68 e-brake handle seal

[Kurt B.]

I am installing the seal that goes around the emergency brake handle. This is the plastic piece that slides into the emergency brake console.
The seal has a break on one side to facilitate installation.
Which direction should the break face: toward the driver or passenger?
Thank you,
Kurt # 26406

[Joe L.]

Re: 68 e-brake handle seal

Kurt-----

If the seal already has the slit in it, then that determines which side that the slit is going to be on. The seal can only be installed "one side up", so there's no way to reverse the side that the "slit" is on.

The original seal had the "slit" on the driver's side for 1968.

[Kurt B.]

Re: 68 e-brake handle seal

Joe,
I'm a little confused. It is GM part # 333605 just opened the package and the slit is already there but it can be installed with the slit facing either way and the ribs will still face up. Pretty flimsy quality also, I might add.
I will install it slit to driver as you said.
Getting chilly here in Sudbury and trying to get the e-brake console in while I can still work in the garage.
Thanks for the help,
Kurt

[Kurt B.]

Re: 68 e-brake handle seal

Joe, Should the front end, that goes into the shifter console, be trimmed (shortened)or installed exactly as removed from package?
Kurt

[Joe L.]

Re: 68 e-brake handle seal

Kurt-----

I was not aware that the seal could be used "either-side-up". It's possible, I suppose, but I'd look it over very carefully to see if there isn't a difference.

The seal you have is the later C3 seal which is SERVICE for earlier C3s. As I recall, it does need to be shortened. However, I would suggest that you compare it against the original seal for length.

[Wayne P.]

Re: 68 e-brake handle seal

It can be swapped end for end, not just one side or the other. You need to make sure the contour of the cutout matches the contour of the brake handle.

[Joe L.]

Re: 68 e-brake handle seal

Wayne-----

The seal cannot be swapped end-for-end. The "slot" for the parking brake lever is sqaure on one end and round on the other. This is to match the contour of the lever. If the seal were swapped end-for-end, the differently shaped ends of the "slot" would be reversed.

Also, I think I now recall why the seal cannot be used on either side. The parking brake lever "slot" has a "lip" around its perimeter. This lip is only on one side of the seal and is supposed to be oriented UPWARD.

The GM #3918665 seal used from 1968-73 had the "lip" and I believe that the 74-82 seal, GM #330665, had the "lip", too. The latter seal became the SERVICE seal for 68-73 and is the part still sold for those applications.

Also, I seem to recall that the 3918665 seal and the 330665 seal are both "flat" on one side. This side goes down. Unless the current GM version of the seal or reproductions have the "link-type" surface on both sides and the lever slot "lip" on both sides, this would prevent the seal from being used on either side.