Glyn M Ruck

Yes, stranger things have happened. Warped rotors will cause shaking everytime you brake. Something is broken, worn out or loose.

Pleased it's not the ABS.

LILBENZ230

Okay I had our shop here check the lug bolts and they are tight. It is something else. Something is not right up front for sure. The shaking is really bad during braking now but present at all times regardless.

johnand

Still think a lot of this is pad transfer layer not transferring correctly. It mimics the feel of warped rotors. It is DAMN hard to warp the rotors on the Sport model C-Classes. But, the fact that you are now feeling it w/o braking has me worried. I suspect bad wheel bearings or something working it's way loose in the suspension from the shaking during braking.

Matt, were those rotors ever used with another set of pads? Sometimes incompatible pad materials can cause this problem. I am not a fan of turning rotors, because you are removing material that dissipates heat, but I always recommend turning or new rotors when changing pad materials.

Sorry Matt, disregard that about the pad material incompatibilities. Just re-read that those are new rotors.

LILBENZ230

You're right John.. 108k miles I've put on this car so far and never have I felt a shake during the braking. These over-sized, drilled rotors do not warp easily. The shaking is VERY intense during braking now. The steering feel is suddenly very crappy. Tire pressure OK. Lug bolts tight. Minor to moderate shaking while driving.

I don't think anything could have worked loose, though. The car wasn't shaking under braking until two days ago. The reason I'm replacing the pads is due to a gritty feel. Stops were still smooth and consistent. Only suddenly did this shaking start happening. I'm taking it to the shop momentarily and telling them to investigate thoroughly and/or set it on fire.

ncmudbug

Hi Matt,
Is there an update on your problem? I hope it's minor.

LILBENZ230

I dropped it off last night with my indy and no update as of yet. I just can't make sense of it.. I'm driving a 2004 Malibu today with 112,000 miles, a CEL light on, an SRS light on, horrible front end noises over even slight bumps, defunct keyless entry, etc.. and it drives better than my C230 was yesterday. It makes me very sad.

ncmudbug

It's got to be bad if that Malibu drives better than your MB!

Hopefully, it will be easy to fix and you get your ride back.

LILBENZ230

Okay the car is ready for pick-up and here is the report from the indy:

1. Pagid front pads have chunks missing from the pad material.. likely defective pads. Replaced the pads with Genuine Mercedes pads. Resurfaced rotors (hated to do it at 3400 miles of usage)

2. STUPID STUPID STUPID tires were out of balance AGAIN. This is the third time in 3 months they've been rebalanced. Their days are numbered.

3. Adjusted e-brake.

4. Performed detailed inspection of front suspension, steering rack, brake calipers - no problems found.

Cost: Less than $100

In closing I really think that 90% of my cars decline in driving feel/ride quality is related to these stupid tires. If any of you listen to my recommendations, I have two for you. First, never buy a Pagid brake pad. Second, never buy a Kumho tire for a Mercedes. They may work fine on an Accord, but a W203 will not be pleased.

tommy

OK, manufacturers defects happen with everyone, so don't throw the baby out with the bathwater on the Pagid pads. Thought about contacting who you bought them from? Might be able to return them (doubtful, but you never know).
Kuhmo tires are only good as cheap autox alternatives. Not sure what you were expecting - don't even Accords deserve better?

I'm assuming they checked the brake fluid as well?

Hope this fixes everything - good luck.

LILBENZ230

Brake fluid flushed recently. Should be fine. I had good experiences with Ecsta ASX tires on Accords and Camrys. This is the second time they've been on the C230 but definitely the last. The first ones were much better but still mediocre in comparison with the DWS I had between these. With the amount of mileage I drive and the roads I drive on every day (curvy back roads) my C230 eats tires.. I have to replace them at least once a year. It's only been 9 months on this set and they're pretty much done. Also because of the roads I drive on my C230 needs 4 at a time, not the 2 sets of rears for every 1 set of fronts people like John get with lots of highway driving. After about 9mos-1year the rears are shot and the front shoulders are worn so bad it wouldn't make sense not to replace them, too. I rotate across axle but it only helps slightly. Anyway, I just thought if I'm going to replace them that often why buy expensive? Well obviously to keep my sanity I'll have to step it up and pay 50% more for the DWS.

tommy

Don't make me quote Glyn about tires on you.

There must be some decent tires with a high wear rating that also won't break the bank?

If it makes you feel better, I replace summer tires almost every year, and winter tires every other.

LILBENZ230

Yes the DWS is the perfect tire for my car. It's about 150% the cost of the ones on it now but it was a great tire.

C230 Mulac

Conti's are expensive and their summer tires will burn fairly quick (at least the way I drive and assuming you too with the curvy back roads), but they stick like glue. My first set, the rears wore out around 16-17k and I drove them til 20k and replaced them.

If you want a tire that will last a long time, buy Michelin. Yes, those are expensive too, but if you compare how long they last, it'll save you in the long run. I had a set of Pilot Sport A/S on my 18" wheels before I sold them, drove for about 15K and the treads looked like they had hardly been touched.

LILBENZ230

Spoke too damn soon!

Got the car back.. no improvement. The new brakes are on and the rotors resurfaced. My indy "mechanic" is not a single guy. It's a shop of guys and I've been using them exclusively for so long (10 years) I'd consider the owner a friend. I spoke with him on the phone just now and he's also upset that his guy marked my car as fixed and he relayed that to me.

That said, now I know it isn't brake related.

Glyn M Ruck

Oh crap!

ncmudbug

This really suques!!! I wonder if they gave your car to the new guy... In any event, now that the owner is on the case, you should get some satisfaction!

LILBENZ230

Okay the owner and I went out for a drive in it after work and he advised me that from now on he will do the work on my car himself. He feels the vibration in the seats when driving on the highway and strongly in the wheel under braking. He is going to check the rear brakes and rotors (rotors are original ones with 132k miles on them, pads have 55k), check the alignment first thing Monday. I just think it's something else. Something in the steering feel seems off. There's a small bump I hit with the right front wheel every morning as I park at my office. I'm going like 1mph or less. Since this happened, it feels like the front wheel flops over that bump.. feels very loose. He'll get to the bottom of it for sure.

It is just frustrating. It's out of service.

Let me restate this - this isn't a shake that went from slight to worse gradually. This is a fine one day, severe shaking the next day issue. Anyone have any ideas what could go wrong and mimic severely warped front rotors under braking? And/or a shake in the chassis while cruising at 60-65mph and it is NOT tire balance.

LILBENZ230

Apparently the defective pads had really ravaged the brake rotors. They are smooth again but will probably not last for another set of pads.

Got the car back. It's been aligned and the rotors were resurfaced again.. sigh.. It's smooth again. There is still something not right in the front end, even though everything checks out as OK. I suspect that the front suspension just is old and I probably need some bushings and the like.

I'm still trying to make up my mind whether I want to go forward with the timing chain replacement and the front suspension repairs or if I want to keep trucking till the first of next year and buy something else.