240D Emergency Brake Repair

I alredy tried the two adjustments, both under the car and through the drum (wheel adjustment) and the emergency brake still won't hold. How difficult is it to replace the shoes? Is there anyone that can provide me with a step by step procedure on how to replace them? Do I need special tools? I've replaced brake shoes on older american cars, is this the same here? Any help would be great. Thanks

If you can apply the emergency brake while the car is slightly rolling and not get the sound/feel of metal to metal contact, replacing the shoes probably won't do anything. The only other possibility would be that there is oil on the shoes, but how could that happen? There is no axle housing to transfer the lubricant to the shoes like a typical American car.

Is the cable assembly okay? Is the pedal feeling tight with only 5 or 6 clicks down from the top position?

Good luck,

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Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 523K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

I just did this job, so the details are fresh in my mind. This job is very similar to replacing drum brakes, because that is really what these are. the tools you need are a drum brake tool (a multi tool) needle nose pliers (the thinner the better) assorted flathead screwdrivers and possibly a pair of side cutters. Also a pair of "expanders" - needle nose pliers that go out when you squeeze on them are very helpful
Before you do this job check to make sure that the shoes are the problem.
Check that you are in fact getting tension on the cables. Check the inside of the rear rotors to make sure that the surface is not too worn down.
There are four springs:
one behind the adjuster
one "compression" spring on each shoe that hooks into the hub
and one one the bottom that hooks the shoes together
1. I started at the top by turing the adjuster all the way in, then using the expanders and a screwdriver as a wedge - plied the shoes apart and took out the adjuster.
2. Push the shoes as close as possible together and use the brake tool to unhook the top spring
3. From each side take out the compression spring - the brake tool should have a little "cap" on one end for compressing the spring. However mine were rusty and I ended up using the side cutters to cut the spring off.
4. use the same approach with the brake tool with the top spring with getting the bottom one off.
5. To put the new set on do the reverse order - It's pretty much the same except - use the thin needle noses to get the top spring in place.

Adjust the shoe adjusters with the cable adjustment all lose. I used trial and error to get the adjustment just so the hub turns freely -then adjust the cable to however you like the pedal tension.
You can pick up the shoe kit for about 20 or 30$ at thebenzbin.com - rear rotors are pretty cheap too - just be sure to replace the pads w/ new rotors.
Also if you think the old pads were asbestos - it's a good idea to use a respirator
email me at jbfrank@operamail.com if you have any questions

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Josh
'81 240 d manual