Parking brake system (Mercedes-Benz E-Class W210)

The parking brake system prevents the vehicle from moving when stopped. The parking brake is controlled via a cable system and acts on the rear wheels. Since disc brakes are not suitable for the parking brake function, drum brakes are additionally installed on the rear wheels. The rear brake discs are shaped in such a way that there is space on their inner side for drum brakes. The drum brakes are only activated by the foot-operated parking brake lever. When the driver presses the parking brake pedal, the front brake cable is tensioned. It leads to an automatic equalizer for the drive cables. From the equalizer, a brake cable is laid to each brake mechanism of the rear wheels. When the cable is tensioned, the brake shoes are released by the drive lever in the direction of the walls of the brake drum - the braking of the rear wheels occurs.

Checking the effectiveness of the parking brake

1. Stop the car on a slight slope and let it roll down it. Lightly press the parking brake pedal. The parking brake should work and the car should not accelerate.

2. Press the brake pedal harder until the rear wheels lock.



3. If sufficient braking effect is not achieved even after five clicks of the parking brake pedal, at least adjustment is necessary.

4. A large amount of free play in the parking brake pedal indicates worn brake pads. If you regularly apply the parking brake hard when parking, a large amount of free play in the lever may also be due to stretched drive cables.