W124 parking brake adjustment
 

I would like to adjust the parking brake on my 300CE. How is it done and what tools are needed?

Have a look at this PDF. Start on page 3.

Great, thanks for the file.

Well, that PDF answered my next question, if backing up doesn't tighten the ratchet, what does? Neat trick Benz has there with access hole in the rear drum when lined up right... use a screw driver. kewl. Saves me a wheel pull.

It's not an access hole, it's the hole that exists when you remove a wheel bolt. With alloy wheels you'll need to remove the wheel, you won't be able to really get in the hole and see anything with the wheel in place. With the steel wheel like in the diagram you probably could.

(I meant saves me a hub pull) yes the wheel came off to get through the stud hole.

Job done.

I didn't quite follow the sequence in PDF: I just began by spinning each star wheel until it could go no more (pad meets metal), then backed the star off a couple clicks. Pushed the parking brake pedal...to the floor - far too many clicks and no resistance, same as before.. Released it. Crawled under the car and tightened the "Y cable clamp" (bolt clockwise as per normal way of tightening) until the the pedal could only pressed with reasonable pressure to the "two clicks" position.

I did a lot of press & release cycles, lots of creaks and moans of parking brakes at work... stuff I've never heard before.

When the wheels went back on, I spun each by hand to make sure there wasn't any extra brake drag friction than before.

For the few years I've owned this car I have obviously just been going through the motions of parking thinking I had a brake working.... I definitely have my parking brake back now!

The steps should be something like:
release cable tightness (loosen it up, often this step is skipped)
tighten brakes in the drum, with the star wheel
Then tighten cable back up to get the proper amount of "clicks"
So sounds like you did it right by the book, or close enough