How to fix Fanatec handbrake exploding plastic washer | DIY fix

Fix AND upgrade your Fanatec Handbrake quickly, easily and affordably.
Fanatec handbrakes are either loved, or hated. They're often hated because they have relatively common failures. Some also dislike them because the throw isn't heavy enough. I love my Fanatec handbrake for many reasons, but recently during a live stream, it pretty much exploded... My community asked me to do a video showing how the handbrake failed, and how I was going to try to fix it, with a little help from my cat.
If you like these more technical videos, let me know!
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[@jonboy2950]

You have just made the strongest handbrake fanatec has ever produced. Even splat was impressed.

[@LaurenceDusoswa]

Hahah the next time it explodes, it’s gonna make for a good stream 😂😂😂

[@Salutifer0us]

I remember how someone once said "Fanatec stuff is made out of cheese" The quote gains in power every time I remember it.

[@LaurenceDusoswa]

It’s an easy fix but yeah it shouldn’t happen

[@benrodeheaver701]

Yes Sal, cheezy and chinzy for lack of more detrimental terms.

[@dimsoneill]

Oh, the cork sniffers have entered the chat!😆😉

[@sporttsvetts]

you could take that bottom plastic bushing to a machine shop and get them to make 2 out of metal and just replace both ... I work at a machine shop and that would be a simple part to make and shouldn't cost much at all and you could locktight that when you reassemble and never have a problem again probably but good work making it work with what you have for a quick fix

[@antoine9765]

This handbrake has always been a loose piece of junk until it exploded just like yours, thanks a lot for the explanations.

[@LaurenceDusoswa]

You’re welcome ❤️

[@andywright2606]

You could always put a drop of locktite on the thread of that bolt once you have tested how much tension you like on it. Shouldn't come loose then. Good video by the way, thanks for sharing.

[@LaurenceDusoswa]

Yeah good idea!

[@Rlaxox]

Wait you can reduce the amount of tension on the spring?

[@1RacerXer]

Wow. And they charge $130.00 for that thing... Thanks for the tip! 👍 I was planning on getting one myself. I think it would be a good idea to, as soon as you get it, crack it open and put a metal washer in front of that plastic one.

[@LaurenceDusoswa]

Yeah it's not without flaws but its compact form factor and mounting solutions are great. it also looks and feels good.

[@TimothyStovall108]

Great vid! Did this to my fanatec handbrake years ago a little after I first got it, as that plastic bushing is total crap. Has made mine last much longer, but I'm at the point where something else broke inside after all this time, and found your video trying to figure out how to fully disassemble it, so I can resolder some wires back. lol I think it might just be time for me to get a new one. lol

[@BeFreeBeHappyJC]

By any chance would you know where to get a replacement bushing for the potentiometer?

[@Karl-me4mh]

Happened to mine 2 weeks ago. I contacted the support. They sent me an email with a retoure label. So I packed it all send it back. That was one week ago. I haven't heard of it since. There were issues with screws not being tightend enough from the facory before .. so I absolutely can not recommend this Handdbrake. The plastic washers should be well greased metal parts instead. Also I find it hard to mount this thing in a proper way. The mounting to the shifter is not that good either since the gap between shifter and handbrake is too little for a grown up human hand.

[@LaurenceDusoswa]

I find the handbrake position ideal. But yeah the quality is lacking :(

[@blklion100]

And to think I wanted to get that handbrake. 😱 I'm glad that I got the Thrustmaster Sparco TSS+

[@LaurenceDusoswa]

the Fanatec is still a better handbrake (in my opinion) than the Thrustmaster. The TM build quality cannot be questioned for the TSS from my experience though.

[@blklion100]

@@LaurenceDusoswa I agree as well. I like the looks of the Fanatec handbrake and I like that you can mount it right on to their shifter for a nice compact setup, but the possibility of exploding plastic washers and the headache of trying to fix it is a little off putting. I'm just getting into the Fanatec ecosystem coming from Thrustmaster, and I still have my TSS and TH8A handbrake and shifter.

[@snakes5506]

Thanks man ! i will try to do this and hope i don't smash lol out of frustration

[@izzieb]

I'm just here for the thumbnail.

[@LaurenceDusoswa]

hahaha I wish the sound on my stream did it justice. I heard pieces flying everywhere!

[@distilledyougamecast3569]

Cool video.

[@LaurenceDusoswa]

Thanks!

[@Vaeshkar]

Put in a stopwasher for it to get lose again. Bit of a shame from Fanatec to use Plastic on that many metal.

[@LaurenceDusoswa]

Yeah it’s a pain really. It really undermines what is otherwise a really nice product

[@rockyrobin24]

Should of compressed spring with a zip tie

[@LaurenceDusoswa]

Could have, yes. I didn't really know where my cable ties were so just winged it :p

[@rockyrobin24]

@@LaurenceDusoswa good effort, I got the handbrake and shifter for Christmas off the Mrs so opened it up to check and they have now upgraded and put in a metal washer from factory.🙏

[@leinilyu]

Mine includes a metal washer on top of the plastic part that exploded… was that a fix they added?

[@leinilyu]

Funny coz my damper only has one washer… so they basically moved that top damper washer and placed it on top of the white plastic washer. Maybe it’s meant to be there all along.

[@dimsoneill]

How is your fix holding up long term mate?

[@benrodeheaver701]

This was my second one. It blew like someone put two M80's in it. Frustrating.

[@LaurenceDusoswa]

I hear of a lot of people going through several of them. Did this exact thing happen you twice?

[@thesteveus]

It seems to me that the washers would slide laterally across the collar/spring and let go, how did the handbrake work some months later? Cheers

[@LaurenceDusoswa]

all good, worked a treat. didn't break since

[@ruinunes8]

I'm just curious: When putting the new metal washers, wouldn't it be easier to just remove the nut behind the damper (and the damper itself) to gain leverage to screw the bolt into the swivel ball instead of disassembling everything apart?

[@LaurenceDusoswa]

that nut is solid on the bolt so doesn't come off

[@dimsoneill]

F the splat 🐈 😆

[@SIMRIG412]

Should of bought a HE handbrake

[@LaurenceDusoswa]

I’ve thought about it but they’re relatively ugly and clunky to mount, in comparison. I’ve used one and agree that it’s incredible. But doesn’t suit me.

[@SIMRIG412]

@@LaurenceDusoswa yes I had both and prefer the HE as it gives you a load cell. While fanatec handbrake is just like using a button being 1 little pull activates it 100%

[@LaurenceDusoswa]

Mine has a decent throw and weight. I don’t really need more tbh

[@SIMRIG412]

@@LaurenceDusoswa yes they have a long throw but no matter how much you pull it it's at 100% While HE handbrake if you pull a little bit you get the percentage you pull it and you have to pull it all the way back to activate 100% like a real car. Fanatec is the same as the aiologs handbrake and cheap eBay handbrakes that are make to look like a real hand brake and may have a 1-3in pull till it stops. But the slightest pull is 100% just like pressing a button on your wheel or mapping your clutch pedal to use as a handbrake

[@SIMRIG412]

@@LaurenceDusoswa everyone likes what they like plus depends on your usage of a handbrake. Also depends on the price you want to spend. My HE handbrake was $272 shipped and tax from overseas to USA. So was about double the cost of the fanatec with 2day shipping and tax. But I'm definitely more pleased with the HE. But fanatec has a nicer look agree there.

[@zombiauskis]

If you undone the nut at the other end first then you could use handbrake leaver to press in the spring and put nut back on with ease. Still helpful video for someone with same problem

[@LaurenceDusoswa]

yep I videoed as I was learning how to fix it :p