W211 rear brakes replacement

[motocod]

Inside pads will be around 3mm or less then.

Thank you - I did suspect that might be the case - presumably it's a sliding caliper design, with the pistons on the inside?

 

[AMGeed]

You should get a message on the dash when the brake wear sensor is activated as the pads wear down below the recommended thickness.
Thats the time to change them.

 

[EmilysDad]

You should get a message on the dash when the brake wear sensor is activated as the pads wear down below the recommended thickness.
Thats the time to change them.

When the low pads message appeared on my R Class there was loads of life left on the pads .... there was definitely no rush to change them.
What annoyed me was that the message would only clear until the next time the pedal was pressed. On my previous Vauxhalls, the low pad message would clear until the next time the ignition was switched on.

 

[motocod]

I definitely get the impression the pads are on the low side, judging by the brake assist thinking taking longer to prime when I unlock the car.

 

[AMGeed]

I definitely get the impression the pads are on the low side, judging by the brake assist thinking taking longer to prime when I unlock the car.

That is the SBC pump cycling. If you stopped the engine at the end of a cycle it will take longer to recycle when you unlock the car next time. Its not the way to judge the thickness of your brake pads.

 

[Wighty]

Might it be worth a caliper seal overhaul on a 2005 car if you are going to the trouble of changing the discs

 

[motocod]

That is the SBC pump cycling. If you stopped the engine at the end of a cycle it will take longer to recycle when you unlock the car next time. Its not the way to judge the thickness of your brake pads.

That's good to know, thank you.

 

[motocod]

Might it be worth a caliper seal overhaul on a 2005 car if you are going to the trouble of changing the discs

Quite possibly, but in this instance I'm just not sure I can be bothered, to be completely honest! It's an odd one - when I was 17 I would gladly spend hours skinning my knuckles on cars. Fast-forward 20+ years and now I don't mind getting grubby tinkering around with motorcycles, but cars are just so ****** awkward to work on that I just don't have the enthusiasm for it. If I had a lovely big workshop with air tools and a lift it would be a different story.

It's a testament to what a brilliant car it is. I've owned it for almost six years. I've fixed whatever's gone wrong (it's a very short list) and it's had regular servicing. But in that time it's spent very little time in workshops, and had very little indeed needed doing. The worst so far was a leaky diff seal. Otherwise, with 100,000 miles in my ownership, it's been the most reliable and dependable vehicle I've ever owned.

 

[Bay Leaf]

I'm asking this in advance of doing the job, would I have to wind the pistons back in when changing front or rear pads on my 2013 350 SL with electronic park brake.

 

[EmilysDad]

I'm asking this in advance of doing the job, would I have to wind the pistons back in when changing front or rear pads on my 2013 350 SL with electronic park brake.

Not talking from personal experience .....

the fronts will be no
the rears I'd imagine will be like my ML with a leccy parking brake. You've to access another menu on the dash cluster ...

unfortunately is shows the dash in German

And again in English ...

 

[Bay Leaf]

Thanks for that. I did see something about the pads come to think about it when I went into that menu to reset the service date having changed the oil etc. So that's probably how I need to do it when the time comes.

Cheers
BL