Stuck brake caliper piston question...
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 504
Likes: 49
W205, X253, C190, W213,
Stuck brake caliper piston question...
I've been told that my right front caliper has a stuck piston which resulted in the pad not backing off the rotor, causing the pad to quickly wear down to the plate and chew up the rotor. Left front pad/rotor is fine.
$1,600 estimate to replace both the front calipers and rotors.
My questions:
1. Can a stuck piston be repaired/rebuilt?
2. If not, do you have to replace both front calipers, or can you just replace the one?
$1,600 estimate to replace both the front calipers and rotors.
My questions:
1. Can a stuck piston be repaired/rebuilt?
2. If not, do you have to replace both front calipers, or can you just replace the one?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 15
From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
I've been told that my right front caliper has a stuck piston which resulted in the pad not backing off the rotor, causing the pad to quickly wear down to the plate and chew up the rotor. Left front pad/rotor is fine.
$1,600 estimate to replace both the front calipers and rotors.
My questions:
1. Can a stuck piston be repaired/rebuilt? Yes but not worth the time or effort replace it.
2. If not, do you have to replace both front calipers, or can you just replace the one? You can just replace one. IF you drove in heavy salt or other chemicals that may have eaten the seals on the caliper you might consider replacing two but not manditor.
$1,600 estimate to replace both the front calipers and rotors.
My questions:
1. Can a stuck piston be repaired/rebuilt? Yes but not worth the time or effort replace it.
2. If not, do you have to replace both front calipers, or can you just replace the one? You can just replace one. IF you drove in heavy salt or other chemicals that may have eaten the seals on the caliper you might consider replacing two but not manditor.
Over $1000 to do labor? WAY WAY HIGH IMO.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,084
Likes: 68
From: Athens, GA USA
2011 E63, 2011 Hyundai Genesis 4.6 v8, 2013 GMC Denali XL, 1965 Ford Mustang, 2005 Merc. E500
Replace the flexible brake lines first. A bad brake line can cause the same thing. The inside of the line gets weak and collapses and seals on the inside when the master cylinder sucks the fluid back. I have had it happen on three different cars.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 15
From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
You are correct but I have only seen this once in the last 40 yrs. So it can happen. IF you have high miles it is a good idea to change them anyway. My guess is the $1600 estimate didn't include those either.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,084
Likes: 68
From: Athens, GA USA
2011 E63, 2011 Hyundai Genesis 4.6 v8, 2013 GMC Denali XL, 1965 Ford Mustang, 2005 Merc. E500
The three were my personal cars. I also saw it several times when I was a service manager about 25 years ago.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 504
Likes: 49
W205, X253, C190, W213,
That's an interesting observation. The car had minor damage to that wheel/fender/tire and ever since then the brakes have felt different and seemed to pull to the right when braking at highway speeds (or possibly it was just noticeable at those speeds). Maybe the line was damaged and didn't allow the fluid to go back into the master cylinder.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,136
Likes: 7
From: Los Angeles
2013 Infiniti G37 Coupe; 2011 GLK 350 w/ Premium 1, Multimedia & Sport Appearance; I LOVE IT!
MB E-Class has dual piston calipers so this would probably not apply if only one of them was hanging up...
