Washburn's Metal billet aluminum parking brake bracket — machined from 7075-T6 aluminum in Southern California, supplied with an elongated steel pin, C-clip, and all hardware needed for installation. A serious upgrade over the worn, sloppy, or missing factory parking brake mounting bracket on classic VW Beetle and Meyers Manx applications. Part #CH04.

Why we machine these from 7075 aluminum

7075-T6 aluminum is one of the strongest aluminum alloys available — used widely in aerospace and motorsports applications where high strength-to-weight matters. For a parking brake bracket that carries the load of holding a 2,000-pound car stationary on a hill, that strength matters.

The factory VW parking brake bracket is a stamped steel piece that rusts, deforms, and wears at the pivot point over decades of use. Replacements from generic suppliers are often the same stamping in slightly worse quality. Our billet 7075 bracket eliminates the wear-prone factory geometry entirely and provides a precision pivot that won't develop play.

For Meyers Manx and other VW-based custom builds, the factory parking brake mounting is often missing entirely (the original pan section having been cut away during the buggy build). The Washburn's billet bracket is the standard way to restore proper parking brake function on those builds.

Specifications

• Material: 7075-T6 aluminum, CNC machined
• Includes: Bracket, elongated steel pin, C-clip, mounting hardware
• Country of origin: Made in Southern California, USA
• Part number: #CH04
• Manufacturer: Washburn's Metal

Fitment

• VW Beetle (Standard): all years using the standard parking brake assembly
• Meyers Manx and other VW-pan-based dune buggies and kit cars
• Restoration projects where the original parking brake bracket is missing or damaged

FAQ

Why aluminum instead of steel?
7075-T6 aluminum has strength comparable to mild steel at a fraction of the weight, doesn't rust, and machines to tighter tolerances than stamped steel. For this application, it's a substantial upgrade over both factory and aftermarket steel options.

Is the steel pin included or do I need to source it?
Included. The kit comes with the elongated steel pin and C-clip for installation. You don't need to chase down hardware separately.

Will this work on my Manx without modification?
For most Manx and similar buggy builds using a standard VW pan as the foundation, yes — the bracket mounts to the chassis in the same location as the factory part. If your build has heavily-modified chassis geometry in that area, contact us before ordering.

Can I install it myself?
Yes, with basic hand tools. The bracket installs in the factory location, the pin slides through, the C-clip retains it. If you're comfortable working on a VW chassis, this is a straightforward install.

Will it work with my original VW parking brake handle?
Yes. The bracket interfaces with the standard VW parking brake handle and cable setup.

Made in USA?
Yes, machined in Southern California by Washburn's Metal.