Brake Pad Replacement 2020 GLE DIY
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 60
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From: New York
2020 GLE 350 NY
Brake Pad Replacement 2020 GLE DIY
Has anyone done either the front or rear brake pads? Would like to know the actual tools I will need. Also, any tips I should know.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2019
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2020 GLE350
Front pads replaced
I have a 2020 GLE350 with the sports package. I had to replace the front pads at 34000 miles. I have 2016 F150 truck with 90000 miles the front pads are still in good shape. Go figure! The front pads are simple change out. No need to go into the computer to release the parking brake. 2 bolts hold the caliper. It will slide out to remove the pads. Push the pistons either using a c clamp or a piston extraction tool, $20 on Ebay. Had to buy the pads from Mercedes $150 includes pads and all the clips. You will need a new sensor $10 if the warning light came on.
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From: Costco
2023 S500
I'm always leery performing work while I'm under warranty, even for something relatively mundane. I mean what are the odds I have a warranty claim on that part later, but doing the work yourself is a surefire excuse for them to deny it.
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2018
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From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
No special tools other than a brake pad compressor, or c-clamp if you prefer. Lisle 24300 is what I use - great tool.
Rears require electric parking brake to be retracted.
Open the reservoir cap to avoid overpressure, and extract a bit of fluid from the reservoir to avoid overflow when compressing pistons.
Rears require electric parking brake to be retracted.
Open the reservoir cap to avoid overpressure, and extract a bit of fluid from the reservoir to avoid overflow when compressing pistons.
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From: Lake Oswego, OR
2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
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Joined: Jan 2023
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2020 GLE 350
My 2020 GLE350 has only almost 14k miles (3 years of almost exclusive stop/go city driving... and a wife who hasn't figured out how to gently depress the brakes) and the brake indicator light is on. Dealer recommends replacing front rotor and pads. I plan to just replace pads and use the reuse rotors provided that they have enough thickness.
Do you know where I can find specs with regards to the min and original thickness of the front rotors? Also, what is the torque spec for the caliper bolts?
Thanks!
Do you know where I can find specs with regards to the min and original thickness of the front rotors? Also, what is the torque spec for the caliper bolts?
Thanks!
Last edited by Vee Li; Jan 19, 2023 at 01:38 AM.
Out Of Control!!
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From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Front brakes are a breeze. The video below has marginal usefulness - mainly beneficial for the disassembly steps.
The guy in the video makes at least two errors:
1. do NOT grease the pins as he did, rather ensure that the pins slide freely with the remaining factory lube, and
2. DO torque the caliper mounting bracket bolts, he did not do this, and
possibly 3. DO use new caliper mounting bracket bolts, they are single-use fasteners. I did not see him use new bolts, so my assumption is he re-used the old bolts.
This video shows how to put the rear brake pads in service position. Again, caution against following this guy's procedure fully for the three reasons given above.
The guy in the video makes at least two errors:
1. do NOT grease the pins as he did, rather ensure that the pins slide freely with the remaining factory lube, and
2. DO torque the caliper mounting bracket bolts, he did not do this, and
possibly 3. DO use new caliper mounting bracket bolts, they are single-use fasteners. I did not see him use new bolts, so my assumption is he re-used the old bolts.
This video shows how to put the rear brake pads in service position. Again, caution against following this guy's procedure fully for the three reasons given above.
Last edited by chassis; Jan 21, 2023 at 10:37 AM.
Member
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 240
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350 GLE 4matic
Couple questions. His rotors didn’t appear that bad…assuming thickness is ok, can’t they be machined back to even surface….is always necessary to replace rotors when doing new pads? 2nd, why shouldn’t you apply lubricant to pins?
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2021
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From: Hudson Valley, NY
2016 E350 Wagon w/AMG, 2018 GLC300 Selinite SUV w/AMG Night(sold) 2021 GLE450 AMG Night
No need to add lube if there is enough clean grease and the pins are free. Looks like he used wheel bearing grease when he should be using a caliper/rubber type lube like Sil-Glyde. Also, way too much anti seize on the hub. He could've used half the amount. Silver anti seize makes a mess. I prefer copper paste. The area where the pads sit in the bracket should also be clean and free of rust. I media blast that area if rust is present. Anywhere pads meet metal apply a very thin transparent coating of Sil-Glyde or copper paste.
