkyard car. Theres a pin, a washer, and a jesus clip in there if I remember right. Washer goes between the plastic handle and the jesus clip. Theres a hole in the pin that it goes through.

Jesus Clip? :lol: I think that's the clip thing I am talking about. The handle actually broke off. So I'll get another one the next time I'm at a junkyard.
Brown_Muscle, no, I disconnected that because there was a vacuum leak from that white thing under the dash. So I just plugged the line up.

[Brown_Muscle]

i always back out of my driveway, i wish that it would autorelease the brake when i put it in reverse too, oh well at least it works haha

[gadget73]

My parking brake gets used about every 2 years, which is when it gets inspected. I used it regularly when I had a manual trans car, but I also left it in gear so if the brake failed it wouldn't go anywhere.

[1987cp]

Brown_Muscle, no, I disconnected that because there was a vacuum leak from that white thing under the dash. So I just plugged the line up.

... and that would be the initial reason why mine's disconnected. I got tired of listening to that constant sucking noise whenever I was in the car. Is it the actual valve thing connected to the shifter that's the source of the leak, then?

[86GmLsCoupe]

The plastic handle broke on me maybe three years ago during the winter when the plastic is most brittle. At that time the PRNDL switch was busted so I had pull on it with my hand and that sucker flies back and smacks your fingers pretty hard. If the auto-release is disconnected and you need to use it, use needle nose pliers to release it. The handle is held in like Gadget was saying and easy to swap. Just bring ziploc to the yard to toss the small pieces in.

[torquelover]

Never had the auto-release on mine, and the handle plastic broke in the middle of a -10F day. My POS was one of the only cars to start that night, and it was at least 15 years older than the next newer non-starting car.

[86VickyLX]

I replaced the handle. And I have to say it's more firm than the original one. Got it out of an '86 Grand Marquis Coupe. Thanks everyone!