What is this spring for?

[rgafitanu@gmail.com]

I always had this spring hanging there. I don’t know what was it supposed to do. Was it hooked to the emergency brake lever? This is on my W111 coupe.

[ja17]

That's not factory Radu. Might have been added to aid return of emerg. brake lever.

[wwheeler]

Radu,

Not sure what that is and I do not have that on mine. Is it attached to anything on the end opposite the radiator? Like Joe said, maybe used for the emergency brake. The return spring is in the rear and maybe it broke and the PO didn't want to dig around back there? Wonders never cease.....

[rgafitanu@gmail.com]

You are right, I have the return spring in the back and it functions OK. However it's not too strong, I have to push the handbrake all the way in, the spring alone would not do it. I rarely use the emergency brake, only to check and adjust the idle speed solenoid.

[wwheeler]

When I rebuilt my rear axle, I replaced the spring in the rear and the handbrake works well. So maybe the spring is just tired and needs replacing.