Hand Brake

[Riftler]

Does anyone know the cost of fixing your hand brake? When I pull mine up, it feels very loose, I dont think its connecting to the brakes. My car still rolls if I got into nuetral with hand brakes up.

[poke65]

just take out your center console there is a nut that you can adjust for adjustment for the hand brake

[Noisy Crow]

just take out your center console there is a nut that you can adjust for adjustment for the hand brake

Or pop out the little plastic access panel that you can see when you open the cupholder lid. You can get to the adustment nut that way..

[poke65]

Or pop out the little plastic access panel that you can see when you open the cupholder lid. You can get to the adustment nut that way..

Thanks that will save me ripping the whole thing out

[Riftler]

I'll give this a try, but I dont like taking out panels and center consoles stuff, tried in the past with a prelude, not such a good experience...

[Hives]

I'll give this a try, but I dont like taking out panels and center consoles stuff, tried in the past with a prelude, not such a good experience...

Yea, I know what you mean. With the MZ3, you are gonna have to be real careful and try not to break anything. It requires some force, but you have to be gentle the same time. If you don't feel comfortable doing it, maybe another member could help you out.

[TheMAN]

it is NOT necessary to remove the centre console to adjust the ebrake handle on the 3... there is a square access cover that pops out with a flat blade screw driver... it should take a 10mm deep socket and extension IIRC to adjust it

[VetalM3]

By adjusting that nut you are only adjusting a relative position of a handle. To do a proper job you need to take to the service and tighten the cable.

Peace

[Noisy Crow]

By adjusting that nut you are only adjusting a relative position of a handle. To do a proper job you need to take to the service and tighten the cable.

There are no other adjustments to be made... if the slack in the cable cannot be taken out by tightening the nut at the parking brake lever then the cables need to be replaced.

[Riftler]

There are no other adjustments to be made... if the slack in the cable cannot be taken out by tightening the nut at the parking brake lever then the cables need to be replaced.

I'll try tightning the nut, if not then i need to bring it to service...great

[machx]

I racked my front drivers side wheel in the snow trying to take a corner. During the turn I tried pulling the handbrake and it was engaged when I hit the curb.

The damage was a bent control arm and a bent rim. Replaced the control arm and did the alignment. And replaced the rim. But now my hand brake is VERY loose when I pull it up, once it starts clicking it will be more stiff. But the resistance from it just sitting there and till you engage it is VERY loose. Little effort is required.

Do you reckon adjusting the nut is good enough, or is that a cable issue?

[maz06]

shouldn't cost anything and should only take like 10mins if you take it to a dealer. I think they just tighten it when they take out your cup holder

[bluemazda3]

the handbrake cable at the dealership was around $300-350 I forgot the exact amount.. I got that warrantied at QEW mazda :)

[thesober]

I had to replace my handbrake cable because it would only catch on one of the rear tires. Bought the cable at Mazda of Toronto and took it to Street Performance to do the install. Total was under $200.

[6strings]

I'd rather not start a new thread, but I tried to adjust my hand brake because there is a lot of play in the handle before it engages. I removed the center console and took a 10mm at it. But it doesn't seem to be turning. When it does turn it goes back to it original position, the cable itself twist and I fear I might snap the cable. Is it a good idea to spray wd40 on it to help turn it?

[peterm15]

You shouldn't need to. WD won't really do anything for you anyways.

I adjusted mine last week and it turned without much force. Have you tried loosening it as well as tighten it? The nut may just need to be freed.

And may be a dumb question. But are you sure your tuning the correct nut? You should be able to access it without taking apart your consul.

[6strings]

You shouldn't need to. WD won't really do anything for you anyways.

I adjusted mine last week and it turned without much force. Have you tried loosening it as well as tighten it? The nut may just need to be freed.

And may be a dumb question. But are you sure your tuning the correct nut? You should be able to access it without taking apart your consul.
I followed this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zki-_7lE0U

I tried both loosening and tightening. And the cable still twists.

[peterm15]

Hmmmm. That's odd. It is the correct way but it shouldn't take much force.

Try loosening the nut first and see if it spins freely. Then tighten back up. ( you edited before I hit send. )

Best suggestion is to support the cable with your other hand and try again. It may just need to be freed. You could try WD but pb blaster would be better. Either way. That bolt shouldn't be like that.

If it doesn't seem to spin for you, you may want to check your rear brakes and make sure the mechanism back there is working correctly.

Again mine turned with very little force. Maybe 5psi.

[6strings]

Hmmmm. That's odd. It is the correct way but it shouldn't take much force.

Try loosening the nut first and see if it spins freely. Then tighten back up. ( you edited before I hit send. )

If it doesn't seem to spin for you, you may want to check your rear brakes and make sure the mechanism back there is working correctly.

I'll be at the next MASIV meet, maybe someone there can help. The parking brake was done by a former sponsor here last summer. But that shop closed down. Maybe when I get my brakes serviced next time I'll have someone look at it then.

[peterm15]

Not going to AA?

if I end up going to the Monday meet I'll take a look for you.

[6strings]

Not going to AA?

if I end up going to the Monday meet I'll take a look for you.

No I won't make AA. Masiv is likely. If you're planning on going let me know. I'll make it 100%

[Rob23]

My hand brake only works on one back wheel lol

[peterm15]

No I won't make AA. Masiv is likely. If you're planning on going let me know. I'll make it 100%

No problem.
If I go I will PM you.

[stock3]

You most likely have a frozen, i.e. rusty brake cable, that doesn't retract all the way back as it supposed to. Tightening the cable will not fix the issue, as the brakes will be constantly dragging.
I had the same exact issue as OP, that is the parking brake lever felt loose, as if it wasn't even connected to the cable.
Here is how I fixed it, you may want to give it a try.

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?63690-Possible-e-brake-cable-fix&highlight=

[lcianf01]

when I switch to summer/winter tires I take some grease and smear it all around the rear brake spring and the part of the cable that is exposed.

May not do anything, but I figure it will slow down the rust on the cable and prolong buying a new one.... Seems like it's a common thing for our cars.