I just had a rear caliper replaced and now I have to pull the hand brake lever much higher before it sets the brake. The first few inches of pull are "dead". The shop tells me this can't be adjusted. I have a 5 speed, so I need a good parking brake. Any suggestions?
The dealer is lying to you. I have never seen a handbrake cable that can't be, by one method or another, and if this one truly is "unadjustable" it'd be the first.
The shop is feeding you a line of bull. The adjustment is done from inside the car in the console at the brake leaver. Here is a link that tells you how to do it yourself.