Backing Plate/Dust Shield scraping
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 18
Likes: 6
From: Thornhill, Ontario
2019 AMG C43
Backing Plate/Dust Shield scraping
Hi All,
New(ish) member here with a mechanical issue that is driving me crazy. Over the past couple of weeks my 2011 C350 has developed a rotational scraping noise coming from the LR wheel. I was able to isolate the source to the backing plate (or dust shield as some call it). I took the wheel off and rotated the disc while pushing the shield back and the noise appears to go away. I bent the shield back thinking it would solve the issue, however, it acts more like a spring that reverts back to it's position over time. My car has 90K miles (145K kilometers for us Canadians) so there's quite a bit of rust built up on the backing plate that is flaking off around the inside of the disk and hub. I tried cleaning it out the rust build up between the disk and backing plate with an aerosol dust cleaner, but that didn't help.
Any suggestions as to how I can fix the issue? Is there a safe (heat resistant) grease or lubricant that I can spray back there to quiet down the scraping noise? I really don't want to pull the caliper and disk off if I don't have to.
New(ish) member here with a mechanical issue that is driving me crazy. Over the past couple of weeks my 2011 C350 has developed a rotational scraping noise coming from the LR wheel. I was able to isolate the source to the backing plate (or dust shield as some call it). I took the wheel off and rotated the disc while pushing the shield back and the noise appears to go away. I bent the shield back thinking it would solve the issue, however, it acts more like a spring that reverts back to it's position over time. My car has 90K miles (145K kilometers for us Canadians) so there's quite a bit of rust built up on the backing plate that is flaking off around the inside of the disk and hub. I tried cleaning it out the rust build up between the disk and backing plate with an aerosol dust cleaner, but that didn't help.
Any suggestions as to how I can fix the issue? Is there a safe (heat resistant) grease or lubricant that I can spray back there to quiet down the scraping noise? I really don't want to pull the caliper and disk off if I don't have to.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,346
Likes: 692
2021 GLB250 FWD, 2023 GLA250 FWD, 2013 C250, 2015 GLK350, 2005 ML350SE, 2003 E320
Hi All,
New(ish) member here with a mechanical issue that is driving me crazy. Over the past couple of weeks my 2011 C350 has developed a rotational scraping noise coming from the LR wheel. I was able to isolate the source to the backing plate (or dust shield as some call it). I took the wheel off and rotated the disc while pushing the shield back and the noise appears to go away. I bent the shield back thinking it would solve the issue, however, it acts more like a spring that reverts back to it's position over time. My car has 90K miles (145K kilometers for us Canadians) so there's quite a bit of rust built up on the backing plate that is flaking off around the inside of the disk and hub. I tried cleaning it out the rust build up between the disk and backing plate with an aerosol dust cleaner, but that didn't help.
Any suggestions as to how I can fix the issue? Is there a safe (heat resistant) grease or lubricant that I can spray back there to quiet down the scraping noise? I really don't want to pull the caliper and disk off if I don't have to.
New(ish) member here with a mechanical issue that is driving me crazy. Over the past couple of weeks my 2011 C350 has developed a rotational scraping noise coming from the LR wheel. I was able to isolate the source to the backing plate (or dust shield as some call it). I took the wheel off and rotated the disc while pushing the shield back and the noise appears to go away. I bent the shield back thinking it would solve the issue, however, it acts more like a spring that reverts back to it's position over time. My car has 90K miles (145K kilometers for us Canadians) so there's quite a bit of rust built up on the backing plate that is flaking off around the inside of the disk and hub. I tried cleaning it out the rust build up between the disk and backing plate with an aerosol dust cleaner, but that didn't help.
Any suggestions as to how I can fix the issue? Is there a safe (heat resistant) grease or lubricant that I can spray back there to quiet down the scraping noise? I really don't want to pull the caliper and disk off if I don't have to.
The car went 145K km without the noise, and now the noise is there and there is considerable scaling, flaky rust that cannot be cleaned out without removing the backing plate and brake disc. There may be no way to solve this without removing the brake disc. If you have a place to work and safely support the car, some tools, and some basic wrench skills this is not particularly difficult. Depending on the amount of rust damage, the backing plate may need to be replaced. You may also find other issues that need to be addressed at the same time.
Most brake shops in areas that use salts on icy roads are familiar with this kind of problem and can address it satisfactorily. I have seen this develop on cars used in Illinois and Michigan after only a few years on the road.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 18
Likes: 6
From: Thornhill, Ontario
2019 AMG C43
First and foremost avoid any attempt to remedy this problem with a lubricant. Any that gets on the brake disc could cause a serious loss of braking.
The car went 145K km without the noise, and now the noise is there and there is considerable scaling, flaky rust that cannot be cleaned out without removing the backing plate and brake disc. There may be no way to solve this without removing the brake disc. If you have a place to work and safely support the car, some tools, and some basic wrench skills this is not particularly difficult. Depending on the amount of rust damage, the backing plate may need to be replaced. You may also find other issues that need to be addressed at the same time.
Most brake shops in areas that use salts on icy roads are familiar with this kind of problem and can address it satisfactorily. I have seen this develop on cars used in Illinois and Michigan after only a few years on the road.
The car went 145K km without the noise, and now the noise is there and there is considerable scaling, flaky rust that cannot be cleaned out without removing the backing plate and brake disc. There may be no way to solve this without removing the brake disc. If you have a place to work and safely support the car, some tools, and some basic wrench skills this is not particularly difficult. Depending on the amount of rust damage, the backing plate may need to be replaced. You may also find other issues that need to be addressed at the same time.
Most brake shops in areas that use salts on icy roads are familiar with this kind of problem and can address it satisfactorily. I have seen this develop on cars used in Illinois and Michigan after only a few years on the road.
I contemplated taking off the rotor off but decided against it since it was most likely still holding the parking brake mechanism in place. Rather, I was able to pry out the broken pieces that were scraping against the disk. The good news is that the noise is now gone and the parking brake still works, though I'm sure most of the car's weight is being held by the other side. I know I'll have to take it in to get fixed properly, soon.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,346
Likes: 692
2021 GLB250 FWD, 2023 GLA250 FWD, 2013 C250, 2015 GLK350, 2005 ML350SE, 2003 E320
That's ugly! Glad you found the root cause of the noise. One of my older cars that was used in Iowa on salted roads had drum brakes. The rear drums were rusted solid to the axle shaft and required a wheel puller and a sledge hammer to remove on the very 1st brake job. You may save your sanity by referring the work to a pro shop.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 18
Likes: 6
From: Thornhill, Ontario
2019 AMG C43
That's ugly! Glad you found the root cause of the noise. One of my older cars that was used in Iowa on salted roads had drum brakes. The rear drums were rusted solid to the axle shaft and required a wheel puller and a sledge hammer to remove on the very 1st brake job. You may save your sanity by referring the work to a pro shop.