Rotor replacement is necessary when there is a brake pulsation, parallelism or obvious signs of wear like a large depression at the bottom of the pad contact area or a large lip on the top. Too much material needs to be removed to true German car rotors the way they wear. Even if you stay above the minimum thickness there seems to be enough mass lost that they lose the ability to dissipate heat and warp, resulting in a brake pulsation.
Caliper bracket bolts should be replaced if they are torque to yield, micro encapsulated or if the manufacturer says to do so.
Rotor replacement is necessary when there is a brake pulsation, parallelism or obvious signs of wear like a large depression at the bottom of the pad contact area or a large lip on the top. Too much material needs to be removed to true German car rotors the way they wear. Even if you stay above the minimum thickness there seems to be enough mass lost that they lose the ability to dissipate heat and warp, resulting in a brake pulsation.
Caliper bracket bolts should be replaced if they are torque to yield, micro encapsulated or if the manufacturer says to do so.
Last edited by conditionone; Jan 22, 2023 at 10:11 AM.
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2
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2014 MB E350 4MATIC Sport
No need to add lube if there is enough clean grease and the pins are free. Looks like he used wheel bearing grease when he should be using a caliper/rubber type lube like Sil-Glyde. Also, way too much anti seize on the hub. He could've used half the amount. Silver anti seize makes a mess. I prefer copper paste. The area where the pads sit in the bracket should also be clean and free of rust. I media blast that area if rust is present. Anywhere pads meet metal apply a very thin transparent coating of Sil-Glyde or copper paste.
Rotor replacement is necessary when there is a brake pulsation, parallelism or obvious signs of wear like a large depression at the bottom of the pad contact area or a large lip on the top. Too much material needs to be removed to true German car rotors the way they wear. Even if you stay above the minimum thickness there seems to be enough mass lost that they lose the ability to dissipate heat and warp, resulting in a brake pulsation.
Caliper bracket bolts should be replaced if they are torque to yield, micro encapsulated or if the manufacturer says to do so.
Rotor replacement is necessary when there is a brake pulsation, parallelism or obvious signs of wear like a large depression at the bottom of the pad contact area or a large lip on the top. Too much material needs to be removed to true German car rotors the way they wear. Even if you stay above the minimum thickness there seems to be enough mass lost that they lose the ability to dissipate heat and warp, resulting in a brake pulsation.
Caliper bracket bolts should be replaced if they are torque to yield, micro encapsulated or if the manufacturer says to do so.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 259
Likes: 42
From: southwest US
2020 GLE 350 4Matic, 2016 E350
My 2020 GLE350 has only almost 14k miles (3 years of almost exclusive stop/go city driving... and a wife who hasn't figured out how to gently depress the brakes) and the brake indicator light is on. Dealer recommends replacing front rotor and pads. I plan to just replace pads and use the reuse rotors provided that they have enough thickness.
Do you know where I can find specs with regards to the min and original thickness of the front rotors? Also, what is the torque spec for the caliper bolts?
Thanks!
Do you know where I can find specs with regards to the min and original thickness of the front rotors? Also, what is the torque spec for the caliper bolts?
Thanks!
Last edited by FireRx Captain; May 13, 2024 at 07:43 PM.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2018
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From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 259
Likes: 42
From: southwest US
2020 GLE 350 4Matic, 2016 E350
then I will for sure be doing my own. that jsut seems excessive for basically doing the same procedure I did on my 2011 and 2016 cars. I only paid the dealership once. never again, not at those prices.
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From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
If I told you it only cost $800 if you have the dealer do it?
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Colorado
G550
You can never be sure how much torque is necessary to remove a bolt that might be seized from corrosion. For the couple dollars they cost, it's not worth risking a snapped bolt when torquing an original bolt to spec on reinstall.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 259
Likes: 42
From: southwest US
2020 GLE 350 4Matic, 2016 E350
Nope, and you talking to the owner of five Mercedes in the last 25 years. I've always done my own minor maintenance. When it something I can't handle, I take it to the Dealer. Simple as that!.
