Hello everyone! My lady drives a 04 Mazda3 and I just joined because I am having some issues I need help figuring out.

Her rear brake pads were toast so I replaced them. After the replacement the ebrake didn't work and I had to tighten it up a bunch under the console. It helped a bit but not that much.

Also there isn't a ton of pedal pressure, when I press down on the brake it goes almost to the floor before I start to stop. If I pump the pedal first it helps. This made me think their was air in the line? But I don't understand why it would have got air in the line just from changing pads… Any ideas?

 

When was the last time you changed brake fluid? When you replace brake pads, you should replace fluid too, or at least bleed them. Brake fluid is very hygroscopic (loves water) and will lose a lot of pedal pressure/feel to it when its old or it got wet.
Tightening the e-brake wont do anything as it just pulls a lever to the rear brakes. I'd start with a brake fluid flush or bleed at very least