Screeching Brakes
 

For about the last week there has been a very loud screech/squeal coming from the brakes of my C400. It seems to have started as the temperatures got very cold, but who knows. As I come to a stop, it sounds like I'm scraping against an aluminum wall. It only happens for the first couple of brake applications (in Drive and Reverse) then everything seems fine while driving. The problem recurs after the car sits for a while. The sound is not just a slight squeak, it's loud enough that bystanders look to see what the heck is making that noise.

Has anyone else experienced this with the new C Class?

I have an appointment at MB on January 19th. I'll add this to the door handle light malfunction and poor fitting bumper/ tail lights issues.

I also have this on my C400. It happens the very first time I lightly brake (which for me is always in reverse after an overnight stay). I'm curious to hear what the dealer says to you.

I actually had a similar experience...I rarely park my car outside (normally garaged). But did so last week when temps here got to low 30's...and yes when I backed up the brakes definitely screeched...also did it in "D" when I stopped. It hasn't done it since but it did happen that one time. Good luck...I'm not sure what caused it but I too attributed it to extreme cold temperatures.

I also faced this problem from 1 week when i brake in traffic and release the brake padle also

This is because the rotors are drilled... this causes more squeaking...

Just started for me as well when it just got really cold here. Seems to only happen in reverse after sitting and only for the first few applications. But gawd is it ever freaking loud!

Also started happening on my C300 Sport in the last few days with the single degree temperatures. It's very loud and somewhat embarrassing pulling out of my community in a 3 week old car making that much noise. I'm hoping it's only temporary and will cease once the breaks wear more but after my recent experience with the MB-tex seats I won't hold my breath :rolleyes:

This has been happpening to my car for the past two weeks. My garage is warm/insulated, but some mornings (not all, not today when it was 1F outside), the brakes squeal loudly on the first two applications, then all is quiet. It also happens at the end of the work day when I back out to drive home (car outside).

I've had drilled rotors before (Porsche) and many other German cars but none have squeaked since the 1970s. I have this on my list for my first service (10k miles, should be late March), unless it becomes worse or intolerable.

Very hard stops from higher speeds will usually break the glaze that is a typical cause of this brake noise.

I've been experiencing this off and on since I've owned the car and it's really, really loud. I live in a condo near some railroad tracks and my Nanny heard it and thought it was a train! :eek:

I've owned plenty of cars over the years and have rarely if ever had to deal with brake squeal, this is more like a groaning sound than a high pitched squeal we all associate with brakes. I've attempted hard braking in forward and reverse and it doesn't seem to help. I swear it's another temp related issue...when it's warm outside the brakes never make the sound but the days it's below freezing it almost always happens, especially in reverse.

See post #152 here:

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ml#post6275142

I appreciate the link but this noise isn't your typical "brake squeal" per se. I work in the auto industry and have rep'd the same three manufacturers since 1996, I know what brake squeal is and how to deal with it as I've experienced it with other vehicles over the years. This noise is actually more reminiscent of a worn set of pads grinding away at the rotors.

Do the bed in procedure. If it persists after that then post. You have to achieve proper pad material deposition on the discs/rotors.

Where are you? The cars should have Brembo rotors with Pagid pads.

How much black dust are you seeing? Is there any grittiness to the brake feel/noise? Almost slight grinding?

I've already performed a bed-in proceedure, that's why I'm posting in this thread...something doesn't just seem right.

I've got the black 19" AMG wheels and it's very easy to see dust on the surface, I haven't noticed anything unusual. The pedal feel is fine...I'll capture a video with my phone the next time I back it out of my garage and post here.

Pagid pads give off a fair amount of black dust, especially up front. They, however, give excellent bite & feel & are quiet. We have not suffered brake noise on SA W205 production. We don't suffer US temperature extremes. If you are in NA they may have changed pad supplier for local production. Make them fit a new OE set of Pagid pads if the problem continues.

I am currently facing the same exact problem with my new 2015 C300 that I leased in November. The dealer took the car and replaced the rotors. This did not help. We then placed a complaint with MBUSA and had it escalated to a Case Manager. We were notified today that MBUSA will take no action. No make-good offer, nothing. I don't know where to go from here. As said previously, this noise is LOUD, uncomfortable, and embarrassing. I am at a loss.

This video gives you an idea of the noise. It does not do it justice as it can be MUCH louder.

Is this a US issue or a global issue? Pad material post asbestos has a huge influence. US production might not be using Pagid pads.

Sounds exactly like it does in my S class

This noise is normal for high performance brake pads. The reason you hear this noise is because of the cold. If you have ever been to a racetrack you will hear the same noise until the brakes have warmed up.
You can get aftermarket pads that will get rid of the brake dust and squealing but it will not bite as hard and the brake pedal feel may be a little softer but not too noticeable on the street.

Then it's temperature conditions in certain parts of the US. Funny we did not have much of this with the W204.

Not common in SA but we have a mild climate.

Holy **** that is bad! I am laughing as I listen to your video, because mine does it too, but only after the first application. By the end of the video after the 3rd or 4th time, I laughed at my computer, sorry! People don't realize how loud it is, but it is as loud as it sounds.


yesterday, when reversing out of my parking spot, -20 C here, it was exactly like that, super loud that it startled the guy beside me in the lot, and he was laughing at the loser in his German fancy shmancy car. I have never, ever, heard brake noise as this.


Mine, squeal, by the way, when slowing down at the first application of the brakes, almost like a chirp for 1 second, then nothing. But this is epic squealing lol

Same thing here...

It's probably not a real "issue" per se. It's just the brakes do that due to their material.

It happens every morning or after a few hours of non-use. Needs to brake hard a few times and then the screeching goes away.

My friend's Q5 does the same thing and dealer say's it's normal. My Range Rover didn't have it but didn't have the same braking bite (and probably different material brakes so...).

Chalk it up to engineering compromise, not necessarily a defect.

I want to know if the pad supplier is still Pagid. Must do some scratching. I wonder if Vic can comment on European experience.

wow saw that video and that sound is really annoying.. I live in Boston where it gets really cold as well. So i tested my c400s braking and haven't heard any noise like that ::crossing fingers::

Wow, I've had the occasional break squeal on a few of my vehicles but this takes the cake. IMO it's NOT normal. Another supplier issue with the pads spec'd for the Alabama built cars? Hope not.