Parking brake problems

[Peterbrake]

I bought my 2013 CLS Shooting Brake mid December last year, been very happy but the parking brake has never worked, now it is my first auto and I was told by the dealer nobody uses it, I accepted it through ignorance. I have recently started parking on a slight slope and after putting the car in park it rolls back to rest on the ‘paul’meaning when I go to drive later and I put into drive there is a clunk which has worried me because I don’t want to do any damage, so I took it to my local garage to have the parking brake adjusted. My mechanic told me that I needed new shoes, pads and discs at £350 which I understand.
So I’ve had the car 3 months and it came with a full mot, now I’m a little concerned that the parking brake has never worked since purchase, my mechanic says due to rust built up inside the disc/drum it should never have passed an mot, the supplying dealer says it’s passed an mot so is not prepared to help me. Where do I stand? I’m not like some of you guys who are able carry out repairs, I have to use mechanics. Have a look at the photos and tell me if the parking brake is likely to have worked since the mot 3 months ago.

 

[LostKiwi]

Those discs aren't great (even aside the parking brake) and will likely need doing next time pads are replaced.
Unfortunately after 3 winter months you don't really have a leg to stand in regarding the dealer and in any case those parts are deemed consumable items.

How much life is left on the pads?

If the pads have plenty of meat they can be put back together (the rust on the parking drum doesn't make much difference as long as they can be properly adjusted still).

Parking brake shoes tend not to wear much as they are only engaged once the car stops. For the same reason rust on the drums is not evidence the parking brake hasn't worked. It really depends how the brakes were adjusted and if adjusted so the shoes weren't close to the drum the rust won't be scraped off. The parking brake performance wouldn't have been great though if they were that far away.

Where in the country are you? We might be able to suggest a reputable Mercedes specialist nearby.

 

[Gazwould]

I've never had an issue with


And the lack of others coming forward suggests the same experience .

It's never had a working footbrake from the day I had it but year after year in different parts of the country it passes ( strangely the brake sheet is absent ! )

I've asked a few places to sort within other work required and one specifically with shoe and brake cable replacements but still fresh air .

Something this spring perhaps myself to entertain , a final adjustment , but feel with hindsight it was a pointless pursuit .

 

[mioba]

Them disks need changing.

Parking brakes dont rub on a moving disk (like pad and disk) so you wont see shiny shiny.

I have never replaced parking shoes on a car ever.

I think both your garages, dealer and local mechanic are spinning some porkies.

 

[Gazwould]

Probably repeated and experienced throughout the country where the MOT brake test strangely allows ?



I definitely feel let down , an indie and local....

It is funny , prior to that with the initial front and rear rotor and pad renewal promoted by my utter distaste for horrendous and unnecessary brake dust deposits , a couple of ex army guys who have both a mechanical business partnership and both teach as tutors in a automotive college course and still examine army vehicles vocationaly in far away exotic lands said they'll sort it and I was very much reassured as one has a brother with the exact same car...
not a Scooby Doo...

3 X a Larry

My pedal is just infinite clicks to the floor whereas a good one is just four clicks .


I've absolutely no problem whatsoever with incompetence , the world is full of it
and as a coping mechanism I drink rum , wine , Champagne Cognac , gin and Islay single malt .

 

[EmilysDad]

.....

Parking brakes dont rub on a moving disk (like pad and disk) so you wont see shiny shiny.

....

that depends on the car ... mine do (leccy parking brake on the disc)

 

[EmilysDad]

....

I have never replaced parking shoes on a car ever.

....

neither have I

 

[LostKiwi]

I have replaced them twice.
First time was after the lining parted company with the show because someone who was celebrating international woman's day drive to the shops and back with the parking brake on....
Second time was because I just couldn't get the shoes to adjust and they showed signs of wear - probably through poor adjustment.

 

[EmilysDad]

....
First time was after the lining parted company with the show because someone who was celebrating international woman's day drive to the shops and back with the parking brake on....
.....

Emily drove miles with the hand brake on on her Mum's car after her then boyfriend had decided to be a smart 4rse & apply the handbrake for her ..... fortunately no lasting harm done (the car had drums at the back anyway)

 

[Droverunner]

We run a CLK and Viano both with this same parking brake mechanism. They are both super effective just with my routine maintenance. Their operation is actually such a basic mechanical principle and has been common for decades that I'm amazed any garage should say the design never works properly... or fail to correctly repair/maintain it.

I replaced the discs and pads on my Viano last autumn plus set up the parking brake. As said above no need to replace the parking brake shoes as they don't wear... just need checking to ensure they've not been overheated causing the linings to separate. My Viano rear discs are 4mm smaller in dia than the CLS and cost just £57 for a Febi disc and pad set inc delivery.

Note the rust in the OPs photos does indicate time to fit new discs but would not have stopped it having a strong parking brake.

 

[Kev555]

We run a CLK and Viano both with this same parking brake mechanism. They are both super effective just with my routine maintenance. Their operation is actually such a basic mechanical principle and has been common for decades that I'm amazed any garage should say the design never works properly... or fail to correctly repair/maintain it.

I replaced the discs and pads on my Viano last autumn plus set up the parking brake. As said above no need to replace the parking brake shoes as they don't wear... just need checking to ensure they've not been overheated causing the linings to separate. My Viano rear discs are 4mm smaller in dia than the CLS and cost just £57 for a Febi disc and pad set inc delivery.

Note the rust in the OPs photos does indicate time to fit new discs but would not have stopped it having a strong parking brake.

Same thing with my Vito, good parking brake system as i always kept mine adjusted properly and had no issues. The biggest enemy with this setup is lack of use and age where the linings get hard and brittle