1998 C43 - Need to change my pads. Fronts went on with minimal effort.

Rears - a different story. One Piston would compress, the other would not.

Same on both Rear Calipers - Same Piston (the one "fed" by the brake line).

Spent a lot of time on google - turns out, the Piston needs to be "turned" as it is compressed. This is what the Caliper Tool is.

I bought a Caliper Tool Kit (Harbor Freight) - but it is for a "Single" Piston Caliper. Did not realize the problem till I got home.

I am searching for the right tool now.

Has anyone else change the rear pads on their C43? - I have seen many posts - but few mentioned a caliper tool, and none mentioned the Dual Piston Caliper Tool.

Note: I've tried to bleed the line as I compressed - it did not work. Again, one piston will compress, the other will not - and it is the same on both sides.

Help!

 

lets see your piston is stuck. well u just need a big c clamp or large chanel lock plyers ive changed them a ton in the shop and it doesnt need that tool.

 

All you need is a good set of multigrips/chanel lock plyers. Make sure you are pushing the piston back straight, if you put pressure on one side only then it will jam.

The piston doesn't need to be turned, that is only for rear calipers with the park brake as part of the caliper

 

I had to tighten, bleed the line a bit, tighten, etc. I used a hollow bar to increase the length of the "fulcrum" on the c clamp. It was that tight.

Such a good feeling when it finally gave way.

Also - it is important to point out, according to more than one MB tech I spoke with, that both pistons need to be pushed in at the same time. Leave the caliper on, with the old shoes and the use 2 screw drivers to push the pistons back in.

If you push one in, it will push the other out.

So nice to have new pads. I was kind of suprised at how long it took for the sensor light to trip with the old pads.

 

You could try doing one pad at a time next time you do pads. MB does offer a dual piston pad spreader that works fantastic, I think it is a 126 part number, but it is pricey at about $140. It makes pad changes on all calipers very easy.

Nick

 

I bought this for the front brakes on my W203 SPORT:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Disc-...motiveQ5fTools

Works on the 4-piston fronts. I'll need to buy another to spread the 6-piston fronts on my C63 (use both @ same time).

 

You shouldn't even have to remove the rear calipers on the 43. Just pop the pins out and pull the pads from the top. I changed my lines too, so I didn't face as much resistance as you. I used the screw driver trick, but used two wrenches after the pads were out.