Breaking issue - Weird
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
1998 mercedes e320
Breaking issue - Weird
For the last week i have been having a breaking issue that I need to resolve quickly.
Once in a while when I push the break pedal it really doesn't break well and I can't stop the car in a safe manner. It doesn't happen all the time and that what's weird.
The last time it happened was close to my place. I parked it and in the next morning it was perfect.
I know I have to take it to a mechanic really fast before something bad happens but what do you guys think it is?
Cheers
Once in a while when I push the break pedal it really doesn't break well and I can't stop the car in a safe manner. It doesn't happen all the time and that what's weird.
The last time it happened was close to my place. I parked it and in the next morning it was perfect.
I know I have to take it to a mechanic really fast before something bad happens but what do you guys think it is?
Cheers
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 301
Likes: 23
1997 E300D
A soft brake pedal, that works well after the car is not driven for awhile, can be from something like a sticking caliper, which will overheat it's wheel and boil the brake fluid in that wheel. If it happens in a rear wheel you would still have the front wheel brakes, but it would feel scary. If it happens in a front wheel you would still have the rear brakes, but since they are less robust it would feel like you had lost most of the braking. Once the problem caliper cools down the brake fluid vapor condenses and the brakes will work fine, but the problem will likely repeat. After a significant around town drive, feel the wheels near the lugs to see if any of them is significantly hotter than the rest. If so, that would be the problem wheel.
