Aftermarket Handbrake Discussion
 

So, the oem handbrake plastic tongue broke off like it's done for so many others, so now i'm 'looking' into aftermarket handbrakes/covers

I've done a lot of searching and I've only been able to find a few people that mention aftermarket ones on rx8club.

Autoexe and that ugly boxy square silver one.

The autoexe one doesn't go all the way down when disengaged and i just don't like the style of it.

There are other aftermarket ones that are compatible with the rx8 but without the right handbrake (boot?) they just wouldn't look good at all and even if you found a good boot that fit i haven't been able to find Any pictures of any installed so it'd be a gamble look-wise.

So here's what I'm referring to,

This handle
http://www.andysautosport.com/mazda/...c09090374.html

with this boot
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MAZDA-MX3-MX...item519699136f

yeah yeah its ebay, couldn't find the boot anywhere else. just look at the picture lol.

So, comments? do you think it would look gaudy,stupid?

Any other handles/boots/whole handbrakes you know of that fit the rx8?

Here's the direct link to the supposed rx8 compatible handbrake handles

http://www.andysautosport.com/mazda/...brake_handles/

All of which i think would require a boot of some sort to hide the huge opening you would have if you pulled captain hooks sword out and swapped it for an aftermarket.

Subscribing but do want to know if the Shinka handles hold up better than the standard ones.

Huh. Never had a problem with mine. And I leave my car out of gear and engage the e-brake EVERY single time I get out of the car. You think just buying another stock one from a junked RX8 would be a bad move? Probably what I'd do. And if you want to change the look/color, I know shiftstyle made leather wraps for it.

As for the handles you linked, they look radically different than the stock handle. Not sure if they'd fit properly. I'd figure it'd need that boot at a minimum. Still might look funny or not work at all.

The Shinka handle is just leather-wrapped, otherwise it's the same as the regular. So, no.

Yeah i could always buy another oem one, or i could even get the red stitched R3 one, but i was trying to get away from the huge handle the oem has, but i don't want an aftermarket one to look too ricer, or out of place in the cabin.
It just doesn't seam like there's anything to go off of for this swap.
Like i said, i've only seen pictures of the Autoexe and the huge boxy silver one installed, i'll see if i can find those photos again.

Okay so here we go,

1st - Here is the link for a replacement stock handle
http://www.partsmazda.co.uk/product-...kingbrakeblack

2nd - Here is a few pictures of the autoexe installed
http://i43.tinypic.com/14b28on.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/200qsu9.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/351hgfl.jpg
notice how it doesn't go completely down when disengaged?


3rd here's a stock with red leather
http://i41.tinypic.com/10hm1eb.jpg


4th here's that ugly boxy square one
http://i43.tinypic.com/2s6wxsm.jpg

I see your point about the Autoexe. It's not too bad, but I see your point. The boxy chrome one is hideous. If it were me, I'd just buy one from a wrecked RX8. Cheap. Effective. Doesn't look horrible.

If you really dislike the stock one, then I guess the autoexe is your only option. Sorry. Don't know of any others.

There's really only a few options, non of which i see looking sleek or stylish, the only sleek/stylish handles i saw would require the ugly boot which as you can see in the autoexe picture really doesn't look good. (imo)

I guess i'll just go with a oem leather wrapped one with red stitching...



P.S i do think that the black /w red stitching boot i linked previously looks like it would look better than the one shown here with the autoexe handle. I guess it comes down to, if i want to gamble my money and hope it looks reasonable.

Most of the aftermarket " universal" ones won't fit because of the profile of the stock handle when it is removed....

okay so here's a good example

This is a voodoo shift knob and hand brake (for a miata)

Any chance of this fitting the 8?
It looks really good imho

http://i44.tinypic.com/vngg1h.jpg

Combo link http://www.thompson-automotive.com/c...63/7992973.htm


Edit: Or better yet, does someone have a picture of the hand brake with the cover off? any sizing/clips/screws that hold it on? anything that would effect compatibility?

first time i heard this, laughed because its true. Hope you dont mind but im saying this from now on.

Adding it to the collection to join the "Buffet" which can be referred to as front or rear buffet (the middle 2 trays,compartments that span the interior)