Brakes are squeaking, need help.
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Brakes are squeaking, need help.
I have a 2003 C230 sedan with 30,000 miles(mostly highway). A couple of months ago I noticed the brakes starting to squeak/squeal when I came to a stop. I took it to the dealer and they said the brake pads are only about 50% worn, and the rotors looked fine. They couldn't really give me a good reason why they were making noise though. They offered(I declined) to put some paste on the pads(for $200) but said that it was only a temporary solution.
If the pads and rotors are ok then what is causing the squeaking/squealing? Why would this problem suddenly pop up? I mean when the car was new it didn't do this. It must be a wear issue or something. Otherwise the brakes would have been doing this from the start.
If the pads and rotors are ok then what is causing the squeaking/squealing? Why would this problem suddenly pop up? I mean when the car was new it didn't do this. It must be a wear issue or something. Otherwise the brakes would have been doing this from the start.
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This is a common problem on some late model MB's...You're very lucky you got 30,000 miles without the squeak as some of us got it after only 3000 miles. The paste works sometimes but the best cure is new pads and rotors. Some have had luck with hard stopping to clean the glaze off the brakes and others have reported doing some hard stops in reverse helps too. Best of luck.
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Originally Posted by soma
They offered(I declined) to put some paste on the pads(for $200) but said that it was only a temporary solution. .
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Double sided tape cures squeaks.
A German butcher once told me with some pride that he uses all parts of the pig, even the squeel, which goes in Mercedes Benz brakes. 
The pads I buy in Europe are made by ATE, and have a piece of double stick tape on the rear side. It is very thin tape, like ordinary Scotch tape in thickness. You peel off a brown backer tape, and the pad then sticks to the piston. I was told this tape prevents squeaks, and does not put any greasy stuff like the paste near the friction surface of the pad or the rotor.
The pads I buy in Europe are made by ATE, and have a piece of double stick tape on the rear side. It is very thin tape, like ordinary Scotch tape in thickness. You peel off a brown backer tape, and the pad then sticks to the piston. I was told this tape prevents squeaks, and does not put any greasy stuff like the paste near the friction surface of the pad or the rotor.
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From: Abingdon, MD
hmmm.... metal to metal clamping of stationary pads make noise on rotating metal disks. "This is problematic Jim";
Use the paste. Remove the wheel, undo the TOP bolt of the pad carrier. Remove the pads and coat them with the paste. Should work fine, unless you have a problem, a real one like excessive run out on the disks. In this case, having them turned (machined flat again) or new rotors will do.
Worthy of note;
Ideally, you would not actually run rotors against pads. How's this work? I don't know but, if every once in a while, when the family is not in the car, you do 6-8 80 mph to 10mpg hard braking efforts in a row (you know you're ready to stop when you smell the cooking brakes), then allow them to cool by driving down the hwy without applying the brakes, it will transfer a thin layer of "brake pad material" to the rotors. That will also stop the squealing and your brakes will work much better. The whole concept has something to do with adherent and abrasive friction. I know it's detailed well enough on page 119 of the June 2005 Grassroots Motorsports magazine
Use the paste. Remove the wheel, undo the TOP bolt of the pad carrier. Remove the pads and coat them with the paste. Should work fine, unless you have a problem, a real one like excessive run out on the disks. In this case, having them turned (machined flat again) or new rotors will do.
Worthy of note;
Ideally, you would not actually run rotors against pads. How's this work? I don't know but, if every once in a while, when the family is not in the car, you do 6-8 80 mph to 10mpg hard braking efforts in a row (you know you're ready to stop when you smell the cooking brakes), then allow them to cool by driving down the hwy without applying the brakes, it will transfer a thin layer of "brake pad material" to the rotors. That will also stop the squealing and your brakes will work much better. The whole concept has something to do with adherent and abrasive friction. I know it's detailed well enough on page 119 of the June 2005 Grassroots Motorsports magazine
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From: Boston
2003 C240
I figured I'd pull up this thread so I can ask the same question and verify that this is still something I could do. So..my brakes are squeaking a little bit, noting major and only when I apply the brake somewhat lightly. So should take it somewhere and do some speed ups and hard brakes? Just wanted to know if some of the current and active members have had experience with this. I believe my brakes were serviced and checked at the time I purchased the car in Jan., but I will double check. Thanks for any input.
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2002 C230 coupe , NOt THE AVATAR!!
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From: Boston
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I figured I'd pull up this thread so I can ask the same question and verify that this is still something I could do. So..my brakes are squeaking a little bit, noting major and only when I apply the brake somewhat lightly. So should take it somewhere and do some speed ups and hard brakes? Just wanted to know if some of the current and active members have had experience with this. I believe my brakes were serviced and checked at the time I purchased the car in Jan., but I will double check. Thanks for any input.
