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Free chrome handbrake button

Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 12:25 pm
by NZMiata
Here's an easy mod to brighten up your interior a little.

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

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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!

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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.

Re: Free chrome handbrake button

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:27 pm
by 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.

Re: Free chrome handbrake button

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:32 pm
by 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

Re: Free chrome handbrake button

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:58 pm
by ForceMajeure
I will remember this when i next get a lift in someones mazda3. :wink: :lol:

Re: Free chrome handbrake button

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:11 am
by NZMiata
snshami wrote: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.