This is one of those YGTBFKM stories. The parking brake does not work on my car. 2005 Roadster Limited Edition

The previous owner bought fancy wheels and used the existing lug bolts. As it turns out the new wheels are thinner and the existing bolts went into the rear shoes and destroyed the parking brake. So he removed everything. I kid you not!

Where is the stuff?

Here is what's left of the brake cable:

Brake cable attachment, no hardware

I found a hardware kit at RockAuto, however I don't know if the hardware kit will have enough stuff in to make the parking brake work correctly. Could somebody please, dig out of their archives and post of picture of the parking brake assembly. I would love a picture showing how the brake cable pulls on the expansion lever. Any other advice will be welcome. Thanks in advance.

 

Have you looked in the service manual?
https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...s-repairs.html

 

YES! I have looked, but the drawing does not show the assembly assembled.

parking brake assembly rear hub

I guess I have should have posted this as well. The part I can't find is number 4 above, the actuator level.

 

I am not at all surprised, we just had a guy who admitted he used long bolts, jammed the rear wheels, and destroyed the differential by making an attempt at forcing the rear wheels to turn.
Doing mods to the car is a big part of the fun. But doing mods to the car in ignorance is just a lesson in Dunning-Kruger.

I dont buy Crossfires from ANYONE other than a current known forum member or known Facebook member. PERIOD. I'd rather pay $2000 more than 'its worth' than buy some rolling abortion from someone I do not know.
If you show up here trying to sell a car and are not a member of the group, you might sell the car, but not to me.

 

My goal is to get this car 100% or as damn close as I can. I want my car to be well respected representation of a good crossfire. Still hunting parts but I am getting closer.

 

There seems to be a lot of metal particles showing up in your pics. Are the threaded holes damaged?. Just doesn't look right, something to double check.

 

If there is a pick and pull in your area, it may be worth a trip.
97-2004 (I think those are the years) mb320

wheels are off
easy to snap a few pics and to salvage a few hardware items that you’re looking for.

 

I am not surprised. Considering the way the bolts ground away the brakes. I will check each hole and get everything cleaned up.

 

Great suggestion. I was able to find Mercedes replacements but did not know what years and model number. This is very helpful! THANKS!

 

The metal particles could be from the damage done previously.

 

I have no experience with rebuilding a xfire rear brake assembly. Maybe you should consider removing the backing plate completely and replace it with another assembly. Someone on the forum might be parting out a rearend. It looks like the wheel hub will need to be pulled to remove the backing plate. This is the path I would take as it eliminates the previous stupidity.

 

Between Rock Auto and FPC, I have parts. Except...one very important part: the pin holding the cable to the activation lever. I bought a 1/4 inch brass rod, which is slightly bigger than. the 5.68mm I measured inside the hole. Using my drill press, I put together a honing jig.


brass rod and lever

Using various grits of sandpaper I got the diameter to fit perfectly with a slight taper.


Pin and lever

It fits!


Pin fitted in the lever

Of course when I went to remove the disc on the passenger side, somebody screwed up the retaining screw.

This is not coming out with regular star tools.

Fortunately I have a effing clue on how to fix this.

Screw extraction tool to the rescue

 

I painted my dust guards. They really did look terrible.

Brake dust covers not looking great

Prep work:. Went over the cover with wire brush, masked off the area, and then rub down with alcohol.

Preppy prep work prep


I used a texture paint as it hides all the little dingalings dings.

Painted brake dust cover

I removed the pin holding the brake pads and started working on the disc calipers. Somebody had previous painted them RED and they currently look terrible.

Punching out the retaining pin.

Polished up the retaining clip and retaining pin.

Polished pin and retaining clip with unpolished for comparison.

Prep the brake caliper More wire brush, air gun, and brake cleaner.

ready to paint

My paint box ... YES I know I should not hang the caliper by the hose.


Ready Aim and Paint!

 

Nice work!

 

Finally got one rear brake assembled. There was much gnashing of teeth and swearing. Here is the procedure:

Get the parts together. Lubricate and assemble the adjusting ring.
Slide the big spring that goes on the bottom between the hub and the brake actuator.
Hook in both sides of the big spring into the bottom holes into each shoe.
Attach the top spring into the top hole of each shoe.
Using great force and pull the power of the gods, pull the bottom of each shoe so it sits on the correct spot of the actuator. I used a hook.
Put the adjustment screw into the top part of each shoe. Some force is needed but not as badly as the bottom part.
Align the shoes so the center holes of each shoe are aligned with the hole in the dust cover.
Using needle nose pliers push in the retaining spring through the center hole into the hole in the dust cover. Once pressed in turn one quarter turn to engage the hook.
You are done. If you cut yourself or injury yourself in the process, be satisfied you have sacrificed to the gods and they will smile on your repair.

Pictures of the assembled parking brake.

The adjustment screw. The top spring keeps the adjustment steady.


The bottom showing the actuator, evil spring, and correct alignment of the shoes. The retaining springs can be seen at the top.

 

looks like new again. Nice.

 

Nice!!! just gnashing of teeth and swearing? no bloody knuckles?

 

Yes I managed to get out of this repair with minimal of body damage. However the bottom spring (pics below) is just difficult as it's hard to get a good grip on the shoe to pull it into place. This will cause much gnashing of teeth and swearing.

Following the procedure I had listed above put the bottom spring on first.

#$%@$ Spring How in the #$%#$% did Mercedes build this. @#%&*

And then put the top spring into place. Using needle nose pliers, twist the spring hook to get into the hole.

Top spring.


I put back the pads back into the calipers and placed it into place so I can admire my handy work and new paint job.

Newly painted calipers

This is the product I used. No telling how long it will look after a year.


Red Caliper Paint

 

I'm glade I found this. I took mine apart last year to replace the dust shield. Finally got the dust shield on but forgot how this goes togather.