'64 Parking Brake Handle

[Mark H.]

The parking brake handle attaches to a chrome rod that rides within a black tube with a ratchet mechanism. There is a pin with a square head on it stuck into the chrome rod to prevent it from being pulled out of the black tube in either direction. The AIM suggests that this squarehead pin comes out, but I have tried w/o success and don't want to break it. Is it threaded? Compression fit? What is the secret? Thanks.

[Bob R.]

Re: '64 Parking Brake Handle

I broke the one on my car trying to screw it out. It is a press in fit. You should be able to see the back of the pin and tap it or press it out.

[Eugene B.]

Re: '64 Parking Brake Handle

Mark,
Bob is correct. The pin has splines and is an interference fit in the rod hole. As he mentioned, there is a hole in the jacket that you should be able to align with the pin and tap it out with a drive pin punch.

Good luck,
Gene

[Mark H.]

Re: '64 Parking Brake Handle

thanks. I think I need a bigger hammer. Have been hitting it pretty good with no results thus far.

[Robert Pelland]

Re: '64 Parking Brake Handle

Mark, I hate hammers, especially big one's.

Like your self, I have had to remove this pin in the past, and did not have much success with a hammer. As an alternative, I have found that if you use an open ended wrench on the square knob at the top, while gentle pushing upwards on the knob with a flat bladed screwdriver, you can loosen the knob with an ever so little back and forth motion with your wrench. I have been able to loosen it enough to actually remove it by simply pulling it straight out from the top of the shaft.

The hammer thing work best when the assembly is removed, and held in place with a bench vise. :o)

Regards
Robert

[Mark H.]

Re: '64 Parking Brake Handle

It finally came out. I rigged a piece of 2x4 in my vise, just shorter than the distance between the square head and the mounting bracket. this supported the entire tube. A good spray and soak overnight with liquid wrench, same size hammer, an slightly more assertive swing, and she popped right out. I considered prying against the square head, but I was afraid of breaking it off.