A class Brakes.

[TheJim]

Hello Chaps, haven't been around for a while. Many apologies.
My dad has an A140 and the brakes have started to squeal badly. He has replaced the pads and had the discs deglazed. Which made no difference. Everything is intact and tight, anything peculiar to the A class that we may have missed? It has got us stumped.

 

[The Editor]

Hi Jim,

They ALL squeek on A Classes (so I understand).. especially in reverse !!... My wife's little A 160 has done it from when we got it (which was 6 months old and 3,500 on the clock)... It's been back to the dealer and of course they can't find anything wrong. I think I may try the WD40 cure !! (As long as you burn off the WD from the rotors after squirting !!)

Check out the 'Babybenz' forums for more details

Cheers

Mark

 

[TheJim]

Many thanks, I shall go and have a rummage.

 

[pascal]

My 124 coupe used to squel a bit, and my friendly tyre fitter sparyed some stuff especially for this problem. Ask your motor factors.

 

[Myros]

if that doesn't fix it

wheels off, pads out and use some anti-squeal compound on the back of the pads where they meet the pistons. (Copper-thread compound to you and me)
A goodly smear should do it., but not as thick as marmite on a sandwich if you really like marmite, just about as much as though you didn't mind marmite too much.

 

[The Editor]

And if you don't like Marmite at all... that wouldn't be enough would it??

I have also heard of some 'Brake Squeel' compound which you put onto the back of the pads and then allow to cure. Once dry it basically turns to a tough rubberised compound capable of withstanding the very high temperatures associated with brakes. This prevents the vibration that causes the squeel.

Have a look on the Baby Benz site though Jim and see what you think about the WD40 method. It seems to have worked for quite a few people!! I know it sounds a bit alien to squirt a lubricant on yer brakes but hey, gotta try anything once eh?? - Just make sure you burn the excess off before you do any emergency stops - A quick drive out and a long application of the brakes should do it. Wipe any excess off the calipers as it could attract dust etc.

Hope it works....let us know... if we don't hear from you we assume you forgot to get rid of the excess from your discs first...LOL

Regards


Mark

 

[TheJim]

Sounds a bit drastic to me, I think we might plump for the anti-squeal compound first! Wd40 would definitely come under the last ditch attempt umbrella.

 

[pascal]

If you have alloys with reasonable size holes, you will not need to remove the wheels at all (using the spray)

 

[TheJim]

My Pater has steels I'm afraid, He has just been looking at the calipers blankly trying to work out how to remove the pads. Is there some kind of knack to it? He is talking about large bolts and things, surely there is some kind of clip? I have not seen the calipers myself so I can't help him. Is there something that can be easily missed or is my Dad being a wally? At this rate he is probably just going to go for the spray option......

 

[Myros]

Not the large bolts

they fix the caliper to the suspension. There will be some pins and clips among the brake dust. Usually abot 4-5mmin diameter. You knock them out with a centrepunch, or a similarly sized nail-head, if you want to be lateral.
If unsure, do nothing, it's safer. after all, they must be working to squeal.

 

[TheJim]

I think I shall have to pop round and do it for him. Bugger. I am fed up with brake dust, I resprayed my wheels the other day and had only just got my hands the right colour again!

 

[The Editor]

Hi Jim... I haven't removed the calipers personally but I do remember reading something which I think is attributable to all MB's with brake assyst (and perhaps someone can put me straight on this)

'You must be VERY careful when working on the brakes/removing pads etc that someone doesn't 'wake' up the brake assyst while your fingers are doing the fiddly work. This can be caused by somebody 'blipping' the remote or opening the drivers door. In some instances this initiates a kind of self test and you get 180 psi applied to the calipers. If your fingers are in the way when this happens ......... carefully pick them up from your driveway and put them into a sealable plastic bag and get somebody to nip you down to your local A&E !!

Just a word of caution.... As I say, this probably need to be confirmed or otherwise by somebody who has more experience than me (or no fingers...LOL) but I do notice as you open the drivers door you can hear actuators/vacuum systems kicking in so wonder if there is some truth in this !!

Good luck - let me know how it goes

Mark

 

[TheJim]

If it all goes wrong I shall hire a stenographer to type a reply for me.

 

[SLinKyjoe]

welcome back...have you been transformed into a CHAV now?

 

[tom7035]

Severe brake squeal

I am no physicist but if I had brake squeal bad enough to be stressful, I would be inclined to think about making one, fine, hacksaw cut diagonally corner to corner on each of the four pads down to the backing plate (and all in the same direction of course). This wouln't affect the braking efficiency one iota IMO but must change the vibration pattern (we all know noise IS vibration) and who knows, cure the problem of the squeal?
I'm sure someone will shoot me down in flames for this suggestion but it is one I would personally be prepared to try.

 

[TheJim]

welcome back...have you been transformed into a CHAV now?

Er, no. I am still a demographic upstart I'm afraid. Good to be back, I haven't been about because nothing has fallen off my car recently!
Hastily reaches for some wood.........