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
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
Jim B.
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.
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).
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
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