So has anyone ever broken their E Brake? Not the line, but the actual metal bracket that works the E Brake Arm? I pulled mine up on my 2008 X tonight and snapped the metal.

Looks like I will be parking with it in gear for a while...

 

Yep. Broke mine twice! It's a easy repair and the part is about 50.
Here's a pic where mine broke.
Prob where yours broke...

Ronjenx has a great thread about the ebrake assy.
The part # is 52059887ad.

 

^this...

I broke mine a few months ago. It is an easy fix. I was able to do the repair without totally removing the center console--just unbolted/unscrewed and pulled the 4x4 knob off to lift it high enough to pull the old brake handle out and put the new one in. About 30 minutes (if that) start to finish.

Oh, and it was just such an "odd" coincidence that the dealer just happened to have a few of these in stock...

 

Yeah, just the same way when you go to the dealer to get another plastic c-clip for the transfer case cable-linkage they have "never, ever heard of the problem of these things breaking" & leaving you stuck in the middle of the muddy trail in neutral and then go on to ask you how many spares you want so you can keep a few in your glovebox "just in case".

 

That's exactly the same place that mine broke. Thanks for the info! I guess I will go to Jeep and see if I can get the assembly.

Any tips on steps to get to it? I.e which parts need to be removed? Seems like maybe the side panel of the center console?

If I go to jeep; is that part number the one for that assembly?

 

Yes that's for the assy. U need to remove the four large torx bolts and raise the console to change it.