Hi everyone. It has finally come time to do the brakes on my wife’s GLK. She got the warning light on her dash, took it in and it’s the rear pads and rotors that need to be replaced. I would like to do this job myself, and I am in the habit of servicing all of the vehicles we own; this one is the first German car I have worked on myself, so I may have lots of questions, the first of which is does this car need some sort of computer reset after the brakes have been done? If so, how do you do so?

I’m planning on replacing the fronts and the rears, since the fronts are past half worn. From ever place I’ve looked, the procedure for both looks pretty standard.

 

I did mine. They're nothing special at all. Very simple.

 

Be sure to flush out the fluid, mb wants it done every 40,000. Its important because brakes control AWD when traction is bad. Replacing the antilock valve is very expensive.

 

Is there a thread on brake fluid flushing? This is on my list, along with a coolant flush and changing the rear diff fluid (2WD).

I also need to have the transmission fluid flushed as well, but later this spring.

 

There’s a few YouTube videos that do a great job explaining how to replace the brakes and flush the fluid. It’s not hard at all. Most important is to step on the brake pedal a few times before driving away to extend the caliper. Don’t be alarmed when the brake pedal drops to the floor - just give it a few pumps and it’ll come back up.

 

So it’s the same as most older cars? I can do that. I’m just not use to newer cars where you need to tell the ECU you’ve changed or services something, resetting oil lights not withstanding.

BTW, how do I reset the warning that told me the brakes need to be serviced?

 

You'll need to replace the brake wear sensors (cheap). Once the job is done the warning will disappear.

 

Another question- how do you lift the GLK?

I have a QuickJack lift; for you not familiar, it’s a set of two sleds that make contact at four points along the bottom sides between the wheelbase- two per side- so you can lift the entire vehicle up off the ground. All the cars I’ve lifted have a strong pinch weld where I use special rubber blocks with a groove in the middle- this is where the factory jacks are meant to go. I understand the Germans do jacking a little differently; correct me if I’m wrong, but on the GLK there are four spots (two on each side, front/rear) that are flat, rectangular spots where you are supposed to lift the vehicle. I should be able to lift the car with four rubber blocks from those spots- correct?

 

Correct. There is also a lift point in the front center under the engine.

I used Akebono pads and they came with new wear indicators. If you don't get them, let me know. I have a few extras. It's just a metal contact that grounds when it touches the disk and turns the light on. New pads will "reset" it.

 

That’s exactly the pads I ordered- Akebono ceramic. I’ve had enough of the MB black brake dust I have to clean every other week.

 

My guess is the MB stop better and the black dust is the soft compound . How do you know akibono stop as good ? Have you seen any reviews where they compare different pads on new rotors on 60-0 stop tests ? Thats the only way to be able to say Akibono are actually as good. A real comparison review .

And rotors , I use Zimmerman Rotors , less dust , probabaly a harder metal , but am I loosing braking power? Probably !

 

I've been buying Akebono pads for well over 20 years (probably longer, but memory slowing down).
I've used Akebono on my countless Honda motorcycles and cars and SUVs (numerous Mercedes plus a Jeep!).
I've traditionally bought the components from RockAuto.

I ALWAYS swap the rotors too, when replacing pads (use all new!).
I think it took me less than an hour to replace the fronts on our 2014 Base not long ago.

Those Akebono are waayy better than OEM. (Akebono has been in the business for over 95 years!)

 

I would have to agree. I have no concerns about performance using the Akebono pads, and it sure makes cleaning the wheels a lot easier...

 

I too have used Akebonos on various modified performance applications. They are definitely not “brand X” brake pads.

 

They're well known to outperform in braking requirements ... plus their ceramic content (I think they are patented).
For us ... there has been ZERO dust from their pads, for all our vehicles. Never an issue, overall, over the years!

 

If they are so good then there should be a few reviews that are proof of superior stopping distance . I mean if they were so good MB would use them !

 

Car manufacturers use the cheapest they can get while still providing decent performance. Tires on new cars are notoriously poor when compared to replacement tires.

 

Not true with MB brakes and parts . Nothing I’ve seen is second rate . What little ive read about pad is akibono probably don’t stop as well. , not saying it’s not good enough but I put on Zimmerman rotors that make less dust , the harder steel does NOT stop as well , I’m still using mb pads.

 

Try the Akebono pads!

I've had that combo, Akebono pads with Zimmerman disks, on several cars now and the performance has been inspiring. I'd say the GLK has more braking power than it needs. Every instance of "panic" braking I can remember has activated the antilock system, which, for me is a detriment, because six decades of muscle memory says when the brakes lock, back off the pedal.

 

Yeah, I don't think there's a free lunch. Certainly there are some junk brake pads and discs being sold but when it comes to the big names of car manufacturers and aftermarket parts manufacturers, I think it's pretty much a matter of different compromises (as in some variation in priorities).

 

Maybe I should go to akibono next time , I hate cleaning wheels , I looked for a real comparison review, I could not find one. it’s time someone does it.

 

Everybody hates cleaning wheels.

I also hate washing and waxing cars (but I like driving a clean, shiny one).


https://thebrakereport.com/otto-zimm...ng-technology/

 

It’s been zero in chicago , hose is frozen , I’ve been hand washing myself since about 2015, I need to find a hand wash where I’m not there an hour and a half . I think my Zimmerman rotors are harder than stock and have less stopping power than factory , and produce less dust .

 

I have another question. I just watched a video of a rear brake job and there is a spring or bracket that attached to the outside of the caliper- is this a part that should be replaced regularly? It seems the brake pad sets do not include new ones in the box. Does spring this have a part number?

 

I didn't replace mine.