Hello

Over time it seems like I need to depress the parking brake pedal further and further down. Now its almost at the bottom and it barely holds the car.

I have seen a few posts for the parking brake adjustment.


I see that there is an adjustment in the rotor and another adjustment with the cable under the car.

In my situation which should I try first?

Thanks!!

Do both rotors first. The wheel adjustment is done through a lug bolt hole, don't remove the rotor if only doing an adjustment. Test drive and check for overheating after adjustment.

Good luck!!!

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"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

I believe the 300E parking brake system is the same basic design as my 190E 2.6 other than the foot pedal actuator as opposed to the center hand lever on my car. It's basically the same design as the '65-'82 Corvette disk brake system.

The parking brake consists of a small set of shoes that engage the disk hat section. Start by slackening the parking brake cable. Then adjust the shoes on each side to where they have just a very slight amount of drag or no drag at all - just as you would do when adjusting drum brakes on an old car with no self-adjusters.

Then tighten the parking brake cable to the point where the brake is firmly engaged at about six clicks of the pedal.

Duke

I have found that the cable is not the problem but the shoes need adjustment. But beware that if the car lived in a snow/salt area it can become a very bad idea. The small lever that spreads the shoes apart can lock in the applied position. Thats why its best to remove the disc and fully clean and service the brake or at least the apply lever and then adjust it (its very easy through a lug bolt hole)

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

Here's how the factory details the adjustment procedure:
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/MB%20CD/W124/w124CD1/Program/Maintenance/94_95/4261.pdf