brake experts, please help me from going insane
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
2006 C280
brake experts, please help me from going insane
So I STFF (and googled) this issue. Many people have brought it up before, but nothing that can solve my problem.
I installed new brake pads and rotors 3 days ago only on the front.
Rotors -ATE (not slotted or drilled)
Pads - Akebono
I know to bed the brakes in and am still in the process.
However, on the second day that I had the new pads/rotors installed, when I start breaking at slow speeds, I hear a fast clicking noise that slows down as my car comes to a stop. This is only coming from the driver's side front wheel.
It sounds like with each revolution of the wheel there is one click.
I took everything apart yesterday, made sure all of the components were secure and greased the piston a little with brake pad grease.
The clicking went away for a couple of hours, then came back
I have read several things on this forum: don't have the rotor bolt on too tight, don't compress the piston back all the way, use a little brake grease on the back of the pads, bed in your brakes....
I even checked the clips that hold the pads in and they are still intact...
The the MB gurus, please help. This is driving me bat sh*t insane
I installed new brake pads and rotors 3 days ago only on the front.
Rotors -ATE (not slotted or drilled)
Pads - Akebono
I know to bed the brakes in and am still in the process.
However, on the second day that I had the new pads/rotors installed, when I start breaking at slow speeds, I hear a fast clicking noise that slows down as my car comes to a stop. This is only coming from the driver's side front wheel.
It sounds like with each revolution of the wheel there is one click.
I took everything apart yesterday, made sure all of the components were secure and greased the piston a little with brake pad grease.
The clicking went away for a couple of hours, then came back
I have read several things on this forum: don't have the rotor bolt on too tight, don't compress the piston back all the way, use a little brake grease on the back of the pads, bed in your brakes....
I even checked the clips that hold the pads in and they are still intact...
The the MB gurus, please help. This is driving me bat sh*t insane
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,848
Likes: 15
From: Orange County
2005 C Wagon (No snickering please!)
Did you remove the rust from the hub where it contacts the rotor? Did you remove the shipping protective coating? Did you indicate the run out? Was it in spec? Did you check the pads ability to slide on the caliper ways? Did you push the piston back with a parallel jaw piston resetting tool or use a lever and possibly pinched a seal or canted the piston?Did you use a torque wrench on the lug bolts?
Brakes are easy to replace, but you must use the correct tools, as well as check and measure fit as you go.
Brakes are easy to replace, but you must use the correct tools, as well as check and measure fit as you go.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
2006 C280
Did you remove the rust from the hub where it contacts the rotor? Did you remove the shipping protective coating? Did you indicate the run out? Was it in spec? Did you check the pads ability to slide on the caliper ways? Did you push the piston back with a parallel jaw piston resetting tool or use a lever and possibly pinched a seal or canted the piston?Did you use a torque wrench on the lug bolts?
Brakes are easy to replace, but you must use the correct tools, as well as check and measure fit as you go.
Brakes are easy to replace, but you must use the correct tools, as well as check and measure fit as you go.
thanks again
Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 103
Likes: 1
From: Central Valley
2002 C240 (SOLD), 2006 E350
Hey, this happen to me too. Same side...everything. The symptom maybe rattling of the wheel, feels like the wheels about to fall off, very unstable, and minor clicking noise. Try tightening all your bolts. It may be your bracket that hold your caliper in place. I'm 90% sure its a loose nut. After I tighten everything down a second time the noise went went away along with rattling. Good luck fixing it.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
2006 C280
Hey, this happen to me too. Same side...everything. The symptom maybe rattling of the wheel, feels like the wheels about to fall off, very unstable, and minor clicking noise. Try tightening all your bolts. It may be your bracket that hold your caliper in place. I'm 90% sure its a loose nut. After I tighten everything down a second time the noise went went away along with rattling. Good luck fixing it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
...a panty dropper...
