Can We Stop The Parking Brake From Auto-Engaging When Turning Off The Engine?
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From: Suburban Chicago in Illinois
2024 GLC-300 & 2022 GLE-350
Can We Stop The Parking Brake From Auto-Engaging When Turning Off The Engine?
July 22, 2024
From reading comments in online forums, I just realized that my brake pads are gluing themselves to the rotors! (2024 GLC300 3,000 miles) I go through the car wash, drive 4 miles home.
The next morning, I put the car in gear to leave the driveway. I have to put a little extra pressure on the accelerator to get the car to move, and then there's this loud BANG! sound emanating from the brakes. If my wife's in the car, she jumps.
Since I go through the car wash 3 times a week, this brakes-stuck-to-rotor phenomena really makes me nervous that an entire brake job will be needed before the car gets to 10,000 miles.
Is there a way to stop the "parking brake" from auto-engaging the rotors every time we turn off the engine? A hidden setting...or a "hack" that a mechanic can employ?
Thanks in advance for any constructive replies.
-Allen in the Chicago region.
From reading comments in online forums, I just realized that my brake pads are gluing themselves to the rotors! (2024 GLC300 3,000 miles) I go through the car wash, drive 4 miles home.
The next morning, I put the car in gear to leave the driveway. I have to put a little extra pressure on the accelerator to get the car to move, and then there's this loud BANG! sound emanating from the brakes. If my wife's in the car, she jumps.
Since I go through the car wash 3 times a week, this brakes-stuck-to-rotor phenomena really makes me nervous that an entire brake job will be needed before the car gets to 10,000 miles.
Is there a way to stop the "parking brake" from auto-engaging the rotors every time we turn off the engine? A hidden setting...or a "hack" that a mechanic can employ?
Thanks in advance for any constructive replies.
-Allen in the Chicago region.
Last edited by AllenChicago; Jul 23, 2024 at 12:27 AM.
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2019 C63CS
After the car wash, do some proper braking to dry the rotors and pads and then they won't do this. This happens because you park the car with wet rotors or pads and so they seize to each other. The parking brake automatically engaging is a safety mechanism, so you don't end up like Anton Yelchin getting crushed by your own car if you get out and forgot to put it in P.
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Yes, there are several safety mechanisms, including the transmission automatically going to P. P may not be enough to hold the car if stopped on an incline, but OP lives in Chicago, so it's flat as a pancake there. As mentioned by @W205C43PFL the other option is to release the parking brake manually after it engaged automatically. At the AMG Driving Academy they asked us to do that for example in order to avoid the hot brake pads from imprinting on the rotors. So similarly, if the car is parked with wet brakes, this may be necessary to do. Washing the car 3 times a week seems a bit excessive, but FWIW whenever I wash my car I go on a quick highway sprint and brake hard on a couple of exit ramps to fully dry the brakes.
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From: Vermont
2023 GLC 300, 2021 VW ID4
Every time I wash the car (yes, I wash it myself, but not three times a week - wow!) or park (in my garage) after a heavy rain, I pull off the parking brake.This greatly reduces or eliminates that popping sound.
i learned this trick from my 2016 GLA that had the same issue. It’s nothing new to MB.
i learned this trick from my 2016 GLA that had the same issue. It’s nothing new to MB.
Last edited by Gitzer; Jul 23, 2024 at 10:24 AM.
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BTW, same thread in the GLE forum might have some additional inputs.
https://mbworld.org/forums/gle-class...g-parking.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/gle-class...g-parking.html
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From: Suburban Chicago in Illinois
2024 GLC-300 & 2022 GLE-350
Right! Open the door to pick up a newspaper while turning into your driveway and the car slams on the brakes! Too bad we can't turn off more of these "protections".
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2023
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From: Suburban Chicago in Illinois
2024 GLC-300 & 2022 GLE-350
After the car wash, do some proper braking to dry the rotors and pads and then they won't do this. This happens because you park the car with wet rotors or pads and so they seize to each other. The parking brake automatically engaging is a safety mechanism, so you don't end up like Anton Yelchin getting crushed by your own car if you get out and forgot to put it in P.
