Parking Brake Gone

[BlackIce]

Ok I tried to find this through the search function on the site but only found topics about seized parking brakes.

My issue is that my parking brake is almost entirely gone except for when I pull it way up... I feel like I over powered it when I pulle it up in the past. Anyways it's really to drive with the parking brake up. Will I need a new cable or pads or what? How much will all this cost and where can I get this fixed for a good price... I'm gonna guess Jimmy's?

[silverstarmazda]

Ok I tried to find this through the search function on the site but only found topics about seized parking brakes.

My issue is that my parking brake is almost entirely gone except for when I pull it way up... I feel like I over powered it when I pulle it up in the past. Anyways it's really to drive with the parking brake up. Will I need a new cable or pads or what? How much will all this cost and where can I get this fixed for a good price... I'm gonna guess Jimmy's?

huh? so its on? or is it off?

[Wes08M3]

Sounds like one or more of the cables have stretched. Before you go to all the trouble of having the cables replaced you can try to tighten the cable.

It's very simple, pull the cup holders out and then you'll have access to the parking brake cable adjustment nut. Right beside the parking brake lever there is a threaded rod with a 10mm (I think, can't remember for sure) nut on it. Tighten that nut down until the lever becomes "tight" again (you'll have to test this by pulling the lever up and releasing it a few times). If it never tightens up either the cable is really stretched or completely broken.

If it does work out for you, it's a good idea to jack the rear wheels up and make sure they don't drag too much when the parking brake is released (just spin them with your hand and see). If they do drag just loosen the nut a bit until you find a happy medium otherwise it'll wear out the brake pads.

Of course, over time the cable will stretch out again and you'll have the same problem and likely need to replace the cables. But this fix could last for another few years. If you don't feel comfortable doing this yourself, I'm sure Jimmy would do it for you. Only takes about 20 minutes to do.

[silverstarmazda]

if its seized then it might be the calipers since they use a ratchet mechanism or something. hence why oyu need to spin and press on the to retract the pistons. i thought you mean they wernt working since the title says its gone lol

[BlackIce]

Oh sorry, I can drive with the handbrake up. I think the able is just stretched a whole lot cuz since I got this car back in 2010, the handbrake was still kinda soft but it did the job. A few weeks ago I parked on a steep hill with only the parking brake up and it actually started to roll down with the brake handle fully up. I feel like the cable is stretched and the pads are worn. I'll give jimmy a call Monday cuz I have no idea how to take off the cup holder, I would love to since I lost like $7-$10 of change in there. How much would a new cable+pads cost?

P.s. it's not seized, I never felt any drag in recent months. Plus this happened all of a sudden today, last week, the parking brake felt stiff.

[silverstarmazda]

try checking the cable nut as wes08m3 suggested to see if its spun loose. saves u some time. im not too familiar with the mazda 3 ebrake cable

[bluemazda3]

cup holder trim is only held by 2 bolts.. i believe when u take out the ash tray the bolts are rightthere,, and than you pull from the opposite end.. its simple

[Hyperion]

cup holder trim is only held by 2 bolts.. i believe when u take out the ash tray the bolts are rightthere,, and than you pull from the opposite end.. its simple

Don't think you even need to do that, just pull on the cup holders.

[Zuluwun]

Don't think you even need to do that, just pull on the cup holders.

+1, dead easy to pull up the cupholders on a first gen. Open the centre console, pull up on the cupholders from there, the whole thing is just clipped into the side pieces of plastic (adjacent to the seats) and the shifter bezel.

http://krystmsgarage.com/?p=37

That's a link to a shifter install, but the 4th pic down shows exactly what I mean.

[n00bMeiSter]

Oh sorry, I can drive with the handbrake up. I think the able is just stretched a whole lot cuz since I got this car back in 2010, the handbrake was still kinda soft but it did the job. A few weeks ago I parked on a steep hill with only the parking brake up and it actually started to roll down with the brake handle fully up. I feel like the cable is stretched and the pads are worn. I'll give jimmy a call Monday cuz I have no idea how to take off the cup holder, I would love to since I lost like $7-$10 of change in there. How much would a new cable+pads cost?

