If the cables are old, at the end of there adjustment, open somewhere or don't slide with ease then you need new ones. The SX cables can be a PITA to adjust. Even with new cables for some reason it's tough to get the same freeplay and feeling in both the foot lever and handle lever and or one of them always feels mushy. You have to screw around with all the adjusters and it's best first to yank that drum, clean the pads and grease both the pivot points and shaft that the brake arm connects to. If any of this stuff is worn, you'll never get it right without drag or too much freeplay in one or the other. Make sure that they are routed correctly also.
I mostly ran just a foot lever cable but a 200X disc front end. Then you end up using the front disc more than anythin else.
All our government does is distract us while they steal from us, misspend our tax $ and ruin our country