brake problems.

[Eyedeas]

I believe my e-brake broke in the "brake" position this morning before I went to get groceries.

I had been feeling a slowing movement in my jetta that was sporadic, all the while the engine revved smoothly thru its range.

This morning I disengaged the ebrake and as i started to accelerate in reverse it was much more difficult and while driving forward I would slow down much too rapidly.

Anyone know exactly what the problem is and how can I fix it???

Help and comments appreciated,
Thanks

[Speed4]

I bet it's a frozen e-brake cable, fairly common problem with mk3's.

I think I paid around $40 for some new cables this summer from the dealer. Takes about 10 minutes to swap them once you get the back end of the car jacked up.

[Eyedeas]

Do you know of a tutorial on how to swap them??? Or could you give advice.

Also whats the exact part needed?

[Speed4]

http://faculty.ccp.edu/faculty/dreed...rake/index.htm

[Crispy222]

broken cables would probably not let the E-brake engage at all. It sounds like you got a stuck caliper or clogged brake lines.

[Toftii88]

another common mk3 problem. frozen rear calipers.

[Eyedeas]

na its not a frozen caliper....pretty sure. Cause when I would reverse it felt like only the left rear was engaged. And if they had been frozen it would have been much harder to drive on, I think.

[Crispy222]

na its not a frozen caliper....pretty sure. Cause when I would reverse it felt like only the left rear was engaged. And if they had been frozen it would have been much harder to drive on, I think.

Sounds like frozen LR caliper then.

[Eyedeas]

ok, my car is at Csquared gettin fixed(they have a cheaper hourly than car-x and they know their shit). They also think it is a caliper and I do believe you guys.

I'm always learning and love it when you guys answer my questions without giving me bs(vortex...).

Thanks to all the people for helping me out.

[FootlongJones]

yeah the arm gets stuck. common prob.

[veedubmechanic]

mk3's are a common problem. thats why I wont ever buy one again lol..

[Eyedeas]

ya but they are sooooo awesome!!!!

[sgt snuffles]

mk3's own all. i have the same problem, whenever i brake to hard and it cold out my brake light comes on than goes off and so on... but mines due to brake lines, and one day i took it to tires plus to get some new tires mounted for winter, i told them not to pull the ebrake itll freeze, sure shit 5 clicks yanked up drove to hyland thinking it was down nope my lever was down but the brake was still compresses, so now i have warped discs and probably almost done brakes... im just waiting till their complete gone.

this frozen cylinder in Calipers what needed to fix that? that might also be my prob.

[glee60]

Depends on what's frozen, the E-Brake assembly is entirely external and a couple whacks with a hammer will probably release it.
At this point I'd probably say just replace the caliper. It'll be easier and less of a headache than rebuilding it.

Look into the MK4 upgrade, little over $100 bucks if you buy the calipers new, but well worth it! You keep your rotors and use the MK4 calipers with some custom brake lines, available at various places online.

[sgt snuffles]

yea pretty sure its my lines that becuase if i just jiggle them around and break things up their fine. but i need new calipers in back their warped also!