TerminA8r

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/13362/brake1.jpg"></center><p>I've had significant travel on my parking brake for years, and I finally got tired of it. So today I took a closer look. The hardest part was to get the socket on the nut. The nut is located right above the driveshaft. You can hardly see it.

<img src="http://www.vagcat.com/p/B153/711500.png">
Nut # 12 needs to be tighten, it's a 13 mm. Use a deep socket. Attach a couple of extensions and a swivel is a must have. Once you get the socket on the nut, all it takes is a few turns with the wrench and you are done. That's it.
No more 10 clicks before the parking brake grabs. I can't believe I waited this long to fix it!

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/87363/cimg1084.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/87363/cimg1081.jpg">

audikillsbmw

Nice. I always assumed that required removal of the center console.

HZach

Thanks for the info, I will have to take care of that as well.

ricoblanco

You should add that to the FAQ Digest!

alextimmons

<center><img src="http://www.bigfrog.net/archives/g_rtsidechst.jpg"></center><p>
Results of excessive parking brake travel.

pkrasusky

uh er either that or... you'll go blind 8-)

mAgnum8

Great write up, thanks for the tip.

TimD

What happens when you put new rear pads on?

TerminA8r

When you push the cylinder back in the caliper to make room for new pads, all you do is push brake fluid back in the reservoir. It does not affect the parking brake cable at all. As you wear the rear brake pads the cylinder keeps coming further and further out, always "riding" the back of the pad, hens giving the parking brake cable the same amount of "travel" regardless of thickness of the brake pads.

kingers

easy job, 10 minutes, most important part was making sure the car was stable on axle stands. I just jacked the drivers side, front and rear, secured on axle stands and then access was tight but ok to get under and up at it with the extensions pictured above.

thanks for posting!