Free chrome handbrake button

[NZMiata]

Here's an easy mod to brighten up your interior a little.

First, find a 323 like this at a junk yard.




Unscrew the chrome handbrake button. It might be quite stiff but just keep trying and it should eventually unscrew. The outer diameter of the button is a perfect match for the MX-5, but the diameter of the threaded hole is slightly smaller on the 323 button. I used a phillips head screw driver to increase the diameter. A drill would be faster and easier if you have one. Apparently some 626s came with a chrome button that is a perfect replacement. None of the 626s at this particular junk yard had a chrome button.

It's fairly soft plastic so it is quite easy to make new threads by just screwing the button onto the rod.

And here is what you're left with!




The button is slightly longer than the MX-5 button so it sticks out further. Boring out the hole deeper down would probably allow the button to be threaded on further, but I don't mind having more of the chrome showing. The button I got has some scuffs on it. Some plastic polish shined it up a bit.

Note: This mod may not be free for everybody. The junk yard I got the button from didn't charge me for it because I was buying a couple other things at the same time.

[snshami]

That is an awesome tip. Is it easy to unscrew the handbrake button on the MX-5. I tried and cannot get enough grip on it to turn.

[lukearama]

if you want to go one step better the old RX7 had a chrome ring at the other end of the handle... slighly smaller in OD but still fitted the hand brake shroud the same way...

sorry no photo

[ForceMajeure]

I will remember this when i next get a lift in someones mazda3.

[NZMiata]

Is it easy to unscrew the handbrake button on the MX-5. I tried and cannot get enough grip on it to turn.

I removed the handbrake handle first. Doing that exposes more of the button so you can get a better grip.