2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

Moving E-Brake

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Old Sep 1, 2004 | 10:23 AM
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Moving E-Brake

Looking at some pics of right hand drive rx-7s I noticed how the biggest aggravation in a 7 is on the passenger side.

I did a search and could not find anything, has anyone thought about moving their ebrake handle to the passenger side? I have to say, Its a pain in the **** (actually thigh) when driving a 7 with the handle jabbing me in the leg.

thoughts?
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Old Sep 1, 2004 | 12:21 PM
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I've always been bothered by that in the 2nd gen. Some designer finally figured it out in the 3rd gen and put it on the correct side. I'm sure there are some arguments for it being on the left though -- personally I think it sucks. :P

Would be interested in seeing pics/descriptions of this.

Have you pulled your carpet back? or looked underneath? I'm wondering if the tranny tunnel was made 'universal'. Are there any mounting points that have been made on both sides to accomodate the right vs. left drive vehicles? Dunno, just some thoughts.
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Old Sep 1, 2004 | 12:21 PM
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I agree. It belongs on the passenger side of the car. I've on occasion thought about doing away with it. It rates right up there with the wiper switch/ Logicon for glaring problems with a RX-7.
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Old Sep 1, 2004 | 01:06 PM
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im scrawny....it doesn't bother me...
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Old Sep 1, 2004 | 03:09 PM
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dont forget the cruise switch being behind the steering wheel, ever try to lean around at 70 to see if the dam light is on or off if its not working?//

I am going to persue this in the near future. The Arm rest is too low and needs to go, the headrest speaker switch does not work and is useless, only the foglight switch needs a new home and the brake lever will be moved!
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Old Sep 1, 2004 | 03:22 PM
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my armrest is already gone
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Old Sep 1, 2004 | 04:02 PM
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I have the best armrest evar!
It's the one which the huge raised part so my eblow fits nicely on it.

I like the Ebrake Bening on the left.

Although I do rest my hand on it which makes my passengers nervous since I have been known to use it in "fun situations".
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Old Sep 1, 2004 | 05:54 PM
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Man, I was just thinking about this today. My e-brake doesn't actually work right now, so I figured it's a good time to move it and replace all the cabling with some quality aircraft cable and some turnbuckles.

I don't think it would be too hard to move it, all it really needs to do is pull the cable forward to engage the e-brake, nothing fancy, so with enough cable and some basic fab skills you could probably mount one under dash somewhere.
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Old Sep 2, 2004 | 09:56 PM
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I was under the car today and took a look to see if it'd be possible, and I don't think it's worth the effort. The mount is not universal, and moving it to the other side would involve drilling hole for the bolts, creating a plat to keep it at a 90 degree angle (the area where it is mounted on the tans. tunnel is flat), and you'd probably want to mvoe the propeller shaft over, since it seems like it is slightly off-center in the area so that the clearance between both tunnel walls including the flattened area is equal.
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Old Sep 2, 2004 | 11:11 PM
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If ur a slim guy like me, 5'8 3/4" and 150lbs. Then u got no worries about the ebrake touchin ur leg.
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Old Sep 2, 2004 | 11:15 PM
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You'll all be pissed off when it's too far to reach while trying to do an e-turn. On my 300zx, it's on the passenger side and that's always been a bit inconvenient.

If you think about it, on the 3rd gen in japan, it would be on the drivers side. Hopefully that may say something about the things they considered while designing the 3rd gen.

Oh well... my $.02
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Old Sep 3, 2004 | 01:34 AM
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Eturns are the least of my concerns...
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Old Sep 3, 2004 | 06:04 AM
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You should learn to drift by shifting weight rather then relying on the e-brake anyways. Remember the cup of water dammit! (sarcasm alert)
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Old Sep 8, 2004 | 06:47 PM
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im 5'10" and about 175 pounds and the e-brake is like half a foot from touching my leg. i like it where it sits
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Old Sep 8, 2004 | 08:26 PM
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guys, as the post said, I am looking for info on moving the ebrake, not drifting or a poll on if you likeit where it is
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Old Sep 8, 2004 | 10:30 PM
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I rest my hand on it while cruising too, like Digi...My beef is always hitting the wiper switch when I'm reaching for something...

OK, sorry Mr Gadget, had to join the poll, lol...

Well, if you've already got most of the interior stuff out of the way, and have easy access under the car, just cut a similar size/shape hole exactly opposite the e-brake hole. Or you may have to move the new hole a little forward or aft, depending on where the e-brake cable wants to "sit" without binding or new adjustments...
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Old Sep 8, 2004 | 10:44 PM
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i am in the process of moving the one in my tii vert transformation

pics will be avaliable to most non poll members and wayne of course
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Old Sep 8, 2004 | 10:49 PM
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Lol, hey, I sure could use some ancient wisdom on my little dilema that's 4 pages long now...Any ideas pop into that head of yours? I've been troubleshooting this biatch for a month now...
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Old Sep 9, 2004 | 03:21 AM
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I'd like to know this too, it jabs me in the leg badly,.. i was also thinking of putting a handle on it with an L bend in it to raise it above my leg..
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Old Sep 9, 2004 | 03:30 AM
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how does the handle jab you? is your leg rubbing on the side of the e-brake or is it around the button area that it hits?
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Old Sep 9, 2004 | 06:09 AM
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for me its the end - until i gfigure out how to move the damm thing
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Old Sep 9, 2004 | 09:39 AM
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Smile

Originally Posted by Mr. Gadget
for me its the end - until i gfigure out how to move the damm thing

P L A Z M A C U T T E R
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Old Sep 9, 2004 | 07:04 PM
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have one and have used it - this
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Old May 2, 2005 | 11:59 PM
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Any progress or even another thread on this?

I have done a lot of searching and have failed to find a thread that has a solution - ALTHOUGH...

Someone I was talking to said that he had once seen information on an easy fix - a Miata Hand brake that is designed for the right side... was even compatible with the cable - but I have yet to see any informatin on it or hear from anyone who has done it.

PLEASE - if you know anything or have seen anything offering a solution to this - PLEASE fill us in.

TIA
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Old May 3, 2005 | 01:22 AM
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I don't see how this is plausible... if my memory serves me the handle support is WELDED to the tunnel...

I'm 6'5" 200lb and I don't have a problem with it? I do hit the wiper switch during very fast steering wheel spinning... damn that thing... damn it.

So pretty much there is no easy answer, this would be a custom fab job... otherwise it's just a simple relocation of the cable, which compared to say making mounts for a different engine, is a little less complicated.

You know you can bend the handle also? It's very thin... maybe some of you accidentally had yours bent in somehow... mine did that once because I accidentally caught it and pulled it sideways sorta... I could see how that could get in your way if it was bent over.

--Gary
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