big Ebrake problem

[Frollo]

alright so i just spent a bunch of money on plugs oil lights and what not trying to take care of my car. I finished installing all of that and i go to park my car, and i pull the e break and there is a loud pop, and now the handle is way to easy to pull up. The normal ebreak resistance isn't there anymore yet if i pull it all the way up the breaks still engage (somewhat halfassed). so my question is what specifically broke if you all can guess, how much for parts, how easy is it to fix.

thanks again

[Number47]

i'm thinkin the cable that go from the handle to the calipers. i dont remember how much it is but i know i need to ge one and get new calipers in the rear

[Big Jim]

The weak link in the park brake system is the mechanism in the center consol. Yes, you should check the cables but if there is nothing obvious with them, start thing park brake handle and ratchet mechanism.

[TourEnvy]

I replace my handle about three weeks ago, not the same simptoms buts, If the ebrake still works half ass, it maybe that one of the ends of the cable broke off at the equalizer, and the brake is working only one side.

[Frollo]

what happened is i guess it end to be an ogre with the handle now (judging by how when i accidentally pull up on the handle it blasts up and pops up the console). i looked under the console and the handle has a cable running from bottom of it down to somewhere behind the car. That cable looks like it is still in tact though i'm not exactly sure how it is supposed to look. If anybody got bored and wanted to put up pics how things are supposed to look it would be greatly appreciated

[TourEnvy]

If the handle looks okay,Under the car remove the heat shield there will be a cable coming from the front that is attached to the ebrake if you follow it a little ways back there will be a piece of metal this is the equalizer the cable will be attached in the front and two cables will attached at the back going to the rear calipers. I sugested that maybe one of the two rear cables broke at the equalizer causing only one side to work. good luck sorry no pics.

[Frollo]

alright so i went out to go check to see about removing the heat shield. i imagine i'm supposed to remove the exhaust and what not? well while i had the car up in the air i checked the action of the e-break. both tires locked and i couldn't budge them with my hands (not saying much as a car puts a lot more pressure on them) but if that cable were snapped wouldn't i be able to move one of the two wheels? if i have the ebreak on at a stop i can defeat it by putting it in first and with no gas let the clutch out slowly. does this seem normal? i notice a significant different feel in the handle as there isn't the resistance or feel of ratchet as i engage it.

[CSVT #0037]

this happened to me. i had a handle and it popped and there was no restistance. so i took it apart and there is a little silver piece that keeps the cable onto the gear and that broke and messed up the handle. so i had to get to a junk yard and get a nother handle. but that piece is escential

[arin]

I'm having a similiar problem.. I recently bought the car and the brake didnt work then. I don't have much experience with parking brakes(or any), but it seems to have a good amount of resistance when I pull it up, but it doesnt hold or do anything. I just went out to make sure and it just rolled out of my driveway in neutral with the brake on. What could this mean, if there's resistance and no sticking/braking at all? It seems most people have a lack of resistance or a sticking ebrake... Thanks


Also, there was an SVT exhaust put on the car, so I dont know if I would even be able to take the exhaust/heatshields down to replace the cables....

[fordsvt98]

Rusty Ebrake Cable's.

Go to NAPA. 27 bucks per cable, you need 2 cables. they are both equal length.

Try not to yank the handle up too much or you might end up ruining your handle mechanism.