e320newbie

Hello everyone, the light on my dash turned on telling me i need to replace my brake pads, does anyone know if its a do it urself thing? and what kinda pads should i be buying? i know i could get the factory ones but is there something a little better made maybe that isnt to expensive? please help my roaters are more and more in danger as the days go by.

Brian Felts

Your pads are easy to replace. Just knock out two pins from the top of the caliper and I used a small C-clamp to go on top of the pads to work the piston back and the old pads will come out for you. Use some high temp brake grease when you put It all back together and it will make life much easier and brakes quiter.

Brian

ashman

it is almost that easy... This is how I do it and I have had success doing it this way.

1. Buy the oem pads for the car
2. Buy the Wear sensors - 2 for each front wheel so 4 total
3. Buy MB Brake Pad Grease Part number: 001 989 47 51 - this is a large quantity, you can get small packets, but I don't thing it is too much money.
4. Buy some brake fluid fromt he mb dealer just in case you need it.
5. Remove brake fluid resevoir cap and stuff in a rag in the hole not too far, but to catch any fluid that tries to leak when pushing the pistons out to fit the new pads. (The fluid will fill up the resevoir and this will stop it from making a mess)
6. Knock out the 2 pins and remove spring clip
7. Remove pads, remove pad shims if they are on the pads.
8. install new sensors into the pads
9. Apply brake pad grease over the entire surface of the pad backing plate not on the pad itself
10. Put on shims and apply a light coating of grease on them (if you have shims)
11. Put old pad in front half of the brake caliper where it was
12. use something to push piston all the way in on back half of caliper.
13. install one pad. do not hook up sensor wire tot he car yet.
14. Remove old pad from front half and push piston back and install pad.
15. Put in spring clip, route wear sensor wires
16. reinstall pins
17. Repeat for other side.
18. Reinstall wheel
19. Put cap on brake resevoir after making sure fluid level is at the max level.
20. Get in car
21. Pump brake pedal until pedal is firm
22. Start car and go for test drive. Do not brake hard for at least 100 miles or so (I usually try to not brake hard at all myself) - this is to Bed the new pads into the rotor.
23. you are done.

AshMan

Jackd

Nice recap Ashman.
You forgot point No. 19.5: Wash you hands

CDP

I thought E320Newbie was a mechanic or worked at a shop...

Kestas

Why did you think that? If you check his posts, most of them relate to a car's appearance, not mechanical repair.

Jer

There are many different brands of pads. If you want the OEM stuff, Pagid is a good buy. If you are looking to reduce dust, you can get EBC greens, which are made of Kevlar. As for rotors, I like the ATEs (or ATE PowerDiscs). I was not happy with Balo. I think I got a warped one. There is also Zimmerman cross-drilled for performance.

e320newbie

wow thanks everyone that pretty much says it all. And i work in a tint shop not a mechanic shop, we do tint mostly and rockguard, rims tires, body kits, hydrolics, paint, spoilers, pretty much anything u want we can do it or know someone who will take really good care of you. Jer i like the sound of the EBC greens, the brake dust is pretty nutts on 124's and the power discs are a good choice? i need to get on the soon ill prob buy the parts on the weekend, thanks everyone. Later

Jer

I have not used the PowerDiscs, but judging from the regular ATE discs, I bet their other discs are just as good.

Jim's500E

I run the EBC Greens on the front of my 500E ...I like them alot and they have the hole that accepts the brake OE brake sensor....many aftermarket pads don't have that. Stick with solid or slotted rotors IMO....drilled heat up/fade faster and grind pads like a cheese grater.

The EBC Greens bite hard and shed very little dust, even on the track ! I wouldn't recommend the Reds though, the dust is kinda corrosive to a rims finish from what I've seen.

Kestas

Some pads have no hole!.... what do you guys do in that case?.... drill a hole?

Jim's500E

YES !! drill a hole...

but I'd just as soon search out a brake maker who makes a pad to fit W124/201s etc that accepts the brake sensor before doing that myself. I know others who do just that though. Works fine as far as I know.