You didn't notice the adjustment at the forward ends of the parking brake
cables ?
10mm nut right there in plan site .
square in the middle of the underside of the van.
( if you have a diesel heater in there, then that's another story, but
normally the adjustment for the cables is hanging right out there in very
plain site.

The parking brake shoe return springs pull them back away from the drum when
hydraulic pressure is released when you take your foot off the brake.
 
If you don't have any idea what's going on in your rear drums, like worn
shoes or leaky wheel cylinders, or non-working self-adjuster mechanism (
these are normally very, very good though ) you should check in there. 
If that's right, you adjust the cable so the rear wheels turn freely, and
the parking brake grabs tightly on the 5th or so click.
Scott
www.turbovans.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
AAG - Larry Word
Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2008 6:24 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: 1985 Vanagon - parking brake cable adjustment

Recently I "repaired" my emergency parking brake handle so that is holds up
in position......

Now...the rear brakes drag when I installed it - so it needs lengthening in
its adjustment.

**What makes the shoes return to their off position and thus away from the
drum(s) - is that simply the job of the rear brake shoe "return
springs"......

Anyone have a rule of thumb for adjusting said emergency brake cables?

Thanks

Larry 
Ga.