300SD parking brake disassembly / removing subframe

[tomas_maly]

So I'm finally tackling swapping the subframe from my 300SD parts car to my daily driver. The daily driver's semi trailing arm rusted through and so the shock is sticking out.

I found an in depth tutorial on how to R&R the rear axle, with new mounts/bushings, etc... And I don't plan on changing them, but it did suggest removing each semi-trailing arm individually while the subframe is still underneath the vehicle. I unfortunately don't have the leverage to break the 27mm bolts on the trailing arm, so I'm removing the rear axle/subframe/differential as a whole. I'm assuming this is the most straightforward (if not a bit time consuming) approach?

So I've removed the springs, shocks, exhaust, heat shield, propeller shaft, brake calipers and rotors.... And I'm stuck trying to disconnect the parking brake.



I've found the Y-shaped lever assembly above the rear shaft and in front of the rear differential... And for the life of me I can't figure out how to disconnect either side of the cables. I've removed the large spring (#12). I've released the parking brake as far as it goes and that gives me some wiggle room. I've removed the adjustment screw (#3) in the assembly to loosen the bracket. The two cables slide back maybe 1/2 inch but it's still not enough to bend either cable (#10) enough forward (at a 90 degree angle) to unhook.

I've even removed the bolt at the end of the semi-trailing arm, and stretch that an inch toward the lever/cable assembly, but I can't move the whole cable forward because it's stuck in the mount (#14). I'm thinking they only slide out of the mount one way (ie back).

The FSM suggests I remove the shoes before trying anything with the cable, but I'm thinking/hoping that's not strictly necessary. The springs with the shoes are a pain and I'd hate to have to reassemble those. I can't quite get the shoes off anyway as the springs that pull the shoes toward the wheel guard(?) aren't coming out. I know there's a trick but I'm hoping I don't have to bother. I see some 10mm bolts in the front and I also see some 7mm allen bolts where the end of the brake cable goes, and I'm hoping I don't have to touch those because that's all a PITA.

Do I have to remove the brake cable from the foot pedal? Please help with getting the e-brake cables disconnected. Swapping a subframe isn't fun, this is my 3rd day and I've got lots of other projects to deal with. I'm half tempted to just wire cut them but I have to figure out how to disconnect them on my daily driver so I can get them back together.

The FSM is vague to be honest. I'm not sure if the intermediate cross lever (#6 going across from the two frame brackets) is supposed to slide all the way back. I've gotten it to go about half way but it won't move any more because of the cable running to the front of the vehicle. If you look at the picture, the intermediate cross lever (#6) is all the way back on the left (passenger side), which mine can't go that far, even with the release lever pulled on the brake pedal. If I could at least get mine to match this picture then I'd be able to do it.

[tomas_maly]

OK, I figured it out..... It's not too obvious but the cable can be disconnected from the pedal if you shine a flashlight on it and see there's a hole in the side. With some needle nose pliers you can grab the cable while you release the pedal, and this disconnects the entire brake cable from the pedal. From there I just pushed the cable in the sheathing as far as it would go and then I could remove the cross bar on the lever assembly. Took some wiggling around but I got the brake cables detached. Dang FSM didn't mention any of that. Or maybe I overlooked something. All it said was the brake shoes needed to be removed to disconnect the cables. HA!

Now if I could only find my 22mm ratchet socket for the front subframe mounts.