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Tools required: Utility Knife, allen wrench(included).

Time to complete: 5 minutes

Cost: Approx. $35-$45(cost of the new e-brake handle)

Instructions:

1. Peel back your brake "boot" to expose the entire stock handle.
2. Using the utility knife, cut the "black" rubber sleeve on the handle down the middle on the top, the full length of the sleeve.
   • Don't try to penetrate the entire rubber sleeve on the first cut, take a couple passes. It's at least 1/8" think, take your time. You are not going to hurt anything. The actual handle is a hard plastic.
3. Once you have completely cut the black plastic sleeve, remove it. It peels right off.
4. Slide the new brake cover onto the handle.
5. Tighten the supplied screw using the allen wrench that is included.
6. Pull the boot back up over the new brake handle.

myFordFocus.com has had the opportunity to try two different brands of e-Brake handles. The Richbrook handle sold by Kustom Kurtz and a new product from UPR Products. (See the side-by-side photo to the right, click it to enlarge...)

The first thing you should take notice of in the picture to the right is that the UPR Products handle has two allen screws to secure the handle in place, and that it's a longer, as well as having an aluminun release button. This release button simply fits in front of the stock release button and is held in place with the new handle. The Richbrook, while smaller in length, is a more "chromed" look to it, and the stock black plastic release button to comes through hole on the end.

The UPR Products is just one of several new products UPR is releasing for the Focus. It is a machined aluminum handle with a matching release button. (Click image to enlarge)

While there is no goove in the handle itself to secure the boot in place as there is on the stock unit, since the new handle is sligthly longer, the boot does stay in place.

The Richbrook brake handle is imported from England and is a machined aluminum handle with sure grip o-rings and a stay brite anodized finish. (Click image to enlarge)

Since the Richbrook is a little shorter than the stock handle and does not have a "groove" in it to secure the boot like the stock handle does, the boot won't always stay in place and some of the plastic handle will show. Also, after extended use, those little black rubber bands on the handle itself tend to dry up and come apart.