dungey

Hello everyone,

This is my first time posting online, therefore, please forgive my ignorance.

My W211 - 2004 e320 4matic front driver side brake had been squealing(high pitch) but the brake pads were not worn out. Also braking at high speeds would produce a vibration, which I determined to be rotors.
I decided to replace the rotors and brakes to solve both issues, while the vibration has stopped, the squealing is constant when I am driving and are elevated when i tap the brake or just use the brake.

I've made sure the plate behind the rotors is not touching to troubleshoot the constant high pitch squeal.

I've lubricated all point where the brake pad sits along with cleaned up any rust/grime on the caliper. I am out of ideas as to what else it can be.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
dungey

kajtek1

Silencing the brakes become whole science.
MB has very specific points, where the pads and calipers should be lubricated, but last 3 or 4 brake pads replacement I did with no lube and no silencing paste.
Only on 1 car I had very subtle squeal when I was just touching the pedal, but not to degree that would make me redo the job.
So my experience is that clean job is all it takes as in last years brakes come with stainless steel shims, that should not need any stuff on them.
I use only Akebono pads and don't replace rotors.

dungey

Thanks for sharing your experience and expertise Krzysztof.
What baffles me is that the same pads, rotors and method was followed on the passenger side brake and it seems to be okay...

I purchased Textar ePad W0133-2283396 Disc Brake Pad and Zimmermann W0133-1766768 Zimmermann Brake Disc Coated.

You think it's a good idea to redo the job and remove all lubricants?

Cheers,

95viper

Strigoi

Did you bed in the pads? If you just installed them and drove normally it'd make sense that they're squealing.

I've always done a few very hard stops from around 60 mph and have rarely had issues with the pads making noise. Done this on many cars over the years.

dungey

Thanks for the responses.

I did not do the "bed in procedure" as frankly, I didn't know of the procedure. However, I did go to the outskirts of where I live and did a bunch of hard stops driving at 60mph or greater.

So your suggestions of the bed in procedure, is this still something worth doing after installing the rotors and brakes a month and a half later (or after n putting 1400 miles after installing brake) ?

Will I get same results doing the process while driving vs sandpapering?

Cheers,

95viper

if you can get to front and back of rotors scuff crossgrain so you see very light lines on rotors. Then follow bed in procedure. Google videos as there are thousands of them and your pad manufacturer will have a process.

dungey

Thanks 95Viper, it looks like I may have to do that. As I followed bed in procedure yesterday and had no luck with constant squealing noise while driving and which it gets worst as soon as I tap on brakes.

However, when I slam the brake there is no noise.

Is it normal for this squeal to happen to one side of the rotor/brake?

95viper

95viper

dungey

much appreciate the input 95viper.
This may be a ridiculous question but where can I get documentation on the points to grease?
I will remove the rotors and check on any grease and go from there.
Cheers,

95viper

dungey

if you look closely near the grooves there is grime.
Hi again everyone,

So removed the brakes and caliper again, cleaned thoroughly, removed any grease or grime, and noticed a bit of grime on the pads (see image) .

I scuffed the rotors, reinstalled and followed bed in procedure. Unfortunately, the squealling is louder and consistent now, and it won't go. Get's much louder when I am lightly pressing the brakes and the squelling is more pronounced when I am at in city driving speeds.

It's quite embarrassing and really frustrating. And I am back to square one. The caliper seems to be in good shape as well. nothing that stands out. in fact the driver side is better than the passanger side and yet all my sound is coming from there. I also did discover that my left drive shaft boot was ripped and grease was everywhere, but don't see it on rotors.

Any more ideas and direction would be greatly appreciated.
Ps. I 've only had these pads and rotors on for about a month now.

95viper

dungey

So I decided to have another go at it. Cause it really was bothering me and after my last service, it just got worse.

I did another thorough clean up of the caliper mount, the caliper itself and I started to notice that the pins I had lubricated a few time still had some gunk on them and wasn't moving as freely as I hoped.
So I de-greased the caliper pin areas again, reapplied lubrication, ensured that it was moving freely and to my surprise, the squeal is gone (still a bit paranoid that it may come back).
I did end up relubricating metal to metal contact areas conservatively so there would be no spillover of lubricants onto the pad or rotors.

Thanks for all your help and now on to the cv boot/left drive shaft that's torn.

95viper