I had clicking noise just like that when I put on new wheels and the lugs were just a hair too long and were hitting on something every revolution of the wheel. Only happened on one of the wheels though. Maybe with the new rotors the lugs are seated slightly deeper than they were and are now making contact with something. Just a thought. Before you go ripping apart your brakes jack your car up and find where the clicking is coming from as in which wheel(s) and see if by removing the lugs and then spinning the wheel if it still clicks. Just my 2 cents.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
2006 C280
I had clicking noise just like that when I put on new wheels and the lugs were just a hair too long and were hitting on something every revolution of the wheel. Only happened on one of the wheels though. Maybe with the new rotors the lugs are seated slightly deeper than they were and are now making contact with something. Just a thought. Before you go ripping apart your brakes jack your car up and find where the clicking is coming from as in which wheel(s) and see if by removing the lugs and then spinning the wheel if it still clicks. Just my 2 cents.
Today the noise has gone down a little but I can still hear it. Hopefully this is just part of the breaking in process. Going to give it a couple of days...
appreciate everyone's help, I'll admit I'm not too great with DIY's but if I ever have any info that can help a fellow member I'll definitely do my best to help him out. great to see others returning the favor
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
2006 C280
So i just took apart the pads and the rotor on my front driver's side. Cleaned everything off with a wire brush and towels. Used mercedes brake grease on the entire anti-rattle clips, the outer surfaces and edges of the brake pads, a little on the edge of the piston, and some on the contact areas of the caliper. I also replaced the rotor bolt because my old one was just about stripped. (rmeuropean.com ~ 2 bucks for grease and bolt, Andy is the man). Tightened everything down properly and evenly.
Went for a drive ~ the problem is gone.
thanks
Went for a drive ~ the problem is gone.
thanks
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
2006 C280
not really...
so the clicking came back again and I realized that grease will only go so far.
Symptoms: recently changed brake pads that are making a clicking or clunking noise when applying the brakes at slow speeds
Diagnosis: an ill fitting brake pad, most likely aftermarket
Here's what I did on my 2006 c280 luxury:
I do not have the sport brakes, my caliper looks like this:
This does not have to happen to all the sides that the new pads were installed on. I installed the Akebonos on the fronts and the clicking only came from the driver's side.
There are two metal clips to hold the brake pad in. I took both off and FLIPPED THEM. Meaning I put the bottom clip on the top and the top clip on the bottom - both are identical.
THEN I switched the brake pads. Front to back, back to front. Keep in mind that the brake sensor is not on this side (driver's side), it is on the passenger's side.
So all I did was switch the metal clips that hold the brake in place and switch the brake pads.
Clicking is officially gone! Seriously this time. I've driven about 100 miles and it is perfect with NO BREAK DUST! Now my rears are accumulating more brake dust than the fronts!
This is for future reference for anyone that comes upon the same issue.
so the clicking came back again and I realized that grease will only go so far.
Symptoms: recently changed brake pads that are making a clicking or clunking noise when applying the brakes at slow speeds
Diagnosis: an ill fitting brake pad, most likely aftermarket
Here's what I did on my 2006 c280 luxury:
I do not have the sport brakes, my caliper looks like this:
This does not have to happen to all the sides that the new pads were installed on. I installed the Akebonos on the fronts and the clicking only came from the driver's side.
There are two metal clips to hold the brake pad in. I took both off and FLIPPED THEM. Meaning I put the bottom clip on the top and the top clip on the bottom - both are identical.
THEN I switched the brake pads. Front to back, back to front. Keep in mind that the brake sensor is not on this side (driver's side), it is on the passenger's side.
So all I did was switch the metal clips that hold the brake in place and switch the brake pads.
Clicking is officially gone! Seriously this time. I've driven about 100 miles and it is perfect with NO BREAK DUST! Now my rears are accumulating more brake dust than the fronts!
This is for future reference for anyone that comes upon the same issue.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
2006 C280
so the clunking noise came back.. awesome 
stupid shim on stupid Akebono pad was misaligned before they glued the damn thing to the pad.
bought some oem pads and put those suckers on
got a refund from the distributor
now no noise - go away - i will never visit this damn thread again
stupid shim on stupid Akebono pad was misaligned before they glued the damn thing to the pad.
bought some oem pads and put those suckers on
got a refund from the distributor
now no noise - go away - i will never visit this damn thread again
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 4
From: Raleigh, NC
2005 C230K, 2019 Honda CR-V, '74 Lotus Europa
Those kinds of calipers often require spring clips to keep the two parts from rattling. Did you put all the clips back in that you took out to change the pads?
