JayP

I have the car in the air, wheel off, and I'm staring at this brake caliper. I'm confounded. Do I have to take the 4 torx bolts off to get the pins out or do I hammer the 2 retaining pins like some maniac?

Yea- I'm a noob. That's out of the way. Don't let me look like a clod in front of my wife.

newton22

Punch the pins out.

http://www.mercedesshop.com/Wikka/W124BrakePads

GINO-ESC

JayP sounds like you have never changed your own pads before. It's very simple but also a good idea to have someone show you what to do so you dont screw up something or leave out something. What part of the country are you in, maybe one of use could give you a hand.

RES

The pins just have a spring to them, so not so much a maniac. Then check your level at the master cyclinder to make sure it doesn't overflow. You need to compress the cyclinders back into the calipers to make room for the new pads. I use a C clamp and a small metal piece, or you can use any clamp to press them back they dont take much but they go kind of slow. Watch the level while you do this, brake fluid eats paint. Then if your rotors are good and this is your first pad replacement, install the new pads and tap the pins into place. Pump the brakes with the engine running and all will be good.

JayP

Yea- first time on the MB. I've done plenty of shadetree stuff... last effort was swapping trannys in my 944 track car. Not quite done with that one...

Anyway- I tried tapping the pin out using a 1/8" ('er so) sized drill bit. It worked much to my delight. Once I got my head around that, the rest was a snap.

Hard to believe the dealer wanted $250 for that... I'm in the wrong biz.

The car is my wife's and it just rolled out of warranty. She loves the car (I like, but I'm an Audi guy) but service is such a nightmare that we want to get away from these toads asap. So I'm left wrenching the little stuff.

Also- the pad sensor holes were off by about 1/8" on the pad... so the light would flash about 30% into the wear. Plugged it in and zipped it to the caliper. Crappy MB EO parts.

RES

I'm glad it worked out. I have the 928 appart right now doing timing belt and changing all the lines on the intake. Its the wifes daily driver.