CLK-Class (W209) 2003 on: CLK 270 CDI, CLK 200K, CLK 200 CGI, CLK 240, CLK 320, CLK 350, CLK 500, CLK 550 [Coupes & Cabriolets]

Musical Brakes (Not Really But...)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 12-19-2017, 03:22 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
LesB3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Aston, PA
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2005 CLK55 Cab, 2012 C300
Angry Musical Brakes (Not Really But...)

This past summer my front brakes began to squeal and, after pulling the wheels, I noticed it was almost time to replace them so did just that a few days later. I bought Pagid brakes (http://www.autohausaz.com/pn/0054203920) from AutohausAZ after using them (all of the time) without issue on my W208. Brakes went on without an issue and after a few minutes of driving, the brakes would "whine" when coming to a slowing stop (like when driving around town and stopping at a stop sign). When I broke hard or quickly, no whine. The whine is not your typical squeal and, according to my "musical" ear it is in fact an "E" note being sounded by my front brakes. It is so loud that I honestly cannot tell if it's one side or the other (or both) wheels. I drove it around for about 250 miles to see if it "went away" as the brakes wore in but it's still there.

Today, I pulled both wheels again, inspected the brakes (wear is even), re-lubed everything, and took it for another spin. After about 15 minutes of driving, the brakes started whining again.

The car is a 2005 CLK55 with about 40,000 miles on it.

Checking here before taking it to the stealership (where I most certainly will be told I need new rotors / brakes / calipers / etc.)

Any ideas????
Old 12-19-2017, 04:15 PM
  #2  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
LesB3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Aston, PA
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2005 CLK55 Cab, 2012 C300
It's definitely both wheels. Bad pads???
Old 12-19-2017, 08:07 PM
  #3  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Yidney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,109
Received 110 Likes on 101 Posts
2008 CLK550 Cab
How are your rotors? They may be glazed - basically coated with old brake pad material.
Old 12-20-2017, 08:16 AM
  #4  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
LesB3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Aston, PA
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2005 CLK55 Cab, 2012 C300
I think that may be right... I notice that if I jam on the brakes, it gives me about 5 minutes of whine-free operation.
Problem is, why do the brakes keep glazing? Am convinced that I might just have to pay double for OEM pads and re-do them in the Spring.
Old 12-20-2017, 08:29 AM
  #5  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
LesB3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Aston, PA
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2005 CLK55 Cab, 2012 C300
...and probably turn the rotors at the same time.

Last edited by LesB3; 12-20-2017 at 05:11 PM.
Old 12-20-2017, 10:35 AM
  #6  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
xsever's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,352
Received 147 Likes on 135 Posts
2012 C300 4MATIC Sport
Originally Posted by LesB3
...and probably turn to the rotors at the same time.
Consensus around the forum is that the OEM brakes are the best in terms of performance, lifetime, ane reliability. Their only cons is dust, but I'd rather deal with it than with other problems.
Old 12-20-2017, 03:06 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
sailorben's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Midlands, UK
Posts: 434
Received 16 Likes on 16 Posts
CLK W209
I use pagid on all my cars, and that’s all my two CLKs have had, and they’ve been nothing but perfect...
I highly doubt it’s the pagid pads that are causing the issue, unless they’re faulty, but that could happen to any manufacturer.

Last edited by sailorben; 12-20-2017 at 04:23 PM.
Old 12-20-2017, 03:34 PM
  #8  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
insame1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 2,541
Received 190 Likes on 169 Posts
2006 E55, 2012 GLK350 & 1992 190e sportline
I was having the same issue. new rotors new pads, correct bed-in process and still lots of noise. I bought this stuff (not from this site) and it worked great. It is messy as hell though. It drys to almost a rubber substance.
https://www.finditparts.com/products...xoCa-AQAvD_BwE
Old 12-20-2017, 05:05 PM
  #9  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
LesB3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Aston, PA
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2005 CLK55 Cab, 2012 C300
Originally Posted by sailorben
I use pagid on all my cars, and that’s all my two CLKs have had, and they’ve been nothing but perfect...
I highly doubt it’s the pagid pads that are causing the issue, unless they’re faulty, but that could happen to any manufacturer.
Tell me about it. My W208 wore them all the time, little spongier than the stock brakes but 1,000X less dust! I'm surprised (and disappointed) that that seems to no longer be the case...
Old 12-20-2017, 05:10 PM
  #10  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
LesB3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Aston, PA
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2005 CLK55 Cab, 2012 C300
Originally Posted by insame1
I was having the same issue. new rotors new pads, correct bed-in process and still lots of noise. I bought this stuff (not from this site) and it worked great. It is messy as hell though. It drys to almost a rubber substance.
https://www.finditparts.com/products...xoCa-AQAvD_BwE
Thanks Insame - I actually pulled the wheels and re-lubed everything with this stuff:
https://www.permatex.com/products/lu...aliper-lube-4/

Really thick and sorta slimy. Even applied it to the back of the brake pads (like it said to do) but didn't work.
Old 12-20-2017, 08:59 PM
  #11  
MBworld Guru
 
Rudeney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,782
Received 1,004 Likes on 872 Posts
NO LONGER ACTIVE
My few cents worth:

1. If the rotors are not warped, don't turn them. Instead "knock them down" by rough sanding them to remove the shine.
2. I like the CRC red paste, but have not used it on MBZ brakes. It will need to handle a good bit of heat.
3. The Permatex stuff can't take the heat. Try genuine MBZ brake lube.
Old 12-21-2017, 02:19 PM
  #12  
Member
 
Anker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 247
Received 24 Likes on 23 Posts
2009 CLK 350
The CRC red paste is the way to go. Haven't needed it on my CLK, but I use it on my Porsche brakes and they get plenty hot on the track or on the AX circuit.
The following users liked this post:
Rudeney (12-21-2017)
Old 05-10-2018, 01:14 PM
  #13  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
LesB3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Aston, PA
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2005 CLK55 Cab, 2012 C300
Was at the stealership and asked them about this (since I have yet to fix it and the car generally sits through most of the winter) and they told me that when replacing brakes I should always replace the rotors too (!!!). To the tune of $2200... Now I only have 40k on this car so unloading that kind of money seems preposterous to me, but they said that this is an "issue" with this particular car and that replacing pads only was a crapshoot. Lies? It's crap like this that has me wanting to buy my W208 back and just sell this pig off.

