brake squeal on new pads/rotors (OE) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 05-08-2002, 05:23 PM

I got my front pads and rotors replaced by the dealer yesterday - I have read the previous threads on this forum - so I decided to pay the extra dollar(s!) and get OE pads and rotors (I presume dealers would only use genuine mercedes parts). I was also very clear in telling them that I didn't want my brakes to squeal at all, so do whatever you have to. Well, they didn't squeal at all yesterday when I drove off the dealer lot. But today they squeal sometime - and when they squeal, its VERY loud.

Assuming they are OE pads and rotors, what do you think can be done? Do you think the loud squeal may go away after a while, since these are brand new pads and rotors? I'll watch for another couple of days, otherwise take it back to the dealer.

Thanks. BTW, its a 190E 2.3 (85, 130K)

mbdoc · #2 05-08-2002, 06:14 PM

The 30+ years that I worked for dealers, the number 1 complaint was BRAKE SQUEAL!! That was always with OE pads.
There are many products that claim that they can eliminate squeal, but few OR none deliver.

GermanStar · #3 05-08-2002, 07:00 PM

Brake noise is usually generated by brake pad movement within the caliper. It isn't likely to go away any time soon without some intervention. It can usually be eliminated by the application of either some grease or some glue on the back of the pads. In any case, who ever steered you to the dealer was in error. Brake squeal is just as likely to occur there as anywhere else, maybe even more so.

Ron
German Star

#4 05-08-2002, 07:18 PM

SO what should I do? THere has to be a way out of brake squeal. IF you see an average car on the road, very few squeal. I bet if I take any car at the dealer out for a drive, none of them will have brake squeal. A mercedes car's brakes should not squeal - even Hyundai's don't squeal. If correct pads and rotors are used, and correctly installed, they should not squeal.

Thanks for your responses. I shall take it back to the dealer - just want to drive around a little to make sure he doesn't give me the argument that it will go away if I drove it a bit.

GermanStar · #5 05-08-2002, 07:32 PM

That's all you can do -- just take it back to the dealer and voice your displeasure. Hopefully, they'll resolve the issue.

Ron
German Star

#6 05-09-2002, 10:22 AM

Thanks, Ron.

So is is correct to say that if genuine mercedes pads and rotors are used, both replaced at the same time, and if they are correctly installed, then they should not squeal?

Also, what are the possible remedies? Let me summarize the results of my search on this forum. The following may help (some or all may be needed):
1) Apply anti squeal paste on the pads (I am sure they did that).
2) Use anti squeal shims on the back (and sides?) of the pads.
3) Check if the allen bolts on the disks are fully tight.
4) Check that there is no movement of brake pads within the caliper.

Anything else that can be done? I am sure someone has figured out a solution to this problem, since it seems to be solved for most of the vehicles on the road. A friend of mine just got his front pads and rotors replaced on his Honda at Midas - ZERO squeal from day one. So there's gotto be a clearly defined (or a set of) solution (s).

Thanks again, everyone.

#7 05-09-2002, 03:40 PM

about the difficulties of the French engineers who had to deal with American Motors representatives when they adapted what became the Eagle and Alliance cars for the American market. One frustrated French engineer exclained: "In Europe, we don't care if the brakes make noise, as long as they stop the car; in America, they don't care if the brakes stop the car, as long as they don't make noise!"

#8 05-09-2002, 04:05 PM

Well Said!!

I won't care about the 100 decibel loud shreak everytime I brake if every car was doing it - after all, I don't complain that my engine makes SOME noise, since all engines make SOME noise. The reality is, most brakes make no noise at all. My own brakes never made any noise over the past 5 years. The fact that they do now, is definitely a sign of something that was done wrong while the front pads and rotors were replaced.

And since this is a very popular complaint (the most common at dealers), and hardly any mercedes cars I have seen have had squealing brakes, implies that there IS a solution to this problem, since apparently most complaints of squealing brakes are ultimately solved (otherwise we should be seeing a very high fraction of mercedes cars on the road with squealing brakes, and we don't!).

