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Wheelchair Brake Tips

Although stopping a wheelchair only requires the occupant to apply her hand on the wheel, the manual chair requires a parking brake system. Wheelchair brake tips or wheel lock tips are inexpensive rubber "fingers" that slip over the ends of the brake arm or extension bar to cushion the hard, cold metal and aid in gripping the lock bar handle of a manual or transport wheelchair. Since the tips are designed to fit each wheelchair manufacturer's handles, replacing them requires the specific name of the manufacturer.

  1. Everest and Jennings

    • The Everest and Jennings regular wheelchairs models Vista and Traveler have 5/8-inch flat handles on their locking bars, so the corresponding lock tips must be 5/8 inch. These tips come in sets of two in either black or gray and as of 2010 cost about $1.35. They also are available in sets of black and gray and include hand grips, hubcaps, footrest bumpers, tube end caps and stem covers. A pair of ½-inch tips is included for the other Everest and Jennings wheelchair models. These sets normally sell for $11, but can be purchased as low as $8.

    Gendron

    • Gendron, an Ohio based manufacturing company founded in 1871, is the oldest wheelchair manufacturer in the United States and still has its products designed and manufactured there. The lock tips on its wheelchairs that have 5/8-inch flat handles and as of 2010 can easily be replaced for about $3 a pair. These sturdy black rubber tips weigh about a half pound each and will fit Sears wheelchairs as well.

    Quickie

    • Quickie wheelchair lock tips are available in black rubber and fit practically all aluminum style wheel locks. Regularly priced at $2.10, they can be purchased for as low as $1.35.

    Theradyne

    • Theradyne lock tips can be interchanged with the Everest and Jennings ones. They too fit 5/8-inch flat handles and are made of black rubber. The 2010 price for a set of two is about $2.50.

    Invacare

    • Invacare 2000/9000 wheelchair models are equipped with 9/16-inch locking bars, so 9/16-inch Invacare wheelchair tips are included in their wheelchair tip and grip sets. Like the Everest and Jennings sets, these sets also include tube end caps, stem covers, hubcaps and handgrips and are available in gray or black. Again as with the E and J sets, these sets, as of 2010, regularly cost around $11 but can be found as low as $8.25. Single packages of sets of two brake lock tips for Invacare's wheelchair models having ½-inch flat handles are also available for around $1.80.

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