SL/R230: DIY: Brake Job (Front & Rear) Question
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 22
Likes: 3
From: Glendale, AZ
SL500
DIY: Brake Job (Front & Rear) Question
Hello,
I am getting ready to do the front and rear brakes on my '03 SL500. I have new front rotors, ceramic pads, wear sensors, MB hi-temp grease, and brake fluid.
Are there any secrets? Should I disconnect batteries? After finishing, will I have to turn steering wheel from side to side to clear faults? Is this going to be an easy job?
Thanks in advance.
I am getting ready to do the front and rear brakes on my '03 SL500. I have new front rotors, ceramic pads, wear sensors, MB hi-temp grease, and brake fluid.
Are there any secrets? Should I disconnect batteries? After finishing, will I have to turn steering wheel from side to side to clear faults? Is this going to be an easy job?
Thanks in advance.
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: SF Bay Area
2003 SL500
It's as difficult as any other brake job. Just remember to unplug the SBC plug in the engine bay. The hardest thing was taking the rotors off since they were seized on the hub. I tried spraying it with rust remover, pounded at it, took a torch to it. I ended up putting bolts through the back where the calipers bolt on and tightened using a nut. That popped the rotors off within seconds. Once those are off, same ole same ole.
Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 140
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
SL 500 SP & C 280
Hello,
I am getting ready to do the front and rear brakes on my '03 SL500. I have new front rotors, ceramic pads, wear sensors, MB hi-temp grease, and brake fluid.
Are there any secrets? Should I disconnect batteries? After finishing, will I have to turn steering wheel from side to side to clear faults? Is this going to be an easy job?
Thanks in advance.
I am getting ready to do the front and rear brakes on my '03 SL500. I have new front rotors, ceramic pads, wear sensors, MB hi-temp grease, and brake fluid.
Are there any secrets? Should I disconnect batteries? After finishing, will I have to turn steering wheel from side to side to clear faults? Is this going to be an easy job?
Thanks in advance.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,982
Likes: 393
From: Atlanta, unfortunately
'09 S600, (2) R129 300SLs, '03 SL500, '03 SL55
Hey Vince. You can buy the R230 Tech DVD from MBUSA for about $50. That will include the step-by-step procedure and pictures you are asking for.
I replaced my rear pads two weeks ago. Very easy.
I replaced my rear pads two weeks ago. Very easy.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,703
Likes: 5
From: Arizona
SL55AMG, Ferrari 348, Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari F40, Ferrari Mondial t, Ducati 916, Indycar
The R230 disc is invaluable when trying to diagnose and work on these cars.
As stated above, the big thing to remember is to unplug the SBC sensor, or you can turn the system off if you have a STAR system.
The STAR systems are a little pricey, but they are a huge help with so many different items and systems... from lowering the car to diagnosing every component. I have had a number of clients buy STAR systems from us, and use them for several years and sell them on for what they paid for it when they sell their car.
Good luck with the brake job, and did I say to disconnect the SBC plug?
As stated above, the big thing to remember is to unplug the SBC sensor, or you can turn the system off if you have a STAR system.
The STAR systems are a little pricey, but they are a huge help with so many different items and systems... from lowering the car to diagnosing every component. I have had a number of clients buy STAR systems from us, and use them for several years and sell them on for what they paid for it when they sell their car.
Good luck with the brake job, and did I say to disconnect the SBC plug?
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 22
Likes: 3
From: Glendale, AZ
SL500
I went with www.partsgeek.com because their website specified the part number based on my vehicle's VIN -- there were two possible front rotor parts for the R230, and ordering the correct one made me feel better. The rotors arrived quickly and they look identical to OE.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 23
Likes: 1
From: Detroit
2004 SL 500 2002 Vovo S80 T6
SBC Sensor
The R230 disc is invaluable when trying to diagnose and work on these cars.
As stated above, the big thing to remember is to unplug the SBC sensor, or you can turn the system off if you have a STAR system.
