I have a 02 CLK 55 and had to remove the rear disc brake rotor to replace a bent emergency brake shoe retaining spring. This happened because I installed new wheels and was given the wrong length lug nuts, what a nightmare! Anyways, I got new springs and reinstalled them but I cant reinstall the rotors because the emergency brake pads wont compress enough to slide the disc back on. I have inspected all the other hardware and everything looks good, I was lucky in that respect. There are two small metal hing type mechinisms (one on each side)that when the emergency brake pedal is applied these are pulled in by the cable and they make the brakes expand to apply them. It seems like the cable isnt releasing all the way so that they can go back to their resting position. I can get on side on put then I cant get the other side to release enough to get it on. I have checked the emergency brake pedal and it is fully released but it still seems that I am short about 1/4" of cable slack to get them back to their resting position. I have looked under the car and see no issues of a kinked cable and can find no reason for them to be bound up. Am i missing some sort of trick to this whole thing or is something else possibly wrong? Your help is GREATLY appreciated!

Starting in 1992 (& all later designed models) with the W140 chassis MB designed a SELF adjuster for the parking brakes. THAT adjuster is ABOVE the drive shaft & must be re-set for the cable to give you slack.

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Before I crawl under there. How do you reset it? Is it easily seen and its approx location?

Thanks for your help.