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From: Boston
2003 C240
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Have an 05, no squeaking for the first 63,000 miles. However, just changed rotors and pads about a month ago, only squeaks when i brake on reverse. Have no solution to this but maybe it needs some time to break in.
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1959 220S / 1979 230 G / 2002 A210 AMG / 2003 C320 SC / 2004.5 C320 SS / 2005 ML350 SE / 2008 smart
I figured I'd pull up this thread so I can ask the same question and verify that this is still something I could do. So..my brakes are squeaking a little bit, noting major and only when I apply the brake somewhat lightly. So should take it somewhere and do some speed ups and hard brakes? Just wanted to know if some of the current and active members have had experience with this. I believe my brakes were serviced and checked at the time I purchased the car in Jan., but I will double check. Thanks for any input.
Tom (nukblazi) had one of the best C-Coupés in the USA.
Fully tracked with the best suspension, wheels, breaks, differential, sway bars, camber rods, exhaust, etc..... Fully track proven ! The day he sold his Coupé and moved on to bigger & better racing, was a sady day 
I took his advice frequently and freely. The hard-stop braking procedure he described worked for both my W203's (Sport Coupé and Sport Sedan).
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From: Boston
2003 C240
Actually, the best advice, is just above your post.
Tom (nukblazi) had one of the best C-Coupés in the USA. Fully tracked with the best suspension, wheels, breaks, differential, sway bars, camber rods, exhaust, etc..... Fully track proven ! The day he sold his Coupé and moved on to bigger & better racing, was a sady day
I took his advice frequently and freely. The hard-stop braking procedure he described worked for both my W203's (Sport Coupé and Sport Sedan).
Tom (nukblazi) had one of the best C-Coupés in the USA.
Fully tracked with the best suspension, wheels, breaks, differential, sway bars, camber rods, exhaust, etc..... Fully track proven ! The day he sold his Coupé and moved on to bigger & better racing, was a sady day I took his advice frequently and freely. The hard-stop braking procedure he described worked for both my W203's (Sport Coupé and Sport Sedan).
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From: New Jersey
E550 4MATIC
I have had intermittent brake squeaking since December. I asked them to look at it at the B service, they said it was fine. I brough it in again they said it was fine. I brought it in to another dealership and they said it was fine. Today I was leaving the mall and they were squeaking so loudly that people were looking at me. So I just brought it right in to another dealer. Took a quick ride with the service advisor, we didn't even need to leave the parking lot, and he heard the squeaking. He said that the pads looked fine, but that they can "lubricate" some kind of anti-squeak plate. I asked if this is warranty work and he said that brakes are only warrantied for 12 months or 12,000 miles. When I told him I would not be paying he suggested that next time I wash the car to try to spray the brakes with the hose and get the build up off so they stop doing this.
I love Mercedes and I have had almost no problems with this car. But this is unacceptabe. I am not paying for them to lubricate the brakes, and if this continues they are doing it for free. A Mercedes-Benz should not have squeaky brakes.
I love Mercedes and I have had almost no problems with this car. But this is unacceptabe. I am not paying for them to lubricate the brakes, and if this continues they are doing it for free. A Mercedes-Benz should not have squeaky brakes.
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From: Boston
2003 C240
They still squeaked afterwards a little bit....Now are they talking about speeding up to 50 and then slammin on the brakes????
Or just going about 35 and slammin the brakes?
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E550 4MATIC
Well that one post said stop hard from 80mph, which I think I will pass on. If my brakes are not going to stop squeaking until I put my life, car, and other people in potential danger, then Mercedes can change the brakes at their cost.
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From: Boston
2003 C240
but 
If I feel that they start to not work well in any way, I will have the checked immediately, but not too worried about it at the moment...although would love to get some brake pads that don't leave as much dust when ever I have to replace the pads...I've read the other threads about which pads are good..
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LOL exactly...although I have done some hard braking from that speed, just not locked...cuz I've been doing some driving over 100mph lately but
If I feel that they start to not work well in any way, I will have the checked immediately, but not too worried about it at the moment...although would love to get some brake pads that don't leave as much dust when ever I have to replace the pads...I've read the other threads about which pads are good..
but If I feel that they start to not work well in any way, I will have the checked immediately, but not too worried about it at the moment...although would love to get some brake pads that don't leave as much dust when ever I have to replace the pads...I've read the other threads about which pads are good..
I should tell the people at the dealership it is in their best interest to fix my squeaky brakes, it is bad advertising for people to see Mercedes constantly squeaking.
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E550 4MATIC
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From: Augusta, GA
'05 SS Brillant Silver
Good damn..63k already??? you sleep in the car too? lol. I've got 28k on mine...getting some squeak now. I think its from my rears...they have yet to be changed since I purchase the car. Changed my fronts about 4k miles ago...I surely hope its not them.
