Super Stuck Front Parking Brake Cable - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Adriel · #1 10-25-2016, 02:17 PM

Can get movement of the rear cables, which move the parking shoes (rotors off so can hear/see the movement). However, the front parking brake cable is stuck in the housing. All I have is A.T.F. as my can of good penetrant oil is gone. Put in at least a half ounce and no help.

So, to get full access to the front brake cable, the exhaust needs to be removed and then the heat shields. Is this worth it?

Or, should I just remove the shoes and go without a parking brake?

Thank y'all in advance!

ThatOne · #2 10-25-2016, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adriel

Can get movement of the rear cables, which move the parking shoes (rotors off so can hear/see the movement). However, the front parking brake cable is stuck in the housing. All I have is A.T.F. as my can of good penetrant oil is gone. Put in at least a half ounce and no help.

So, to get full access to the front brake cable, the exhaust needs to be removed and then the heat shields. Is this worth it?

Or, should I just remove the shoes and go without a parking brake?

Thank y'all in advance!

A 50/50 mix of ATF and Acetone has been shown to as good or better penetrant than any commercially available penetrant. So if you can rustle up some acetone you'll be good to go. That said it will probably take some soaking for a day or two to free anything if that is even possible.

Adriel · #3 10-25-2016, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatOne

A 50/50 mix of ATF and Acetone has been shown to as good or better penetrant than any commercially available penetrant. So if you can rustle up some acetone you'll be good to go. That said it will probably take some soaking for a day or two to free anything if that is even possible.

Thank you so very much for the reply!

If you don't think possible, then will just replace. The exhaust eventually has to come off as somewhere there is a leak. Though, the hard part about the exhaust is dual pipe, so twice the rusted fasteners.

Adriel · #4 11-03-2016, 03:44 AM

Ended up replacing the brake cable and housing with the one off Miss Mercedes. A royal pain hooking everything up with those clips and cotter pin, but think should have done it sooner. Once the prior cable was out, could feel how it was really stuck. Just don't get how it happened, but loaded up the replacement with graphite cable grease as best as could.

Ended up rounding the end of the adjuster arm with a file and patience, the one the cable pins to, as was binding on the corners. Fairly neat, but not factory. Most important, it helped.

Now have a parking brake that snaps up and engages with four clicks maximum. Nice and high like I like it. Will see once driving if needs to be slacked so the shoes are not rubbing.