REAR BRAKE DUST NO MORE!
 

I can not belive it, the problem has been cured. I finally got my dealer to do the "top secret updated brake pad" change. The brake dust coating the rear wheels is about 90% better. No idea why this info is so hard to come by, and why it is even harder to get the service department to fess up about the problem and what the fix is. As we know there, is a TSB on this issue, do not give up! get them to change out the pads if you have a "C Class" with the problem.

Really? Thats good news. Though I barely get any brake dust on my rears, it's all mainly in the front wheels.

What's the build date on your vehicle? I'm going to inquire about the TSB when I go in for service A, which happens at 10K as opposed to 12K for my car, and I want to know if they are doing the TSB for the vehicles that are produced after the cutoff.

Either way, I'm glad you got it done; it must be a relief!

Does anyone know the TSB for this? Is there a reference number or something I can refer them too?

Thanks!

SUBJECT:
Model 204.054/056/081, Up to 06/2008 Series Production
Brake Squeal and/or Excessive Brake Dust From Rear Axle

If you receive customer reports in the above model vehicles of brake squeal and or excessive brake dust from the rear axle, replace the rear brake pads with revised parts. Refer to WIS document AR42.10-P-0250CW.
Only first 12 months or 12000 miles will be covered.
Originally Posted by 6spdmanual

I have a 2009 with the dusty rear pads, not covered by the TSB for some reason. They certainly didn't start putting the "good" pads on with the 2009s, my August build is proof of that. I'm being ripped off.

Thanks for the info, I might be out of luck since I've had my car over a year now... I'll call them tomorrow and see what they say.

Thanks again

My service adviser actually denied there was such a TSB, but they did replace the rear pads anyway to make me happy. I think you just have to be persistent in how dissatisfied you are with the problem.

A 90% improvement in dusting is pretty accurate for me too and I couldn't be happier. If the dealer didn't do it for free, I would have replaced them myself. Definitely worth it...

This "TSB" is only for build dates through June 2008. 2009's and late 2008's will not be covered under this "TSB".

I just had mine done and will report in a few days.

you can always make the argument if you have less than 12k miles.

IT'S NOT TRUE!!! I called 3 different dealerships and they all said there was no such recall on the cars!!! If anyone else who wants to get it and has called and said there was a recall, please post. I want to know if they are lying to me or not. I doubt it though because 3 dealerships all saying the same thing?!?!?/?? I REALLY want those brake pads for free and my year is going to be up at the end of april!!! ughh if anyone else knows for sure more details about this please post! BTW im in socal area if it makes a difference for it. I drive a C350 and i got it in April 2008. 9800miles

Well, for starters, a TSB is NOT A RECALL. If you used the word "recall" in your inquiries, then all three dealers gave you the correct answer.

TSB stands for Technical Service Bulletin - it alerts service departments to new procedures or parts in response to specific problems. IF you speak up, and IF the SA is savvy enough to check it out, THEN you may get the right response. And as noted above, if your car falls outside the specific dates and / or VIN range for the TSB, it doesn't matter anyway.

I'm taking my car in today, I want these pads

There is so much confusion about this. The dealers all know about it, and M.B. has taken the position that they will deny it unless you hold a gun to their head. At first my S.A. told me that he DID find the TSB, that was after I printed the number and info that I found here, then he said that there is only one part number for the rears since the begining of the model, then he said that they did in fact get the right pads and change them, my car has 18,000 miles on it. Brakes are perfect, no squeak, dust only in the right amount, read that to be hardly any at all, just the way rears should be. I can not understand why they are keeping this so secret? I will try to read the part numbers off the pads, I can see them through the calipers. S.A. said he did not know if it is a re-formulation of the pad with the same part number, or a new part number, but I should be happy that it fixed the problem.
NO ONE should have to put up with theis problem, just look at any C class on the road and you will see how wide spread it is. Just to clarify, we are not talking simply dust here, it is a coating of black grease that happens after only a few miles of driving, the rears of my car looked like the fronts of a B.M.W. after a 1000 mile road trip.

Good luck :y let us know how it goes !! Im just about ready to simply purchase these pads and find some sweet guy to put them on for a 6 pack of beer :) !!!

I bet they just try and say its normal, i'm not the kind of person who takes no for an answer, so we will see, I do know this break dust thing is out of control, i have to wash my car all the time to keep them clean!

I'll keep you guys up to date on what they say!

Here are the part numbers:

005-420-42-20 - Brake Lining
211-540-17-17 - Break Wear Strip

Mine took one of each of these part numbers so it must be a set for both sides.

well dangit--I have a 2008 C350 that I purchased last July (so build date was obviously before June) that has excessive brake dust on the rear wheels. I always thought it was strange because on my 1999 5-Series that I traded always had brake dust build up on the front wheels. Anyway, my C350 just had Service A and has 13,000+ miles----too late for me.

Too late for free, but the pads would not be expensive and are easy to install.

The question is are these a different part number for the updated pads? or are these the same part numbers for the old pads with a new formula?

I would bet these are a different part number for updated pads. It would be too easy just to assign a new part number rather than chase revision numbers of one.

you've already got all the detail you need posted above in this thread.

it's a TSB, not a recall. :smash: they didn't lie to you because it's not a recall.

How long are the brake pads on the rear suppose to last anyway??
My car has just under 14k on it and I doubt the dealer will be willing to replace the pads for free..
Also, other than the revised MB oem pad, are there better after market pads out there??

two sets of front = one set of rear. 50k miles give or take.

tell me about it. i had to contact MB Canada to get this service done, because 2 local MB dealers denied it.