I need to remove the handbrake lever from the e-brake assembly

[KevinH1990]

I found a nice wood handbrake to replace the tattered one on my Boxster.



There appear to be two options for swapping the handbrake. I can either (1) pull the handles off and swap them or (2) remove the entire lever from the handbrake assembly.

I've found several discussions of challenges associated with option one. Some posts indicate that the handles are glued securely to the levers and that they are difficult to remove without damage. My handles didn't respond to light pressure and before I resort to using a lot of force or heating the handle to loosen the glue, I would like to explore removing the entire lever from the assembly. Swapping the lever has the added benefit of replacing the scratched leather at the bottom of the assembly.

It appears that the lever is attached to the assembly with a metal tube which is pressed into the assembly.





I attempted to press the metal tube out without any results. I'm considering taking it to a shop and asking them to see whether they can press it out by using the hydraulic press normally use for wheel bearings.

If anyone has suggestions or comments I'm open to feedback. Thanks in advance.

[Smallblock454]

Could you solve the problem?

[KevinH1990]

Originally Posted by Smallblock454

Could you solve the problem?

Not yet.

As my first post shows, the wood brake handle wasn't mounted in an assembly. I bought a used assembly and removed the brake handle from it by driving out the aluminum tube that holds the hand to the assembly. I then had to drill out the rivets that hold the metal plate in place that engages with the ratcheting mechanism on the handle.

Unfortunately, when I attached the handle to the assembly, the brake handle doesn't open enough to engage the ratcheting mechanism. I think the problem may be the wooden peg at the end of the handle isn't long enough.

My next option is to warm the new brake handle in either an oven or in hot water. This may soften the glue on the handle enough for me to separate the wooden end of the handle from the metal part of the handle. I am considering wrapping the handle in plastic and submerging it in water at slightly less than boiling temperature to see whether that will work.