sblvro

Okay at 46k miles the front brakes are shaking when pressed. Brought to dealer and they don't turn the rotors. Really? Just had them install a new set and kept newly replaced oem pads. Eyeballed the rotors and they still look good. I have my 2003 Honda Pilot at 225,000 miles still on stock rotors. I change the pads before they wreak the rotors. This doesn't work with MB? Is there a "finishing" pads that will do the work?

Silver Shadow

Just bring them to a machine shop. Dealers don't fix things, they replace them. For a hefty price too!

JALLEN4

Mercedes does not recommend turning rotors but you can certainly find some fool at a machine shop to do a stupid thing like that. Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and several other manufacturers warn against trying to turn their rotors. They are built thin to reduce unsprung weight originally. Turning them reduces the thickness below recommended specs allowing them to warp much more easily and to often squeal when braking.

sblvro

The rotors are not super thin. And the turning is if there is enough thickness. Of course if it's below spec then you don't turn it. But, replacing just from eyeball specs is not good technique either.

JALLEN4

They are built to minimum thickness specs to begin with. Your theory works great though for old Fords. You could try contacting Mercedes directly for clarification or even something as simple as googling the question.

hyperion667

On purpose! MB designs these things this way to make more money. The pads wear the rotors out and cause a groove to wear into them........forcing us to buy rotor and pads..... I've always been put off by this too.

JALLEN4

So, your theory is that Mercedes, and most all the other luxury manufacturers in the world, design these poorly, simply so they can sell owners new rotors maybe once during the time they own the car? I assume you would also wish to debunk modern engineering pertaining to unsprung weight and weight reduction in automobiles. Why in the world would anyone own a Mercedes knowing all this to be a major plot and not just stick with a nineties era Ford pickup?

sblvro

It's not a theory about unsprung weight etc. it's just a for profit mind of the dealer to replace without checking. They didn't even measure the thickness of the discs, they didn't even checked that I just replaced the brake pads with oem MB pads and they want to replace it as a whole set? FYI, I don't own a Ford(lol). I'm a car guy, and like any car guy I own different vehicles. I just notice how this dealer didn't even do a diligent inspection but just said to replace it? I do own a 2003 Honda Pilot that by changing the pads early before they wear out, the rotors are still oem at 224,000 miles. I also have a Range Rover sport L320 bought new that I keep as garage queen with only 16k miles. On original pads and rotors. I used to own a 2006 evolution 9 MR that I totaled and do change the pads on the Brembos myself. My 2009 Escalade hybrid, the front pads lasted 80k miles while the rear 130k miles from new before replacement. My 2015i Cadillac Escalade Platinum, only pads are replaced without rotors wearing out. The front I changed it to the oem Brembo BBK. My new 2019 McLaren 720s will not need any rotor replaced as it is a CCB. Hopefully my ordered 2020 C8 will not have this problem as well as my ordered 2020.5 Land Rover Defender 110X. So unfortunately the GLK350 is my only MB and the rotors don't last.

hyperion667

We don't start sentences with the word SO

And yes, I have a 1998 F150 with just over 100K miles on it......Has it needed brakes? Nope.....and yes.......it is a scam......I respect your thoughts. And who said anything about 'poorly designed'? You did Not me pal
I do not wish to debunk anything okay mate? Sheesh, you assume a GREAT deal!

I've asked my indy shop many times, "can I replace the pads early to avoid having to get new rotors too?" And the answer is always the same......lol

JALLEN4

Unfortunately, you keep ignoring the fact that Mercedes policy is to replace rotors and absolutely do not condone turning them as a recommended repair. The dealer had no need to inspect or measure the rotors as policy is not to turn them. This policy has been in place for decades and is not anything new for Mercedes or many other manufacturers. It is simple...go find a fly-by-night independent who will do anything for a buck!

JALLEN4

[QUOTE=hyperion667;8096886]We don't start sentences with the word SO

I do!!

sblvro

Is it their norm to replace the "new" pads too knowing it's a sliding caliper?