The STAR systems are a little pricey, but they are a huge help with so many different items and systems... from lowering the car to diagnosing every component. I have had a number of clients buy STAR systems from us, and use them for several years and sell them on for what they paid for it when they sell their car.
Good luck with the brake job, and did I say to disconnect the SBC plug?
As stated above, the big thing to remember is to unplug the SBC sensor, or you can turn the system off if you have a STAR system.
The STAR systems are a little pricey, but they are a huge help with so many different items and systems... from lowering the car to diagnosing every component. I have had a number of clients buy STAR systems from us, and use them for several years and sell them on for what they paid for it when they sell their car.
Good luck with the brake job, and did I say to disconnect the SBC plug?
MBworld Guru
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,782
Likes: 1,011
NO LONGER ACTIVE
Oh, and here's WIS docs to deactivate SBC without access to SDS:
http://benzbits.com/R230/DeactivateSBC.pdf
http://benzbits.com/R230/DeactivateSBC.pdf
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
From: Jupiter, FL
2012 SL 550
Brake Job
Are you saying I don't need that Star system to replace my pads ??? I can just disconnect the SBC connector ??? What about this air getting into the system thing ??? I've done my own brakes on my '97 SL 320, with no problem... That .pdf doc looks scary...
MBworld Guru
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,782
Likes: 1,011
NO LONGER ACTIVE
Do not just disconnect SBC to replace your brakes! The system needs to re-calibrate to the new pads/rotors. My understanding is that the procedure I posted above will do this, but I can't promise that. I always just uses SDS and I know it does it. There's a guy on the other benz world that changed his brakes without deactivating and he ended up having to go to a shop with SDS to clear errors.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 340
Likes: 189
From: Europe
09 SL500, 03 E320 CDI Wagon
I assume you are only going to change the pads and rotors, not flushing the brake fluid, only top op.
You don't need unplug the SBC, and you do not require using Xentry or STAR diagnosis.
Unplug the battery in the boot before you start working, do your work, connect again. While the battery is disconnected, the cars electronics don't recognize any things you do, and you don't get any error because you disconnect and reconnect the wear sensors on the pads.
I have done the brake job several times on both my previous SL55 and my current car, only disconnecting the battery, and pumping the brake pedal to hard feel, before connecting the battery again. No problems, no errors.
If you disconnect the SBC, chances are that the car recognize it, and you have to erase an error after plugging it again, plus the errors from the wear sensors.
Furthermore, I have bad Experience with disconnecting and reconnecting components, while the battery is connected.
You don't need unplug the SBC, and you do not require using Xentry or STAR diagnosis.
Unplug the battery in the boot before you start working, do your work, connect again. While the battery is disconnected, the cars electronics don't recognize any things you do, and you don't get any error because you disconnect and reconnect the wear sensors on the pads.
I have done the brake job several times on both my previous SL55 and my current car, only disconnecting the battery, and pumping the brake pedal to hard feel, before connecting the battery again. No problems, no errors.
If you disconnect the SBC, chances are that the car recognize it, and you have to erase an error after plugging it again, plus the errors from the wear sensors.
Furthermore, I have bad Experience with disconnecting and reconnecting components, while the battery is connected.
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 13
Likes: 3
2004 SL600 & 2014 C-300 & 1966 Mustang Convertible Shelby GT350H clone
Do you mean disconnect the accessories battery?
I assume you are only going to change the pads and rotors, not flushing the brake fluid, only top op.
You don't need unplug the SBC, and you do not require using Xentry or STAR diagnosis.
Unplug the battery in the boot before you start working, do your work, connect again. While the battery is disconnected, the cars electronics don't recognize any things you do, and you don't get any error because you disconnect and reconnect the wear sensors on the pads.
I have done the brake job several times on both my previous SL55 and my current car, only disconnecting the battery, and pumping the brake pedal to hard feel, before connecting the battery again. No problems, no errors.
If you disconnect the SBC, chances are that the car recognize it, and you have to erase an error after plugging it again, plus the errors from the wear sensors.
Furthermore, I have bad Experience with disconnecting and reconnecting components, while the battery is connected.