P.s. it's not seized, I never felt any drag in recent months. Plus this happened all of a sudden today, last week, the parking brake felt stiff.

Well your first mistake was not putting it in gear. You should always leave your car in gear when parked, especially on hills. You should never be relying on just your parking break.

New parking brake cable is around $90 or so from MoT if I recall correctly.

Don't waste Jimmy's time with the cup holder. it's extremely easy to remove. I'll post a video on a minute.

[TheMAN]

if you need to adjust the cable, you don't even need to pull the cup holders off.... there's a little square access cover near the handle you can pop off and stick a 10mm deep socket & extension into the hole

[Zuluwun]

what's this about sticking my extension in a hole?


lmao

I'll show myself out..

[n00bMeiSter]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-sCNjCwihg


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-sCNjCwihg

[BlackIce]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-sCNjCwihg


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-sCNjCwihg

Haha that looks stupid easy. If you ended that video by saying tada or something I would've bursted out in laughter. I'll try this out later tonight. Also, I always put my car in 1st gear when I park it. I never trusted parking brakes since they are clearly not always reliable.

[Impressive]

All of 13 seconds to do that huh? Good to know it'll be easy to access my USB cables when it comes time to install my new HU

[peterm15]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-sCNjCwihg


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-sCNjCwihg

What are all those wires in your counsel for?

[n00bMeiSter]

Haha that looks stupid easy. If you ended that video by saying tada or something I would've bursted out in laughter. I'll try this out later tonight. Also, I always put my car in 1st gear when I park it. I never trusted parking brakes since they are clearly not always reliable.

Notice the car is in gear and the ebrake fully up. Yeah, I should have said something at the end lol




All of 13 seconds to do that huh? Good to know it'll be easy to access my USB cables when it comes time to install my new HU

It's all of 5-7 seconds if I'm not holding a camera lol. Yeah, I ran my GTA Car Kit behind the enviro, and under the shifter. The actual unit sits right under my cup holders.




What are all those wires in your counsel for?

GTA Car Kit. I was going to dremel out a hole in the square cover for them, but the other side of the iPod cable is a little too large and makes it pointless.
Fat cable is iPod connection for the car kit, the small cable is 3.5mm aux. iPod cable retains steering wheel controls :headbang

[TheMAN]

the hole where the wires are coming out in that vid is where the e-brake cable adjuster is like I already said :)

[peterm15]

GTA Car Kit. I was going to dremel out a hole in the square cover for them, but the other side of the iPod cable is a little too large and makes it pointless.
Fat cable is iPod connection for the car kit, the small cable is 3.5mm aux. iPod cable retains steering wheel controls :headbang

Got it.
Why don't you just dremel out a u shaped notch on the edge of it. That way you can have the wires there without having to push a plug through the hole.
Off topic. But a suggestion none the less.

[n00bMeiSter]

Got it.
Why don't you just dremel out a u shaped notch on the edge of it. That way you can have the wires there without having to push a plug through the hole.
Off topic. But a suggestion none the less.

Not a bad idea actually. I might do that, just have to find my cover piece lol

[kickz]

if your pulling the hand brake handle all the way up and it doesnt hold anything,the adjustment is only going to mask the issue

the main issue is your hand brake cable is snapped and likely need to be replaced should cost about 200 parts and labour with oem mazda parts

[BlackIce]

It handbrake gets some resistance near the top and it holds the car in place on low angle slopes but still not very strong. It works just not very well. Still haven't adjusted anything yet. Will take a look today.

[highlineMotors]

Sounds like one side of the parking brake cable is seized. They are pretty common on the Mazda 3's. Don't know if adjusting it will do any help, but it wouldn't hurt to try. I find it only after you replace the parking brake cable, then it needs adjustment.