A few years ago my 201 parking brake became ineffective at full extension of the lever (mounted between the seats), so I followed the service manual procedure - slackened the cable, adjusted the shoes per the book, then tightened the cable to yield five clicks (my choice) of the lever with a decent pull, six if I really yank it.

It now holds the car well.

I think the linings "glaze" over time, which reduces the cf. Every few years I would lightly "drag" the parking brake for a few seconds and effectiveness returned, but eventually it wore enough of the linings that it would not hold the car well with the lever pulled to the limit. So I knew it was time to perform the service manual adjustment procedure.

Duke