Terry, you must not have worked on Vanagon rear brakes for a while, if
ever. There is no adjustment at the bottom.  Check your Bentley if you
have one.

Mark

Fredrich Hesterberg wrote:
>
> Mr.Mark,
> This is not true.
> The parking brake is to be adjusted at the bottom of the shoe on the
> fork where the lower part of the shoe rests.
> It screws out as well as in to do this adjustment.
> It is to be some kind of even from top to bottom of shoe to make contact
> with drum at same time as top.
> I have found this is most important for parking brake, and regular brake
> to be working good.
> Lever is important, but no adjust is not right either
> Good evening,
>
> Fred
>
> E-mail message
>
> You should remove the drums and look at the brake hardware. The parking
> brake cable moves a lever that is attached to the rear most brake shoe
> on each side. Check for a problem with that lever or with the end of the
> self adjuster that contacts the lever when the parking brake is used.
> I have recently seen 2 Vanagons with failures in this area. I used to
> think it was trouble free.
> Mark
> Steven Dodson wrote:
> Hallo, me again...
> My new 87 Syncro GL's parking brake has been slipping and I've had to
> pull the brake lever excessively high to get little improved grip. I
> looked underneath and the p-brake adjuster nut is bottomed out, no more
> adjustment. I thought the brake pads must be bad but they looked great
> through the inspection hole. The brake adjustment looks good also, there
> is almost 1mm clearance with brakes off.
> What am I missing?
> Seems I should be able to hold the vehicle on a slight incline with the
> p- brake. Right? Anyone?
> The curse of Inga continues...