[The Gonz]

This is a thread to test interest in innovation to cater for modifications or incorporation of solutions not easily accessible in the marketplace, anything from adapting a near-enough part to voicing a new need to be resolved with a designed and tested solution.

To set some context, some innovation from the past is a variety of GPS and phone holders, retrofits of switchback / turn indicator DRLs, and 3D printing of rare or expensive replacement parts.

Let the games begin! ... or not.

[The Gonz]

The EPB contains three pushbutton switches and two LEDs but you don't normally see them. One of the switches is a rather pointless temporary brake hold with a matching LED and activated by the Auto Hold button. The other two switches are for EPB On and EPB Off with another LED between them, but you would know this better as the ((P)) rocker switch.
This rocker is easily prone to breaking (not braking!), and it is no surprise, given that the rocking action them is transferred through a cam to activate a couple of rods to activate the switches.
All this unnecessary action just to mimic the old-fashioned action of pulling up on a handbrake lever.



No doubt some have already had their ((P)) lever break. Instead of just replacing it with another clone prone to breaking, I have designed a new top body to clip over the bottom block.
This block contains the connector, switches and LEDs. The redesigned visible top body has the screw mounting tabs and EPB On and Off functions done by a more direct, reliable and long-lasting pair of left-and-right pushbuttons.

Here's a design sequence to show how this was done:







Anyone caught with a broken EPB and a 3D printer is welcome to discuss prototyping and helping decide on how the button tops should look