Screeching Brakes on the GLC
The best or nothing...
Last edited by ecdubreuil; Aug 14, 2019 at 04:44 PM. Reason: spelling
I am going in for another attempt. Hoping this info might help people.
I am going in for another attempt. Hoping this info might help people.
In Europe, apparently the masses there don't care about squeaky brakes or crazy brake dust, but here, we are annoyed by it. I know I am. My 2020 GLC300 seems to have quiet and dust free pads so far, but if they start causing problems, I don't have an issue to drop in new pads instead of whining about it. Akebono is my number one choice, so if they make them for a car I own, I always go with that pad. Centric Quiet Stop and Powerstop make decent ceramic pads that don't dust or squeal, so they are my backup choices.

At your mileage, unlikely you'll get it fixed at no cost. On the other hand, noisy brakes have been problematic since nearly day one so if your persistent, the dealer may relent.
Last edited by larrypmyers; Oct 26, 2019 at 11:36 AM.
Have you had the pads replaced yet? I know the 300s wear slower but my '43 needed brakes at 25k.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
In Europe, apparently the masses there don't care about squeaky brakes or crazy brake dust, but here, we are annoyed by it. I know I am. My 2020 GLC300 seems to have quiet and dust free pads so far, but if they start causing problems, I don't have an issue to drop in new pads instead of whining about it. Akebono is my number one choice, so if they make them for a car I own, I always go with that pad. Centric Quiet Stop and Powerstop make decent ceramic pads that don't dust or squeal, so they are my backup choices.
EBC yellowstuff are performing well on my C450. They bite well even when cold. They are a little dusty but much better than OEM. I'm not sure if they make pads for the GLC.
https://ebcbrakesdirect.com/automotive/mercedes-benz
The problem with brake squeal started after 1 year, approx 9000 km.
By my opinion the noise is coming from rear brakes. I have following explanation:
99 % of the time/distace the car is run in fwd direction. Thus the brake pads are "beding" in specific way /angle against rotors.When drive reverse the "beding" interferes with rotors in different way-in very narrow edge like area. The vibration of pads start in the way of contact between caliper and pad ends. The squeal is coming from friction between pad, caliper and dust present around from pad material.
Why the noise is coming after a time from delivery of the car-due to accumulation of dust from pad material, which covers the entire system.
But the strangest thing of all of this is
WHY MBZ DID NOT INSTAL THE STAINLESS STEEL CLIP, which many other brands do and there are no any similar problems.
The idea the end part of the pad to contact with cast iron caliper is strange and most probably is the main reason for noise issue. It looks as poor engineering. The rubber shim on the back of the pad is only available as preventive measure.
In order to prove above the copper grease and spray oil was applied in area of contact and noise disappeared for a while.
Down below are puctures of:
1.GLC rear brakes where pad ends are clearly shown in area of contact with cast iron caliper.
2. Toyota corolla rear brakes with clips.
3. Brake clip.
4. Other brand(Lexus RX brake system)
Lexus RX brake system
1.GLC rear brakes where pad ends are clearly shown in area of contact with cast iron caliper.
Clip
Toyota corolla rear brakes with clips.
Last edited by GKH; Jun 6, 2020 at 04:04 AM. Reason: Correction
W213 rear caliper
W213 brake pads
During replacement of all brake pads,it was noted, that there were multiple areas seen on pictures,
where brake pads directly contact in brake caliper. In GLC(X253) there is NO stainless steel anti
rattling plates. If You take a look at design of brake pads for W213(E class) it will be noted, that
there are specific stainless steel plates, preventing or reducing friction.
Sorry to say, but for me it is 100% clear, that MB just saved few dollars and ruined the image
of the brand, because noise is coming from design flaw.
I applied copper grease in contact areas and there is NO noise in both cases-forward and reverse,
but this is a temporary solution. To apply grease to inner contact area is relatively hard.
I accepted that, it is NOT possible to solve this problem.
Last edited by MBNUT1; Jan 17, 2026 at 05:55 PM.
We traded in for a 2018 GLC 2 years later. That one did not have the issue ever.
I would have your friends ride the dealer hard to at least swap out brake pads, to see if that makes any difference. Did they purchase it new? Has it been going on the whole time they've owned it?
We traded in for a 2018 GLC 2 years later. That one did not have the issue ever.
I would have your friends ride the dealer hard to at least swap out brake pads, to see if that makes any difference. Did they purchase it new? Has it been going on the whole time they've owned it?









