Just this past weekend, I stopped hearing/feeling the ratchet clicking when I depress the pedal. It still holds at the end, releases with the hand level and seems to work but, perhaps, not as firmly.
Vehicle: 1980 w123 230 "Sport", 2005 w203 230 Sport
Location: Outside of Buffalo,NY
Posts: 1,968
When is the last time it was adjusted - lubricated and serviced? I think it is to be done every 13,000 miles.
I have also read some people have had the ratchet mechanism in the kick panel break. I can only mentally relate that to an improperly maintained mechanism.
Cannot say for sure but the car has had the regular schedule of A and B services. It has almost 49K miles and is, according to the display, about 1500miles from the next.
Do you "know" the work was done...take a look here - under rear seat...
Jake
I cannot know whether M-B did all that they are supposed to do but I will take a look where you indicate. But what am I looking for? Broken cable? Should I try lubricating it?
Well, I accessed that device, cleaned it and lubricated it. It seems to work just fine and both wheels are affected. Consequently, I assume that the loss of the ratchet noise is due to something in the front part of the mechanism near the pedal.
One of my lines slipped out of its groove at that main access panel. My e-brake barely if at all worked. I just had to slid the cable back into the harness part, and works just fine now.
Vehicle: 1980 w123 230 "Sport", 2005 w203 230 Sport
Location: Outside of Buffalo,NY
Posts: 1,968
Did you tighten (or over tighten) the main adjuster nut? I found upon first adjustment that it was too tight and I was not moving the levered arm much - so I adjusted it lighter until I got about three clicks under a good press - My car will hold with a slight press of the foot parking brake - if I am on a large incline - I will press down harder and achieve a click or two...but for most parking situations - just a light press to resistance is enough to hold the w203...
Did you tighten (or over tighten) the main adjuster nut? I found upon first adjustment that it was too tight and I was not moving the levered arm much - so I adjusted it lighter until I got about three clicks under a good press - My car will hold with a slight press of the foot parking brake - if I am on a large incline - I will press down harder and achieve a click or two...but for most parking situations - just a light press to resistance is enough to hold the w203...
Let me know what I can do to try and help...
Jake
I did not adjust it at all since the effort on the pedal is the same as it was originally and it certainly holds the car on an incline. The only thing amiss is the lack of the ratchet. In fact, had I not been accustomed to the ratchet, it might seem a perfectly normal operation.
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