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The same thing happens if it rains in the morning (like today) and I go somewhere a few hours later (4:30pm). Put the car in drive to leave the driveway (I back in)....the GLC300 won't move unless I press on the accelerator a bit. And then "BANG!", the parking brake is ripped from the rotors and down the driveway I go. Sounds like the right rear is the worst. Brutal sound. Everyone looks. Bad image for Mercedes Benz!
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From: Ft. Lauderdale
2015 C300, 2025 GLC300 4Matic
Perhaps a different question to ask is why do you park your nice Mercedes out in the elements and not in the garage when at home? Somebody who can afford a Mercedes should be able to afford a garage, no? You live in the salt belt, too, so environmental factors are huge. Might wanna get that salt washed off the underbody, brakes etc. regularly.
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From: Suburban Chicago in Illinois
2024 GLC-300 & 2022 GLE-350
Perhaps a different question to ask is why do you park your nice Mercedes out in the elements and not in the garage when at home? Somebody who can afford a Mercedes should be able to afford a garage, no? You live in the salt belt, too, so environmental factors are huge. Might wanna get that salt washed off the underbody, brakes etc. regularly.
The important thing is that they are documenting my complaints, so if a problem occurs related to the brake/rotor sticking issue before the 3 year lease is up, the repair will be paid for by Mercedes, instead of by yours truly.
-Allen in Suburban Chicago
Last edited by AllenChicago; Apr 1, 2025 at 01:25 PM. Reason: correct a misspelling
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Since I'm a gentleman (something you SHOULD learn more about), my wife gets 1/2 of the garage, and stuff she collects gets the other half. The question is, why does my GLC300 parking brakes stick to the rotors, when the car dries after the carwash, or after rain or snow? The Mercedes Service specialist says it's a "known issue" that has no anticipated solution timeline. It's a mystery to corporate + not a big enough deal for them to repair, apparently.
The important thing is that they are documenting my complaints, so if a problem occurs related to the brake/rotor sticking issue before the 3 year lease is up, the repair will be paid for by Mercedes, instead of my yours truly.
-Allen in Suburban Chicago
The important thing is that they are documenting my complaints, so if a problem occurs related to the brake/rotor sticking issue before the 3 year lease is up, the repair will be paid for by Mercedes, instead of my yours truly.
-Allen in Suburban Chicago
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Since I'm a gentleman (something you SHOULD learn more about), my wife gets 1/2 of the garage, and stuff she collects gets the other half. The question is, why does my GLC300 parking brakes stick to the rotors, when the car dries after the carwash, or after rain or snow? The Mercedes Service specialist says it's a "known issue" that has no anticipated solution timeline. It's a mystery to corporate + not a big enough deal for them to repair, apparently.
The important thing is that they are documenting my complaints, so if a problem occurs related to the brake/rotor sticking issue before the 3 year lease is up, the repair will be paid for by Mercedes, instead of by yours truly.
-Allen in Suburban Chicago
The important thing is that they are documenting my complaints, so if a problem occurs related to the brake/rotor sticking issue before the 3 year lease is up, the repair will be paid for by Mercedes, instead of by yours truly.
-Allen in Suburban Chicago
Haha...you don't know me at all, so save the gentlemen BS. This happens to other cars. I know from experience. It's called corrosion. There's metal in the brake dust and that rusts. Semi metallic pads like Mercedes uses are known for this. You can replace them with ceramic pads if it bothers you, but those don't work as well in the cold. Everything in life is a trade off. Every type of pad has its advantages and disadvantages.
Last edited by superswiss; Apr 1, 2025 at 01:59 PM.
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Time to blow them dry next time as you mentioned https://mbworld.org/forums/gle-class...ml#post9005902
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From: DFW
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In my 2001 Mercedes, I can open the driver door to see how close I am to the curb(I don’t like curb feelers) and keep driving with the door open. These new Mercedes don’t give you that option.
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Last edited by superswiss; Apr 1, 2025 at 05:00 PM.
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I think you missed the point. On your vintage car, opening the door on the driver side is kind of a necessity to park on a left curb. Yes, I do park on the left curb frequently and with past cars I had to do the same. Then you said you can't do that on newer cars anymore and my point was with the 360 camera in newer cars having to open the drivers door to park on a left curb is moot. Don't need to do it, so it's a non-issue.
