The day before yesterday I was able to finish this job. Fortunately I was able to cut-off the tabs on the right-side shoes I had already installed without having to completely remove them again (and those hard to remove and install springs!), so after that, put them back together and the drum just fitted perfectly over them.

Then I did the left side, and you can see the before and after pics bellow. BTW, that shoe hold-down spring on the last pic is now straight as it should.

Needless to say, parking brakes are now working beautifully once again.

Attached Thumbnails

         

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W163 ML230 EURO SPEC 1999
W124 300E 1986