Parking Brake Shoe Removal / Skipped step - what to do?
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 214
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From: East Idaho
2014 GL450, 2006 S500, 2003 ML350, 1996 C280 (Prev 1995 C220, 2002 CLK320, 1980 300SD Turbo)
Parking Brake Shoe Removal / Skipped step - what to do?
I recently decided to do a brake job while I was rebuilding the rear end and decided what the heck, let's do the parking brake shoes too.
NOTE: Do not replace your parking brake shoes unless you have to - mine were fine, and this is a far more tedious / nightmare of a task than initially estimated.
The proper procedure was:
1. Remove brake discs
2. Remove rear seat cushion
3. Preload automatic cable slack adjuster
4. Unhook bottom retracting spring on brake shoes
5. Unhook retaining springs
6. Remove brake shoes
While these instructions were CLEARLY in front of me, I decided to totally skip steps 2 and 3 - as youtube videos I was watching didn't mention this. (I know this is very embarrassing and stupid.)
When I went to install the new shoes, with a lot of difficulty and an assistant, I finally got the lower springs on. But when I went to put the rotor on, it wouldn't go on because apparently the spring got damaged during the multiple installation attempts.
I was going to try again with a new spring but my big question is; should I preload the spring like I was supposed to before removing the shoes again ?
I'm not sure what the consequences are of not having done that. Thanks in advance.
NOTE: Do not replace your parking brake shoes unless you have to - mine were fine, and this is a far more tedious / nightmare of a task than initially estimated.
The proper procedure was:
1. Remove brake discs
2. Remove rear seat cushion
3. Preload automatic cable slack adjuster
4. Unhook bottom retracting spring on brake shoes
5. Unhook retaining springs
6. Remove brake shoes
While these instructions were CLEARLY in front of me, I decided to totally skip steps 2 and 3 - as youtube videos I was watching didn't mention this. (I know this is very embarrassing and stupid.)
When I went to install the new shoes, with a lot of difficulty and an assistant, I finally got the lower springs on. But when I went to put the rotor on, it wouldn't go on because apparently the spring got damaged during the multiple installation attempts.
I was going to try again with a new spring but my big question is; should I preload the spring like I was supposed to before removing the shoes again ?
I'm not sure what the consequences are of not having done that. Thanks in advance.
