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P-Brake release button snapped off!!


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96 Legacy manual trans. The parking brake release button snapped right off (and flew across the passenger seat) this morning. Luckily, the brake released BEFORE the button broke. So, I'll get to spend some more quality time with Williams Auto World's Subaru Service Dept., because I always use the p-brake. I must have a working p-brake for my mental stability. The first chance I'll have will be Friday.

 

Meanwhile, I've got questions:

1. If I accidentally pull up on the brake lever, how can I get the brake to release?

 

2. If I park and leave the car in gear, which is gonna hold it better, Reverse or First? (and does it really work?)

 

3. Anybody got an idea how much this is gonna cost?

 

Thanks!

Kaja

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Do you have the piece in your hand? This isn't really a major problem, so cheer up :)

 

This happened in the truck at work and on a friends car, and both times was solved by putting some rubber cement on the broken off button and putting it back on the metal pin that it covers. So far, both have held up fine for the past 20,000 miles. Assuming Subaru uses the same setup....it is also possible to press the metal rod, but it hurts a lot more ;)

 

Kevin

 

Oh yeah, It says in the manual what gears are best to park it in (mine does anyhow). If its uphill I usually park in 1 or 2 and if I'm facing downhill I put it in R.

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The same thing happened on my wife's 94 Legacy a couple of months ago. Her handle continues to go up and down, just the ratchet mechanism doesn't catch anymore. Since the car has an automatic, I haven't worried about it too much. Once the weather gets warmer I'll fix it.

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No, no, I have GOOD luck! See, everytime something goes goofy with the car I have you guys to answer my questions! Thanks!

 

(P.S. I don't see or feel a metal pin, and the only pieces I found are the broken button and a spring. I suppose I could jam a ball point pen into the handle and use that to release the ratchety thing.)

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97 Leg. OB I bought last year had a busted button too. 5spd and I'm with you on the mental stability. I bought my new parking brake assembly from subaru for around $60 and put it in fairly easily. You may find one cheaper on ebay or 1stsubaruparts.com but it's an easy fix.

 

somebody buy my OB, please!

p

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  • 4 months later...
97 Leg. OB I bought last year had a busted button too. 5spd and I'm with you on the mental stability. I bought my new parking brake assembly from subaru for around $60 and put it in fairly easily. You may find one cheaper on ebay or 1stsubaruparts.com but it's an easy fix.

 

somebody buy my OB, please!

p

How easy is this easy fix??? Thanks

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I support the idea of using reverse if the car would roll backwards. However, I would use second for the other direction, a lot of gearboxes will "pop" out of first more readily than second.

 

If there is pavement, turn the wheels so that the car will roll into the cornerstone and stop. Never park any car, functioning handbrake or not, with the wheels parallel to the pavement.

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Hi

I had the same problem with my 93 legacy. Its the button that keeps the ratchet on. The button removes the tension from a spring allowing the ratchet to release. I was told that the button is not available and that I must buy a new assembly for $65 parts only. I checked with a plastics expert and he said; Dont glur it with krazy glue. It wont work but no other glue will work either. Take the assembly apart and remove the inside piece. Go to a plastics shop (plexiglass and the like and have them try several solivents or cements in a non essential part of the button untill one softens it. That one is the glue you want. Clean it and glue it and reassemble. Worked fine.

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I had this problem with my SVX, and since its a 5spd with out the hill holder i wanted to fix it. You should still be able to use you hand break untill its fixed, if the handle is still on i would take it off so you can use it its only 1 screw. If its the same as the SVX there should be a little 1 knob that sticks out that you can use for you handbrake, you just need to push it in to relase. This maybe hard to do but at least you have a hand break. If you lose or have lost the racheting mechanism all you have to do to set it is pull the knob out.

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