E-Brake freezing?

[NotoriousDUB]

I seem to be having all these problems at once. I went to take the car for a spin today and I didn't roll back on a slight incline, seem to have no power in 5th gear and smelled a strong burning brake smell from the rear. Has anyone had their ebrake freeze? I am not going to set it anymore this winter so hopefully that solves my problem. Thanks

[Sir8Valve]

happens on my gti all the time i just dont use it and more or else i have to get out and reach in between the spokes and loosen it by hand (really dangerous i know) you can easily redo the rear drums hardware and replace the cables that should solve the problem, unless you have discs and then you might need to tear down the internals of the e-brake on the caliper. a lil wd-40 or lube on the linkage and cables also goes a long way as for un stcking the brakes right now, i'd say pull the wheel and tap on the linkage with a hammer that stuff rusts up easily

[NotoriousDUB]

Yea, I have rear discs. Thanks

[Fourt1thirty]

Worn out cables or stuck caliper cams. Happens a lot. MK3 calipers seem to have the problem a little less.

[Kaos]

Basicly your rear caliper locked up with the e-brake mechignizm.
Most likly the right rear .Take a hammer and look for were the e-brake cable links to the caliper .Try to bang it back into the open position.
You will need to replace the caliper. There is no way to fix it. Until then you can just leave the car in gear for a parking brake as long as you don't pull the e-brake it wont lock up again.
What happened was rust got into the system and it gathers up at the right rear caliper until the e-brake ceases to work. When you get the new part flush the entire system after you replace the caliper. One time I didn't do this and the same thing happened in a few months.
I have had this happen to 3( 2 MK2's , 1 B3 passat )of my dubs. Rule of thumb I learned is to change my brake fluid no matter what evey 2 years

[db]

This happened to me when I had my MK2, how I fixed it you ask? Don't use your e-brake in the winter...that fixed my problem. ICE would littery build up on the cable and freeze I had a few times in which I had to call my Pop to come out with the torche and melt the ice build up off. So I guess this is common with older dubs.

[NotoriousDUB]

Yea, db, thats exactly what it did. I no longer use the ebrake and it hasnt happened since. And because this is only my winter car, i dont want to get it fixed.