a famous classic 'vw gotcha' that parking brake rod thing is.

it's very easy to get the top end of the toothed pawl flipped over so the
curve in the bottom of the rod will engage it
again........................... when the parking brake handle is in your
hands, and upside down.

so you may have to remove the pin that holds the lever in place..
or ....this might be easier ..
yeah..do this....
remove the pin that holds the cable,
then unbolt the whole thing from the floor ..
then it'll be in your hands where it's easy to fiddle with and get it back
where it belongs.

VW has a unique ability to design parking brake handles with this 'feature'
going back to the first VW Bugs.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Donald Pelava" <1coolmollydog@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2011 11:09 PM
Subject: parking brake handle spring/rod out.......restore?

> Hello,
>
> I was attempting to replace my parking brake handle grip.Got the old one
> off, then the button/spring/rod came out
> of the metal handle slot. Does anyone know how to restore the
> button/spring/metal washer/rod back into the
> brake handle correctly? I cannot seem to find the place in their which the
> bend in the end of the rod goes over.
> I assume it pushes over the top of the metal ratchet some how, just cannot
> get it in their proper as the ratchet
> is just flopping around. Thanks. Don (AZ) 1991 Vanagon.