# Fixing a stuck E-Brake

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/fixing-a-stuck-e-brake/17779>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [August 6, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fixing-a-stuck-e-brake/17779 "2008-08-06T19:44:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![meltdown75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/53a042/32.png) [@meltdown75](https://community.cartalk.com/u/meltdown75)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fixing-a-stuck-e-brake/17779/1 "2008-08-06T19:44:18Z")

</div>

My 95 honda accord runs fine, but after a long trip the emergency brake is stuck in the engaged position. Is there a trick, or am i into clipping the brake cable?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cappy208](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cappy208/32/31_2.png) [@cappy208](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cappy208)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 8:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fixing-a-stuck-e-brake/17779/2 "2008-08-06T20:01:46Z")

</div>

likely the cable itself it stuck.

look under the car. find the cable where it goes from the handle to the back. usually they transition from an enclosed cable to an open cable. usuully this is where it splits into two to go to both sides. sometimes the cable gets dirty gunked up and gets sticky.

don’t cut it, but once you figure out which is the cable, reach under the car and tug the wire  
towards the back, to help release the brakes.

this is an indication the cable needs TLC, and a lubrication. heads up, or it will continue to jamb, and maybe seize up the ebrake permanently.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 8:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fixing-a-stuck-e-brake/17779/3 "2008-08-06T20:11:39Z")

</div>

Does the e-brake handle release properly?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![meltdown75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/53a042/32.png) [@meltdown75](https://community.cartalk.com/u/meltdown75)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 8:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fixing-a-stuck-e-brake/17779/4 "2008-08-06T20:18:32Z")

</div>

The handle will depress as if it were disengaging, but the brake continues to stick.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 8:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fixing-a-stuck-e-brake/17779/5 "2008-08-06T20:35:20Z")

</div>

Everytime I’ve run into this, I ended up cutting the cables right at the backing plates for the brakes.

Tester

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![newpony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/41988e/32.png) [@newpony](https://community.cartalk.com/u/newpony)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 12:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/fixing-a-stuck-e-brake/17779/6 "2008-08-07T00:02:21Z")

</div>

When was your last brake job? You could have brake shoes that are so worn that the expander pucks are sticking when you park. This would then be a brake rebuild problem and not an E-brake problem. It would also be possibly life threatening.