JALLEN4

I am a retired Cadillac dealer and have been through this argument a million times. We had a terrible problem with rotor warping and pad problems at the turn of the century and thoroughly researched what other luxury manufacturers did. I really don't know what their "pad" policy is but if I had to guess...they don't want the liability of doing the repair piecemeal. Sometimes the sale you don't make is the best sale you make that day. It sounds like you both made a good decision not to do business!

sblvro

Great! I love my cadillacs! My 2009 Escalade hybrid was 195,000 miles when I traded it for my 2015i Escalade Platinum bought new now at 224,000 miles. Not a lot of brake rotors and pads maintenance. I had no choice but to have them replace the rotors not the pads which they agreed.

formerjeepguy

I have been reading about brake issues on forums for decades and have experienced my own share of issues. I have been doing nearly all of my own work on cars for 35+ years.

I won't go into the whys of it, but with modern cars when you start getting a pulsing in the pedal that most people attribute to "warped rotors" it is never completely resolved by turning the rotors. The dealer service center probably didn't want to go to the trouble of explaining it and know that it is a waste of time so they just replaced them.

I would go even further and replace the rotors with upgraded after market rotors using harder steel and/or cryo treated. The GLK will eat up stock rotors in short order and 46k miles is actually pretty good life.

I am running akebono ceramic pads and stop tech rotors for the last 30k miles. The front rotors barely show any wear and the rears still have the cross hatches from machining. The wheels never turn black from brake dust so I don't have to get the car washed every two weeks. (though I have hardly had a chance to drive it in the last 4 months because of the virus.)

chassis

No car dealers that I know of (Toyota, BMW, VW, M-B) turn rotors. It's a thing of the past.

Over 200k miles, replacing rotors with pads at the same time will cost you one additional set of rotors that you would otherwise not have purchased, had you turned the rotors.

Buy new rotors.

Mmr1

Oh bs MB backers , you won’t get a reputable brake shop to turn the rotors if they are below a certain thickness anyway, so to say turning them makes them unsafe or warp easier is BS, it all about dealer profit , which is a rip off anyway

sblvro

It's only 46,000 miles on the GLK rotors. The 2003 pilot has 230,000 miles on original stock rotors, Escalade hybrid 195,000 miles and 2015 Escalade Platinum 224,000 miles both original rotors. All no warping.

JALLEN4

You really need to take notice that Mercedes is not Honda or Cadillac and has different recommendations as well as standard procedures. Their procedure has been to not turn rotors for decades. Maybe that you should have stuck with those other products if you can't afford new rotors occasionally!

sblvro

It's not affordability of the rotors as I can surely do but at 46,000 miles, that's too premature lol! Meaning poor quality rotor. And like one poster said, it's the "for profit" incentive of the dealer.

JALLEN4

Then the answer is simple, don't buy any more Mercedes. They have designed the product to what they desired it to be and the "quality" of the rotor has nothing to do with your objection. Sometimes people just don't like the product but that has nothing to do with the manufacturer and dealer conspiring against you.

sblvro

I have nothing against Mercedes-Benz. The reason why I bought the GLK350 4matic new is it's my daughter's first car when she turned 16. So, it's my only MB product. I have wanted to buy another MB product but nothing is exciting in their offerings. The Gwagen I was considering but the ride and acceleration is something to be desired even in AMG clothing. The S class and Maybach, I would rather go to the Bentley or Aston Martin route.

hyperion667

I agree, my CLS is over 60K and the pads nor rotors have been replaced yet.......however I am due soon! Being it belonged to your daughter, perhaps she was a heavy braker?
Does it have ACC? I think those can wear out brakes prematurely.

JohnnyC

46,000 miles is too premature? On my Toyota RAV 4 pads were almost gone at 30,000 miles. Rotors were still good, but it wasn't that much for new rotors so why pair the pads with old rotors?

On my TWO GLKs I had no issues with my rotor life. I live in the mountains and constantly go down steep hills.

Mmr1

My opinion as to why the rotors wear , brakes don’t last and your wheels get dusty fast, is MB gives you the highest stopping power possible , that’s why the rotors and pads are fairly soft, so you can stop real short distances . I put on Zimmerman rotors on front , and MB pads, sure they don’t make dust, great, but to do that they must not grab as well. It’s all a balance of performance vs long life. Go Zimmerman rotors if needed, but your changing braking characteristics, I think it’s fine as the fronts brake to much of a percentage anyway.