Today I switched the standard emergency brake with the folding one. Why this isn’t standard on any Sprinter that is going to have swivel seats, I don’t know.

It took 15 minutes or less. I needed a 16mm socket and wrench, a small block of wood and a rubber mallet. The wood and mallet were to get the front cover of the emergency brake off. The rear cover comes off easily. After that it is unplug 2 wires, remove the 2 bolts that hold the brake in place and pop loose the pin that holds the emergency brake cable.

Now to set the brake I pull up on it like normal and then just push the handle down. The handle is out of the way for swiveling the driver’s seat. To release the brake I just pull it up until I hear it engage and push the black release button.

Those Sprinter owners who have a swivel seat know that it doesn’t swivel when the emergency brake is set. Or you have to swivel the seat first and then try to set the brake.

I am not a big emergency brake user myself. In my old Eurovan every time you set the brake it would tighten (adjust) the rear brakes. So I would set it only every month or so to reduce the wear on always tight brakes. Right or wrong – I don’t know.  Just seemed like a good idea.

So back to the Sprinter. For my adjustable idle control to work, the emergency brake (eb) needs to be engaged. Since I use the adjustable idle control while camping, most often I have the seat swiveled. The cover of the brake looks like a scarred Spartan warrior.

Enter the folding eb! This is spected on some newer RVs now and it is easy to retrofit. I called the parts department (Jeff) at my dealer (Rocklin MB) and it took about 5 minutes to order, shipped to my home. Part number -  Part # 906-420-03-12. It should cost you $133 or less and takes 5 days from Germany. It is a returnable part if for some reason you don’t like it.