I'm a n00b and auto-illiterate but am eager to learn, so please bear with me.

I have a 2007 GT, manual transmission Mustang and recently used the park brake (e-brake) on a hill. When I reared the e-brake handle back there was a "popping" sound and the arm lost tension. I released the handle and re-engaged it, to hear it clicking along the gear teeth but again no tension, and no engaging of the brake mechanism.

I later inspected the e-brake adjuster nut from the center console and noted that it and the cable were very loose (3"-5" length).

What do you estimate was the malfunction and is it a fairly straight forward fix? If so, how do I accomplish it?

Or if it's too intricate for a first timer, just let me know and I'll take it to a dealer; but even still I'm curious as to what happened. Thanks in advance!

 

Sounds like you may have a snapped or really stretched cable. How hard do you pull on it when you set it?

 

Another question I would ask is whether you regularly use the e-brake or just on hills. Without regular use the e-brake is subject to freezing and the cable is more likely to snap when applied...

 

Here's the scoop as I just had this happen to me and I just fixed it as well.

What you did is this:

If you jack the car up and look at where the e-brake cable leaves the cabin, about 7-8 inches towards the rear it meets with the 2 rear cables. left and right cables to be exact. God if it wasn't late and I had to run I'd go in the garage pull the old one out and take a pic so you can see. Anyways.

The bracket that is on the old cable ( old meaning the one you have to change ) is gone. Jack the car up and go underneath. I'm betting money you have the same issue I just had.

It's a 30 minute job, and you can do it. Go to the dealership ( unfortunately ) and order a whole new e-brake " handle ". It comes with the cable. It's the only way you can get it. it's like 135 bucks but the guy gave me a bit cheaper with a discount. ( ask about one lol )

Hard part is you have to take the old one out, and it's a bit of a b$#^h.
I would do a how to since I just did it, but I have no pics. so no use. Anyways, hit me up if you need details on fixing this. But get the car on jacks first and look. Good luck

 

I would suspect cable issues as well, but there's another easy thing that you might check. The cable clips into a groove on an arm on the rear brake caliper. It's possible (however unlikely) that the end of the cable just popped out of this groove. If that's the problem then all it takes is some muscle and prying to get it reseated.

 

there are 3 cables. 1 front and 2 rears. The front is attached to the ebrake handle inside your car. So to change that you have to take out your center console and a little bit of the dash. The two rears then attach to the front cable and then one goes to the pass. and one to driver side wheel. I recently had to change all three because the rears froze and the front snapped from pulling it up. I bought all three cables for 190$ I did the front my self because ford wanted over 300 for it. I had the rears done at my local mechanic for 100$....

 

go under your car and see exactly what cable is the problem.. For the front one there is a step by step how to guide on another forum that I used when I did mine

 

^^^ This. Mine has the same problem. I lifted the car to see if i could do a easy fix, but no luck. The brake cable starts off as one piece (connected to your handle). From there it goes under your car, and gets to a rectangle shaped box that helps seperate the wire into two cables. After that they go out to each of your rear calipers. By what you're experiencing the cable broke before it reached the little box that seperates them, which leaves your handle feeling like there is no tension, because you really don't have tension.

 

Thanks a ton guys this has given me enough confidence to further inspect the issue, and hopefully it'll be a straight forward fix. I'll take an in-depth look this weekend. But I will say, this being my first time here I'm extremely impressed with the community response and support of this forum. Thanks again and I'll keep ya'll posted.