2008 Volkswagen Golf hand brake

The rear service brakes work on the rotor and the parking brake works on a small brake drum inside the rotor. These sometimes need adjusting. Just remove the rear wheel, brake caliper and bracket, then the rotor. Adjust the shoe adjuster until you can feel resistance on the drum when rotated but not binding. Just keep taking the rotor off and adjusting it then putting it back on till you get it right. If you want to check the lever travel before putting the whole business back together, just put one lug nut on tight to hold the rotor tight against the hub

Thank you for your quick answer. I began taking the things apart, but I have trouble locating the brake drum you are talking about. I have taken some pictures, it would be greatly appreciated if you could identify where the brake drum is located. Thank you.

The drum is in the rotor. Take the pads off and the bracket that they go in and then the rotor and youll see the parking brake shoes

I must sincerely apologize for giving you false info. Every car I deal with is set up the way I described. If theres still too much slack then look at the calipers themselves. The piston will have a pattern in it that allows a special tool to go in it and rotate it to push it back to accommodate new pads. See if you can rotate it slightly in either direction with a wrench. Its actually a screw piston that advances everytime the handle is pulled. Sometimes they get stuck. You might even rotate and push it all the way back in just to make sure it moves freely. Just be sure to push the brake pedal back to firm before trying to drive it again. That tool is available at parts stores and is cheap. Its basically a square socket. Make sure they have the one to fit your car. Again im so sorry for steering you wrong.