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I think you missed the point. On your vintage car, opening the door on the driver side is kind of a necessity to park on a left curb. Yes, I do park on the left curb frequently and with past cars I had to do the same. Then you said you can't do that on newer cars anymore and my point was with the 360 camera in newer cars having to open the drivers door to park on a left curb is moot. Don't need to do it, so it's a non-issue.
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From: Suburban Chicago in Illinois
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I'm getting my first "B" service next week. The rear parking brakes are sticking if the car sits for a few hours now. The more hours, the louder the "BANG!" when I drive out of the driveway. (I back in 100% of the time.) I'm going to ask the dealer to permanently stop the parking brakes from engaging, or totally remove the pads, whichever is easiest.
Also going to find out if a "fix" for an exhaust flap freezing shut has been found. The flap freezes in the "closed" position when it's below 32 degrees outside, several times a month. My "CHECK ENGINE" light stays illuminated during those times. (Was told last Winter Mercedes was working on this known issue that affects some newer GLC300 cars.)
Also going to find out if a "fix" for an exhaust flap freezing shut has been found. The flap freezes in the "closed" position when it's below 32 degrees outside, several times a month. My "CHECK ENGINE" light stays illuminated during those times. (Was told last Winter Mercedes was working on this known issue that affects some newer GLC300 cars.)
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From: Suburban Chicago in Illinois
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The "B" service was completed, but the Mercedes dealer says the parking brake pads stick to the rotors when they get damp and sit for a long time. Sitting overnight in the driveway is a "long time".
They wouldn't remove the pads, due to safety reasons. They couldn't override the parking brake engagement when the engine shuts off, due to legal reasons. Since my back brake pads are more worn than my front brake pads, (its supposed to be the other way around), it's likely the parking brake pads are also my regular braking pads. I thought it might be a different set of pads/calipers for parking brakes. Apparently not.
Oh well...I'll just keep exposing this problem to various forums in the hopes that it will reach someone with contacts who can make Mercedes address this problem that affects "some" cars, according to the dealership. I'm going to have my wife record and narrate a brief video of me putting the car in gear to move out of the driveway, with the loud BANG!, as my GLC300 starts moving forward. Then begin sharing that clip in places that might help bring a solution....even if its just a guarantee of lifetime free rear brake mechanisms replacements.
They wouldn't remove the pads, due to safety reasons. They couldn't override the parking brake engagement when the engine shuts off, due to legal reasons. Since my back brake pads are more worn than my front brake pads, (its supposed to be the other way around), it's likely the parking brake pads are also my regular braking pads. I thought it might be a different set of pads/calipers for parking brakes. Apparently not.
Oh well...I'll just keep exposing this problem to various forums in the hopes that it will reach someone with contacts who can make Mercedes address this problem that affects "some" cars, according to the dealership. I'm going to have my wife record and narrate a brief video of me putting the car in gear to move out of the driveway, with the loud BANG!, as my GLC300 starts moving forward. Then begin sharing that clip in places that might help bring a solution....even if its just a guarantee of lifetime free rear brake mechanisms replacements.
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2026 Mercedes GLC300, 2015 Porsche GT3
I believe the reason for the sticking pads is that the parking brake is using the main brake pads instead of having a separate system, like cars used to have. I'd suggest to try to remember to disengage the parking brake any time you will be leaving the car for more than an hour and the brakes are wet.
Less commonly but more importantly one should also disengage the parking brake any time your brakes are super hot (I instruct high performance driving on the racetrack, and make sure my students release the parking brake after each session on track). Otherwise, you can get a semi-permanent imprint of the pad on the disk, which causes the brakes to shudder when applied.
Less commonly but more importantly one should also disengage the parking brake any time your brakes are super hot (I instruct high performance driving on the racetrack, and make sure my students release the parking brake after each session on track). Otherwise, you can get a semi-permanent imprint of the pad on the disk, which causes the brakes to shudder when applied.
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I formerly had a 2008 B 200 5 speed and I left it at a friend's place in Vancouver when we went to Europe for 6 weeks in the fall of 2023. That car has rear discs but the handbrake operates on a tiny set of brake shoes inside the disc hub. The handbrake was off and the car in first gear but upon starting the car after 6 weeks, the rear disc pads wers stuck. They released with a very loud BANG and when I checked them at home, the friction material had been ripped off the steel backing plates! Put a new set of pads in. So, it's not necessarily the use of the regular pads that's causing the issue.
