4200 HANDBRAKE BUTTON

tonycharente

tonycharente

Member
Messages
182
hunta said:
... Another reason not to touch the handbrake...
Click to expand...
Indeed !!!

Some of the second hand handbrakes I've seen for sale also have the chrome coming off their buttons - whereas the similar looking button on my Alfa 156 is still like new at over 200K kms. What DID Maserati use ????
 
Gazcw

Gazcw

Member
Messages
7,763
tonycharente said:
The "plastic chrome" handbrake button on my MY2006 4200CC is missing some of its chrome. I happened to notice that it looked to be the same button as on my 2004 ALFA 156SW V6. I found a supplier of these ALFA 156 (and 147 apparently) buttons on eBay, so I bought one. Unfortunately it turns out that they are not the same button at all...

The first photo shows why (remembering that I'd not removed either button, and that the cars were not side by side) I had thought they were the same. The second photo shows that they are in fact entirely different. In both shots the Alfa one is the one on the right.

I had assumed that Maserati would not have their own specific handbrake button manufactured when a sister company was buying them by the tens of thousands, and I'm wondering whether this might nevertheless still be true. Question is, from what model? Any ideas anyone ?

Cheers
TonyView attachment 54635View attachment 54636
Click to expand...
Could Wicked Coatings not deal with that?
 
tonycharente

tonycharente

Member
Messages
182
Gazcw said:
Could Wicked Coatings not deal with that?
Click to expand...
Just googled "Wicked Coatings", thank you. If we are talking about Wicked Coatings Limited (?) then aren't they aimed at industrial / production volumes? Or did I find the wrong "Wicked Coatings"?
 
jayblue

jayblue

Member
Messages
452
Watching this thread with interest as my handbrake button has a small chip on it and I also wondered how best to recover/repair it.
 
tonycharente

tonycharente

Member
Messages
182
jayblue said:
Watching this thread with interest as my handbrake button has a small chip on it and I also wondered how best to recover/repair it.
Click to expand...
With hind-sight I think I would have been better off just biting the bullet and forking out for a complete second hand handbrake (around £50 + shipping), but it seemed such a waste just to get the button...

Here's a photo of my painted button refitted:
56655

It looks OK if you don't look at it !!! Now I'll see how long it lasts.
Cheers
Tony
 
Vampyrebat

Vampyrebat

Member
Messages
3,129
Personally if I was in the same situation, I would have sprayed it matt black in keeping with the interior, but that's because I am not a fan of the thin chrome finish. I had the same trouble with chrome flake on the central cup holder. I managed to strip the chrome off exposing the white nylon which I actually prefer (I would of preferred it if it was black nylon)!
 
tonycharente

tonycharente

Member
Messages
182
Vampyrebat said:
Personally if I was in the same situation, I would have sprayed it matt black in keeping with the interior, but that's because I am not a fan of the thin chrome finish. I had the same trouble with chrome flake on the central cup holder. I managed to strip the chrome off exposing the white nylon which I actually prefer (I would of preferred it if it was black nylon)!
Click to expand...
Yes, good idea! I'll perhaps do that next time if (when?) I need to start over.
 
davy83

davy83

Member
Messages
2,823
Could we not get replacements made from Steel or aluminium and get them proper chrome plated, it would not cost that much. Perhaps a weekend project for me :)
 
tonycharente

tonycharente

Member
Messages
182
davy83 said:
Could we not get replacements made from Steel or aluminium and get them proper chrome plated, it would not cost that much. Perhaps a weekend project for me :)
Click to expand...
What do you mean by "Perhaps a weekend project for me", please?
I'd be delighted to buy a brand new, properly made, properly chrome plated replacement, but the problem may be to be certain to find enough buyers to warrant the design/development plus production costs (versus just buying a second hand handbrake from a witten off car).
 
davy83

davy83

Member
Messages
2,823
Well I can probably draw the part by measuring the one off my car, and i have a little machine shop that would make the metal parts reasonable cost and thne just send it to one of the classic car chroming shops. Its a weekend job to take the button off my car and draw it! I may give it a shot how hard can it be :)
 
tonycharente

tonycharente

Member
Messages
182
davy83 said:
Well I can probably draw the part by measuring the one off my car, and i have a little machine shop that would make the metal parts reasonable cost and thne just send it to one of the classic car chroming shops. Its a weekend job to take the button off my car and draw it! I may give it a shot how hard can it be :)
Click to expand...
The button (on mine at least) just pulls straight out of the hand brake grip. As you will then see (or just look at the photos in my opening post) its a very complicated shape to replicate. And classic car chroming shops are not cheap for a single item. Not trying to put you off (as stated, I'd be delighted to buy a brand new, properly made, properly chrome plated replacement) but unless there's a decent run of them I fear how much the cost might be. I do hope I'm wrong !!!
 
davy83

davy83

Member
Messages
2,823
I will have a look anyway I can find out what it would cost without making any, a little time making a drawing perhaps.
 
Gazcw

Gazcw

Member
Messages
7,763
tonycharente

tonycharente

Member
Messages
182
Gazcw said:

Hydro Dipping & Custom Coatings from UK Leader | Wicked Coatings

Wicked Coatings services include hydro dipping, powder coating & wet spray painting in Poole, Dorset. HIGH QUALITY - EXCELLENT SERVICE - FREE QUOTES
www.wickedcoatings.co.uk
Click to expand...
Thanks - I hadn't found their website. Looks they do some pretty amazing stuff! I couldn't see any examples of chrome finishes - do they do that? If not their carbon dip process looks pretty good. For the time being I'm going to see how long my own job survives, but they certainly look like an interesting possibility for others following this thread, thank you.
 
Gazcw

Gazcw

Member
Messages
7,763
tonycharente said:
Thanks - I hadn't found their website. Looks they do some pretty amazing stuff! I couldn't see any examples of chrome finishes - do they do that? If not their carbon dip process looks pretty good. For the time being I'm going to see how long my own job survives, but they certainly look like an interesting possibility for others following this thread, thank you.
Click to expand...
I don't know to be honest but worth a call. You may get something close.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.