What's the forum's experience with this?
Old 05-10-2018, 03:47 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
dzmitry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: California
Posts: 478
Received 104 Likes on 73 Posts
2023 E450 AT, 1996 S420, (sold) 2004 CLK320 Convertible (v8, 6 speed)
Replacing rotors every time you replace pad is definitely bs )))
My brakes are also musical with exact the same symptoms you described except in my case it's original MB pads (the same brakes from clk/slk55), but I've installed all new components in the same time (calipers, rotors and pads).
I'm going to re-lube mine with plenty of CRC red paste.

Last edited by dzmitry; 05-10-2018 at 03:51 PM.
Old 05-10-2018, 03:51 PM
  #15  
Member
 
Anker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 247
Received 24 Likes on 23 Posts
2009 CLK 350
CRC red paste on the back of the pads silences mine!
Old 05-10-2018, 10:02 PM
  #16  
MBworld Guru
 
Rudeney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,782
Received 1,004 Likes on 872 Posts
NO LONGER ACTIVE
You know, if I owned a dealership, I;d probably suggest that the rotors, the transmission, and maybe some seat leather should be replaced at every brake job! Yeah, what a bunch of "stealers". Whenever you replace pads, you simply check the rotor thickness and if its in spec, you keep them, if not, you replace them. if you keep them, they should be "knocked down" (sanded) to remove the shine in prep for bedding new pads.
Old 05-11-2018, 12:45 AM
  #17  
Junior Member
 
Tomsti's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 66
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
CLS55
Originally Posted by Rudeney
You know, if I owned a dealership, I;d probably suggest that the rotors, the transmission, and maybe some seat leather should be replaced at every brake job! Yeah, what a bunch of "stealers". Whenever you replace pads, you simply check the rotor thickness and if its in spec, you keep them, if not, you replace them. if you keep them, they should be "knocked down" (sanded) to remove the shine in prep for bedding new pads.
X2

I've sanded brake rotors before usually before putting on new pads, it's definitely worth a shot in this case.
Old 05-12-2018, 11:10 AM
  #18  
MBworld Guru
 
Rudeney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,782
Received 1,004 Likes on 872 Posts
NO LONGER ACTIVE
This company sells excellent products for quiet brakes, including lubricants and a drill-operated hone for knocking down rotors:

www.gwrauto.com/gwrmain.html
Old 05-16-2018, 03:18 PM
  #19  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
LesB3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Aston, PA
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2005 CLK55 Cab, 2012 C300
SO FAR SO GOOD with the CRC Red Paste!
I will admit to having driven only a few miles but so far no noises at all.

I go on a much longer trip (3 hours) tomorrow so will have a better idea of whether I can hang my MISSION ACCOMPLISHED banner up or not. Will check back in if it DIDN'T work, otherwise, assume it did!

Thanks all!
L
Old 05-25-2018, 02:35 PM
  #20  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
LesB3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Aston, PA
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2005 CLK55 Cab, 2012 C300
Went for a ride today and the noise is back!
Will replace with genuine pads this time and give it one more try with the CRC paste. If that doesn't work, I'll glop on enough paste to shut them up for a day or two and trade the turd in on a new car.
Old 05-25-2018, 09:16 PM
  #21  
MBworld Guru
 
Rudeney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,782
Received 1,004 Likes on 872 Posts
NO LONGER ACTIVE
CRC red is only good for about 300F. Your brakes can get over 400F. You need to use a lubricant that can handle the high temps of your brakes.
The following users liked this post:
dzmitry (07-22-2018)
Old 07-22-2018, 02:42 PM
  #22  
Senior Member
 
dzmitry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: California
Posts: 478
Received 104 Likes on 73 Posts
2023 E450 AT, 1996 S420, (sold) 2004 CLK320 Convertible (v8, 6 speed)
Applied Mercedes anti-squeal paste (001989945112) about 3 weeks ago, no squeals so far. Also sanded rotors and removed some rough edges from pads.
Old 07-23-2018, 10:51 PM
  #23  
MBworld Guru
 
Rudeney's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,782
Received 1,004 Likes on 872 Posts
NO LONGER ACTIVE
Good job!
Old 06-05-2020, 09:33 AM
  #24  
Junior Member
 
ecdubreuil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 19
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2017 GLC300 Coupe 4matic
Originally Posted by LesB3
Was at the stealership and asked them about this (since I have yet to fix it and the car generally sits through most of the winter) and they told me that when replacing brakes I should always replace the rotors too (!!!). To the tune of $2200... Now I only have 40k on this car so unloading that kind of money seems preposterous to me, but they said that this is an "issue" with this particular car and that replacing pads only was a crapshoot. Lies? It's crap like this that has me wanting to buy my W208 back and just sell this pig off.

What's the forum's experience with this?
And don't forget the $100 wiper blades at every service...

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Musical Brakes (Not Really But...)



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:17 AM.