Stuck Caliper - Genuine MB or Remans?
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Joined: May 2011
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2007 S550; 2010 E350
Stuck Caliper - Genuine MB or Remans?
Have what appears to be a sticky right, rear caliper on my 2007 S550 4matic. Are the remanufactured calipers by Cardone equal in quality to the genuine MB calipers? I figured there is no reason to spend twice as much if the remanufactured calipers will be identical. I mean, they use the same cores.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2019
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2007 S550
I can't recall ever having an issue with Cardone. Before you go through all that though, check yours out first and figure out what failed. Are you in need of pads and rotors also? If it's just the sticky caliper issue, you can probably clean yours up. If you're wearing one pad faster than another, clean and lube your slide pins. If you're noticing your brakes holding after you release them, press in the piston all the way and then pump them back up. If they behave after doing that, flush your brake fluid and replace with the good MB stuff. Rears are pretty forgiving and you can fix most stuff that's not a straight up fluid leak.
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S500
both my fronts changed - had 7 of the 8 pistons seized completely solid - I got Merc refurbished units from a main dealer - much better value than new ones - 3 years on work perfectly
its dead common on many brands brake calipers - a design "improvement" introduced 15 to 20 years ago maybe related to phenolic plastic pistons - that over night magically seize solid
its dead common on many brands brake calipers - a design "improvement" introduced 15 to 20 years ago maybe related to phenolic plastic pistons - that over night magically seize solid
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 11
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2007 S550; 2010 E350
Fairly certain my issue is I don't drive the car enough. It only has 16,000 miles on it. Pins looked great and the caliper was sliding ok. Not sure about the piston. Wear sensor clip was melted from the heat
Senior Member
Joined: May 2019
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2007 S550
Does the wear sensor still work? If you visibly don't need parts, I'd go with a full fluid change and cycle your pistons.
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W212 FL
That's totally a low mileage , a gem for anyone who's looking for a low mileage W221 as well.
I have heard seized pistons or calibers seized up from lack of usage too. I think even if you don't take it for drive you should be pressing on the brake pedal with the engine running as though you were driving and have to slow down
I have heard seized pistons or calibers seized up from lack of usage too. I think even if you don't take it for drive you should be pressing on the brake pedal with the engine running as though you were driving and have to slow down
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Joined: Aug 2014
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S500
regarding pushing piston back to give them some exercise - on BMW bikes (with much the same ABS module the cars mostly get) they love to self destruct, indeed seen it here recently. The normal fault is with the small "wiper motor" on the ABS module that drives pressure used for the ESP and TC. The usual reparable fault is the motor brushes gum up - a deliberate design fault - where the guides are too tight and after a few years and the brush debris manages to seize one or both brushes till the motor works randomly / or just fails. Many brands Ford and VW have repair kits (same parts we need).
Anyway why I'm raising it - at a BMW bike dealer last year the techs were telling me much of the issues with the ABS modules failing, stem purely from pressing back brake pistons WITHOUT opening the bleed nipple - for them it was an absolute must not do - never push fluid back to the master cylinder forcing brake pistons back - to change pads or get them moving...
Anyway why I'm raising it - at a BMW bike dealer last year the techs were telling me much of the issues with the ABS modules failing, stem purely from pressing back brake pistons WITHOUT opening the bleed nipple - for them it was an absolute must not do - never push fluid back to the master cylinder forcing brake pistons back - to change pads or get them moving...
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Joined: Oct 2021
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From: Iowa
2008 CL550, 2022 EQB 300, 2023 EQS 450 4Matic
Have what appears to be a sticky right, rear caliper on my 2007 S550 4matic. Are the remanufactured calipers by Cardone equal in quality to the genuine MB calipers? I figured there is no reason to spend twice as much if the remanufactured calipers will be identical. I mean, they use the same cores.
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