My 87 EA82 Sedan didn't pass inspection partly because of a poor handbrake on the right wheel. I looked into it today and the handbrake lever on the caliper would travel freely with no effect on the piston until it almost hit the cable bracket. Then the piston would move slightly.
I screwed the piston in several times but with no luck. Is there a way to set the tension on the mechanism in the caliper? Seems like it has some sort of internal play that is taken up by the movement of the lever.
Also both calipers wont return the lever properly when disengaging the handbrake, but the right one is slightly worse.