You don't need unplug the SBC, and you do not require using Xentry or STAR diagnosis.
Unplug the battery in the boot before you start working, do your work, connect again. While the battery is disconnected, the cars electronics don't recognize any things you do, and you don't get any error because you disconnect and reconnect the wear sensors on the pads.
I have done the brake job several times on both my previous SL55 and my current car, only disconnecting the battery, and pumping the brake pedal to hard feel, before connecting the battery again. No problems, no errors.
If you disconnect the SBC, chances are that the car recognize it, and you have to erase an error after plugging it again, plus the errors from the wear sensors.
Furthermore, I have bad Experience with disconnecting and reconnecting components, while the battery is connected.
Am on the other side of the pond here... when you say "boot" is that what us yanks know as the trunk which houses the accessories battery in the rear of the car?
And if so, what procedures need to be done when the accessories battery is reconnected? Anything that needs to be cycled or procedures to relearn how the accessories operate... for example the power windows, roof, trunk (boot) latch, etc etc etc
Also, do we also need to disconnect the starter battery under the hood (or I guess bonnet) ?
Thanks
George
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 340
Likes: 189
From: Europe
09 SL500, 03 E320 CDI Wagon
SL_charge
Am on the other side of the pond here... when you say "boot" is that what us yanks know as the trunk which houses the accessories battery in the rear of the car?
And if so, what procedures need to be done when the accessories battery is reconnected? Anything that needs to be cycled or procedures to relearn how the accessories operate... for example the power windows, roof, trunk (boot) latch, etc etc etc
Also, do we also need to disconnect the starter battery under the hood (or I guess bonnet) ?
Thanks
George
Am on the other side of the pond here... when you say "boot" is that what us yanks know as the trunk which houses the accessories battery in the rear of the car?
And if so, what procedures need to be done when the accessories battery is reconnected? Anything that needs to be cycled or procedures to relearn how the accessories operate... for example the power windows, roof, trunk (boot) latch, etc etc etc
Also, do we also need to disconnect the starter battery under the hood (or I guess bonnet) ?
Thanks
George
Yes the "boot" is the Trunk, and yes the accessories battery is the battery in question.
On the SL, the windows have to be realigned, meaning, doors closed, roll em down, roll em up, let go of the buttons, the windows will go down a bit, roll em up again.
No further action is needed.
You will get a ABS and or ESP alarm, but it will disappear as soon as you have driven half a mile.
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 13
Likes: 3
2004 SL600 & 2014 C-300 & 1966 Mustang Convertible Shelby GT350H clone
Hi George.
Yes the "boot" is the Trunk, and yes the accessories battery is the battery in question.
On the SL, the windows have to be realigned, meaning, doors closed, roll em down, roll em up, let go of the buttons, the windows will go down a bit, roll em up again.
No further action is needed.
You will get a ABS and or ESP alarm, but it will disappear as soon as you have driven half a mile.
Yes the "boot" is the Trunk, and yes the accessories battery is the battery in question.
On the SL, the windows have to be realigned, meaning, doors closed, roll em down, roll em up, let go of the buttons, the windows will go down a bit, roll em up again.
No further action is needed.
You will get a ABS and or ESP alarm, but it will disappear as soon as you have driven half a mile.
That is something I can definitely handle without having a SDS tool.
All I have is a iCarsoft MB II code reader, recently acquired from the MBWorld "maketplace" .
Thank you sir
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 340
Likes: 189
From: Europe
09 SL500, 03 E320 CDI Wagon
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 541
Likes: 93
From: Northern VA
SL 600
Disconnect the accessory battery from the trunk, unplug SBC, proceed to change pads and rotors as you would on a Corolla. Pump brakes until they have pressure and is firm again, connect SBC, connect trunk battery, go for test drive.
Simple.
Simple.
PM me if you want before you go into the wrong direction with DAS / Xentry Diagnostics Choice
"The Bitterness of Poor Quality Remains Long After the Sweetness of Low Price is Forgotten"
Last edited by pmercury; Jan 16, 2020 at 06:47 AM.
