# E-brake won't stay up **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** mazda, brakes\ **Created:** [November 26, 2020, 10:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/e-brake-wont-stay-up/172712 "2020-11-26T22:28:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gabrial0218\_172576](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4bbf92/32.png) [@Gabrial0218\_172576](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Gabrial0218_172576)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2020, 10:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/e-brake-wont-stay-up/172712/1 "2020-11-26T22:28:37Z")
I just bought a mazdaspeed3 2008 and every time i pull up on the e brake, it just goes back down. it doesn’t stay up at all ---
**Author:** ![oldnotdeadyet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a6a055/32.png) [@oldnotdeadyet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldnotdeadyet)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2020, 11:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/e-brake-wont-stay-up/172712/2 "2020-11-26T23:17:15Z")
Pay careful attention to the symptoms. If you pull up on the handle and it feels normal, that is a different symptom than if you pull up and it feels abnormal. If it feels normal, try to pull up on the handle slowly without pushing the release button. You should hear a click-click sound of a ratchet mechanism. The mechanism should hold at any position, until the button is pushed. Without further info, I am guessing that the ratchet mechanism is not functioning. It might be solved by taking the handle out and lubrication, or it might be a broken ratchet. Used ones are on eBay at $30. Very dangerous: get it fixed! ---
**Author:** ![Gabrial0218\_172576](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4bbf92/32.png) [@Gabrial0218\_172576](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Gabrial0218_172576)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2020, 11:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/e-brake-wont-stay-up/172712/3 "2020-11-26T23:26:58Z")
Yeah i think its the ratchet mechanism, because when i pull up you can hear clicking but it doesn’t hold ---
**Author:** ![oldnotdeadyet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a6a055/32.png) [@oldnotdeadyet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldnotdeadyet)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2020, 12:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/e-brake-wont-stay-up/172712/4 "2020-11-27T00:05:58Z")
It could be worn ratchet teeth, or simply dirt that keeps the ratchet from engaging. Does the button seem to have a limited range of motion…specifically, does it come all the way out? ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2020, 12:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/e-brake-wont-stay-up/172712/5 "2020-11-27T00:33:15Z")
Please perform this test in a remote parking lot drive slowly now pull up on the e-brake handle and keep holding it Is the car slowing down at all? If yes, the parking brake shoes and cable(s) are most likely just fine, and you just need the e-brake handle assembly . . . or maybe just lubrication, like the other guys already suggested ---
**Author:** ![Gabrial0218\_172576](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4bbf92/32.png) [@Gabrial0218\_172576](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Gabrial0218_172576)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2020, 12:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/e-brake-wont-stay-up/172712/6 "2020-11-27T00:38:46Z")
The button comes all the way out, but i think the teeth are worn because i pull the ebrake and it catches for a second but then starts to slowly go down and if i pull it up and hold it there for a second it stays then goes back down ---
**Author:** ![Gabrial0218\_172576](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4bbf92/32.png) [@Gabrial0218\_172576](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Gabrial0218_172576)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2020, 1:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/e-brake-wont-stay-up/172712/7 "2020-11-27T01:18:48Z")
Do have a link for the ratchet mechanism? I searched for it but can’t find it ---
**Author:** ![oldnotdeadyet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a6a055/32.png) [@oldnotdeadyet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldnotdeadyet)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2020, 11:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/e-brake-wont-stay-up/172712/8 "2020-11-27T11:27:56Z")
I just searched on 2008 Mazda3 emergency brake handle and got a number of ebay hits, plus new units.