Hence my request to the techs on this forum - how did you solve this problem when you faced it? Maybe I can take some of these solutions with me to the dealer, in case they don't have any experienced tech on board.

Thanks.

#9 05-09-2002, 04:53 PM

Often the cause of really bad squeeeeeeeling on certain other German brands is failure to follow the proper break-in procedure during the first 100 miles or so of the life of new pads (which varies a lot between, for instance, BMW and Porsche). Dealer's service representatives are sometimes remiss in not informing their customers about this.

#10 05-09-2002, 05:32 PM

What is the correct break-in procedure for fresh pads and rotors?

-fad · #11 05-09-2002, 06:03 PM

'break-in' aka 'seating': pads to the rotors:

I simply take it easy on the brake pedal for the first 50 or so miles of use, allowing the pads to do their duty in the least stressful manner possible

...in the event that rotor glazing has occured with the new pad/rotor (due to heavy initial use), the rotor may need to be roughed up a bit to break up the glazing

I'd suggest taking the car back to the dealer for review, they may remedy the situation swapping pads (left to right/side to side) and/or placing more anti-squeak behind the pad plates...or addressing the glazing if that is the case

ensure that you replicate the squeaky condition for the SA/ tech to observe as well, otherwise nada may occur re: corrective action

good luck and let us know what turns out
-fad

Badinfo · #12 05-09-2002, 08:02 PM

you know... I seriosly think your brakes are glazed, this happens all the time on my mom's land rover, we just take it back to the dealership, they deglaze the pads and rotors, and the car doesn't squek for another 5k miles, then we have to take it back... you might be wasting your time if you start applying all types of grease to different brake parts, and that would prolly make you hate your car, and we don't want that happening...

#13 05-10-2002, 02:58 PM

Thanks for the info. I took it to the dealer today - man, was it squealing!! its getting worse every day. Happens only when braking at low speeds. But is EXTREMELY loud and shrill. Showed it to him - thankfully it squealed a lot in front of the tech. Well, he can't get me in till wednesday, so I have to wait till then. He tried to spray something on to the disks, but that didn't work at all. I have tried some of the other things like braking a few times at high speeds, have driven it 200 miles, but nothing has worked.

So let me see what they do. Its an embarrassment driving this car around (actually, braking this car, not driving!). In the meantime, I am discovering the virtues of loud music in the car!!

Seriously, if someone has any other tricks that have worked for them in eliminating brake squeal, would really appreciate any input.

pilot2000 · #14 05-11-2002, 02:00 AM

Sounds like my "hoopty"

Tried every trick in the book "on this forum" no luck. I purchased some brake anti squeal from the MB dealer and I would apply to the inside of the pads, Yes on the braking surface and the squeal will go for about a week and then all of a sudden I get it back.

I heard that running over the pads with a rough sand paper sometimes does the trick, I have yet to try that, but I would imagine it would only be a matter of time before they glaze again.

I know exactly what you mean about the embarrassments of driving a squeaky S class, and believe me I am experiencing the virtuse of loud stereo in the car, in the winter it is not that bad since you don't hear it as much.

Did I mention I replaced the pads while they were new to get rid of the squeal and the new ones squeals after a few hundred miles

Good Luck, let us know what you come up with.

Badinfo · #15 05-11-2002, 02:56 AM

see... somebody must be doing something wrong, I mean, our brakes didn't squeal before we got new pads, the brakes on my 300E have also started squealing at low speeds, and it is rather embarassing. On my mom's land rover, the brakes always squealed, so it can be attributed to faulty design, but my benz, and im sure all of you guys rides never squealed before we changed out the pads, what has gone wrong?! Has anybody actually remedied squealing brakes by re-seating the pads and rotors and applying grease? I mean, my mech applyed grease as per the job instructions, but it didn't seem to help...