I used my parking/emergency brake the other day and when I disengaged it the button on the handle popped out a little bit. I can see the spring underneath it. The handle doesn't work very well now, it sticks when engaging/disengaging.

It seems it's just the handle and the e-brakes themselves are functioning when the handle does.

I've read a few other threads, looks like I'm going to the jy to find another handle. Question: how do you get an e-brake handle out of (and into) a 98 XJ? I assume you have to take the center console out, but what else?

Thanks

 

Looks like you remove the center console, parking brake cable, light switch, then the lever.

 

Any chance someone knows what years' parking brake handles are compatible with a 98? I'm guessing 97+?

 

Here is a picture of what I am talking about:

 

Before you replace it, I'd pull out the button and examine the inner workings.. also, try lifting up slightly on the handle as you press the button to unlock it. The pic makes me think a piece of plastic in there failed or something came loose. Good luck!

 

I have a new parking brake handle now and am looking swap it in for my broken one this weekend. Question 1: Is there any airbag apparatus associated with the parking brake handle on a 98? Basically, do I need to unplug the battery to ensure I don't pop the airbag when removing the old parking brake?

Question 2: Is there any special tool needed to unhook the parking brake cable from the handle?

 

I know, old thread...

Q1: No, the parking brake is in no way linked to your air bag system.

Q2: No. You may need to loosen the cable from underneath before it will release from the lever but you won't need any special tools.

 

Thank you! I replaced the Parking Brake level a few months back with little trouble. Though, you do have to remove an air bag module (at least on my 98) which sits directly under the center console. So, I unplugged the battery and waited 10-15 minutes for the air bag capacitors to discharge. Then I removed the air bag module so I could access the final 2 screws holding the base of the handle into the body.

 

+1.
Air bags can be either life savers or outright killers depending on how they are handled.

 

I just had mine do the same thing here a year later!

Thanks for all the posts on the thread. I gotta find a button, or see if I can jimmy it like this guy did...