You might just have a 20-year-old car with the original cable, etc......

First, I'd pull the rear hubs and check the brakes. You might have pads
that are almost fried.

Second, I'd replace the cable, and make sure that it's tightened to specs.
This will also force you to make sure that all passageways are clear,
there's no binding, etc.

Tim Wohlford

"Fred Mann" <fredmann (AT) bellsouth (DOT) net> wrote

Hello,
I have a 1983 Rabbit GTI. The emergency brake barely works. It takes all my
might to pull the cable tight enough to stop the car on a 3 or 4 degree
slope. I jacked up the rear end, and both sides seem to be equally engaged,
just very weakly. Adjusting the screws for the left and right cables at the
handle didn't seem to help any. Does anybody know what might be wrong here?
Thanks,
Fred

Along with checking the rear shoes you would check to make sure the
self adjusters are working. A few fast backups applying brakes should
get the rears in adjustment but you need to double check everything.
My 84 with 280,000 miles and original brake cables worked fine.

"Tim Wohlford" <timNO (AT) SPAMwohlford (DOT) net> wrote:


Jim B.

Fred Mann wrote:

I agree with the others. I also suggest checking the adjustment. They
should fully engage after just a few clicks (see your service manual). Most
are designed to provide the best leverage at that point. If you are pulling
the brake handle more than that, you are getting less mechanical leverage
and that could be the problem.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

Fred Mann wrote:


It's a twenty something year old car. Replace the brake cableS.

Don't skimp with just one (in the case were one were to break for example).

<http://www.parts4vws.com/catalog/product_detail.asp?PartNumber=171609721C>

It would be a good idea at a time like this to recondition the rear
brakes with a new spring kit and brake shoes. I mean, why not even
repack the rear bearings, since you don't want to open things up again
for a long time, do it all now.

hth,
TBerk