I did mine a few years back. It can be a pain. Best tip I can give you is start by removing the handle cover, and the adjustment nuts. Then spray the tubes (where the cables go through the floor) with some lube (wd40 or better). It will help free up the cable from the tubes (guides). Then you can remove the "ball-end" at the calipers. Then you twist, pull, bleed, swear and eventually dislodge the cables from the tube-guides. Don't worry if the metal tubes come apart with the cables, it's no biggie.
If there is no cooperation whatsoever, you can try to find a drill bit and start drilling inside the tubes (from inside the car). It's only plastic and should come out eventually. I might have other tips if you're stuck, just chime in. Good luck! PS: do not put the cables too tight, unless you want to impress your friends with red calipers and a nice smoke show! The cables will stretch, and real adjustment will only be needed after a while (couple of weeks) PS2: if you are replacing your cables because your parking brakes do not work, you might need to eventually change your calipers. Ask me how I know. I think VW has a serious problem understanding how rear calipers work. -----Original Message----- From: Jesse T Walz [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, June 06, 2003 8:25 AM To: a2list Subject: [a2-16v-list] Replacing parking brake cables Hi all, Could one of you nice folks, who is smarter than myself and saves post, please send me the write up on replacing parking brake cables. I believe Mark Reda posted it a few weeks ago and included a few good tips. If someone could do it before 10:30 this morning that would be great. I have a half day at work today and plan on changing these after I get out. Thanks in advance. Jesse Walz _______________________________________________ a2-16v-list mailing list [email protected] http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list For list archives, see listinfo link above.
