E Brake Cables

[shakers73]

What are you folks using for E Brake cables on 67 Beetle? The ones being sold for this year are too long. I just installed a pair on my 67. I have new shoes, new drums and new cables(GEMO Brand) I tightened them as much as I could and it still takes 6-7 clicks to lock the drums. I had the brakes adjusted up until they would barely move. Thak's ok for now, but once they stretch a little, they will need to be replaced.
_________________
shakers73
'74 Super Beetle
'67 Beetle

Where there is no vision, the people perish.

[slayer61]

How long was the one you just bought? Maybe next time you get one 10mm shorter?
_________________

[richparker]

My brake system is tight on my ‘65 with new e brake cables and my handle engages at 7 clicks.

You could use a small sleeve under the nut if you’d like to make the cables tighter.
_________________
__________
’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’71 Double Cab

[runamoc]

I made this so the brake cables would work on the disc brakes installed on a '72 Ghia. Fits where the pipe comes out by the transaxle and the cable. Might work for your issue

_________________
Daily driver: '69 Baja owned 45 yrs - Plan B: '72 Ghia
Yard Art: 2 Sandrails
Outback: '69 Ghia - '68,'69,'70,'72 Beetle - '84 Scirocco, GTI - Pair of '02 Golfs- '80 Rabbit Diesel
VW Wiring = It's just wires

[aquifer]

This is probably a dumb question, but are you sure the fulcrum thing that the nuts tighten against is properly mounted on the swivel point at the base of the lever?
_________________
Project vehicles:
1967 Beetle #1. Bought in 2024, mostly original, October 1966 build date. Java Green.
1967 Beetle #2. Bought in the mid 80's, restored myself in the late 90's, June 1967 build date. Java Green.
1998 Jaguar XJR. Bought in 2015, rust free AZ car, refurbished myself. Driven in nice weather.

Parts needed:
Original brown rubber floor mats for a '67
Original gazelle seat upholstery for a ‘67

[zerotofifty]

Of note, if your Bug is stored for long, dont set the emergency brake! Instead block the tires for security.

I have had it happen, usually after many months in storage, humidity dependent, the shoe may stick to the drum. I have had this happen several times. Just yesterday we had to break free a stock shoe on drum on my 66 Bug using a breaker bar on the big axle nut (had to jump on the breaker bar, actually moved the big nut some before the shoes broke free of the drum), AND I had been tapping all around the drum with a mallet to help break it free.

So if stored say over winter or such, leave the brake off for best user satisfaction!!!


ALSO......

Always keep your emergency brake in tip top adjustment make sure you have enough range on the handle to be able to pull the brake with all your might before the level tops out off the sprocket. AND just as importantly make sure you have equal pressure on the left and right side cables and correct shoe adjustment at the drum star wheel.

This is most true in single master brake circuit older Bugs, where a leak in the brakes can cause all four wheels to lose hydraulic braking.

You want a good correctly adjusted cable brake for such a situation. It saved my Bug once before when I lost all hydraulic braking!!! It was a sudden thing, brake pedal was good, then to the floor, no brakes, red light ahead, cars stopped ahead, I grabbed the hand brake and used to for a nice stop. I was even able to drive home with many stops on the way by using the hand brake!!

Suggest you all go to a safe place and drive, then test stopping power of your hand brake. Learn how to modulate it, how to avoid skidding to one side when using it by modulating the hand lever movement. Always have the button pushed in when using the hand brake for emergencies. You may need to immediately let off the hand brake a bit to control the car, if you don't keep the level's button pushed in, you wont be able to quickly, seamlessly let off a bit on the hand lever just as you have learnt for modulating the foot brake, learn the hand brake.

Note that many modern cars have wimply "parking" brakes They dont need a strong hand brake, a true emergency brake since modern cars have dual circuit master brake cylinders, and brake fluid level and or pressure loss warning lights. The old Bugs dont have this till the late 60's, and they kept the original strong emergency brake in the Bugs till the last one rolled off the line in Mexico.

The VW Bug hand brake is very good, it was after all the back up braking system, not just a parking brake
_________________
Sorry About That Chief.

Give Peace a Chance.

Words to live by.

[67rustavenger]

[wagen19]