Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Reattaching hand brake boot?

  1. #1
    Van Enthusiast
    My Van(s):
    89 5-speed
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Las Vegas, NV
    Posts
    108
    Rep Power
    1

    Reattaching hand brake boot?

    The boot that goes over my emergency brake handle, like on every other TV I've seen, is completely detached. It looks like there were originally little plastic pins with a nib on the end that were stuck through it, but those have all long since broken off. The boot itself is in great shape, it's just flopping around.

    I tried a couple of types of glue but none held on for very long. Has anyone had luck getting theirs to stay in place?

  2. #2
    Van Obsessed
    My Van(s):
    88 4WD DLX 5spd
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    1,073
    Rep Power
    1

    Re: Reattaching hand brake boot?

    Ah yes, the fabled PB boot.
    I too tried many, many different types of adhesive including the dreaded silicone.
    Mostly just spent hours cleaning goop of the cover and cursing myself.

    However, last time I appear to have been successful, we are now 2 months into the repair and it is still holding fast.
    The secret -

    Hot Glue.

    Difficult to work with as it hardens faster than you can install the whole boot, I attacked the hardest to reach side first (outboard side),
    Waited till that had set up well then moved around the boot, squirting and sticking as I went.
    I worked at it from the underside and made sure everything was super clean prior to starting.

    Any squeeze out can be tamed with a fresh razor blade, after it has hardened.
    Don't try to deal with the squeeze out prior to hardening, it just makes a mess, btdt.

    Time will tell, but so far, this has already outlasted all other attempts by 4-8 weeks.
    YMMV
    BB

  3. #3
    Administrator timsrv's Avatar
    My Van(s):
    Lots of them
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    SW WA ST
    Posts
    6,202
    Rep Power
    10

    Re: Reattaching hand brake boot?

    Just don't hold the glue gun against the boot for too long..............or you'll end up with a.........drum roll........."Burntboot"

  4. #4
    Van Fan
    My Van(s):
    '86 2wd
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Salem, Oregon
    Posts
    51
    Rep Power
    1

    Re: Reattaching hand brake boot?

    I have considered this very problem- hot glue sounds great and isn't something I had thought to use. I was thinking it sounded like a job for Gorilla Glue.

  5. #5
    Van Obsessed
    My Van(s):
    88 4WD DLX 5spd
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    1,073
    Rep Power
    1

    Re: Reattaching hand brake boot?

    Tim - good one.
    While we are on the subject of precautions, I should add not to attempt this job when seriously drunk, that could have an influence on burning your boots, or so I am led to believe.

    Mr Josh - I can save you the trouble, Gorilla glue was useless, until it came to trying to clean it off, that is.

    You can also scratch off your list - contact cement, rubber cement,automotive Goop, RTV silicone, plastic adhesive, flexible plastic adhesive, Sikaflex 291 and about a dozen other things, all to no avail.

    BB

  6. #6
    Administrator timsrv's Avatar
    My Van(s):
    Lots of them
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    SW WA ST
    Posts
    6,202
    Rep Power
    10

    Re: Reattaching hand brake boot?

    Gorilla glue is pretty amazing stuff. It does however require a constant pressure applied while drying. If you could come up with a way to clamp it during the process then I'm sure it would work. IMHO too much trouble when there's other things easier to use. Tim

  7. #7
    Van Fan
    My Van(s):
    1987 Toyota Van
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Gulf Coast Texas
    Posts
    39
    Rep Power
    1

    Re: Reattaching hand brake boot?

    ah was just super gluing some cracks on this plastic console with great success but that boot rubber wouldn't hold for a second, thanks for the hot glue tip going to try that out tomorrow.

  8. #8
    Van Obsessed
    My Van(s):
    88 4WD DLX 5spd
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    1,073
    Rep Power
    1

    Re: Reattaching hand brake boot?

    We've had a string of hot sunny days this past week and Red spent most of the time sitting around with the windows closed.
    Noticed this morning that the PB boot is no longer one with the console.

    Hot Glue now rates a FAIL.

    Back to the drawing board.
    BB

  9. #9
    Van Fan
    My Van(s):
    86 2wd work van 87 4wd play van
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    seattle
    Posts
    59
    Rep Power
    1

    Re: Reattaching hand brake boot?

    "Shoe Goo" has worked for me on both vans. It's hard to do a clean job, but it does stick to the rubber and plastic.

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •