parking brake cable woes

[jettabrendan]

Ok so I have just got in my 3rd wrong pair of parking brake cables for my 1991 diesel jetta. The actual inside cable is about a half a foot too long. I brought them back to Canadian tire and they ran the numbers and said that they are the right ones for the car. 1 cable from the 6 that I have got us the right size. The others are too long. Is there special cables that go with the 91 model year? Its a real pita to get it on and find out its the wrong cable.. But they insist I have the right ones for the car..

[jtanguay]

can't you bring in the old one and compare the length?

[jettabrendan]

I can't now because its on there and I'm not taking it off lol.

[jettabrendan]

Oh haha I can't even do that because they are gone they must have fell off of something.

[jtanguay]

Oh haha I can't even do that because they are gone they must have fell off of something.

hmmm thats not good!!! maybe ordering from an online site???

http://parts.autopartsonlinecanada.com/parts/apocanada/wizard.jsp?year=1991&make=VW&model=JET-D-001&category=N&part=Parking+Brake+Cable

[jettabrendan]

Yeah I would do that I'm just worried about the same thing happening, its a bit harder to return stuff over the net.

[jtanguay]

you could probably modify the brake line to fit if its too long.  just snip off the end until its just right and then go to home depot and buy the right hardware for aircraft cable in that size.  they should have everything to make a loop that will hook on to the arm to actuate the parking brake.  thats a solution i'd probably use.