Author Topic: front brake pads and hoses... (Read 3643 times)

Charles 230SL · « **on:** March 14, 2021, 00:52:23 »

Over the past several months I've noticed my 230sl has been pulling to the left while braking. Today I removed the front brake pads; the pads on the left looked fine (probably had another 20K miles left) but the ones on the right were worn down almost to the metal. This is the first time I've seen a set of front brake pads wear so unevenly and I think I may have a bad right/front brake hose.
The pads, rear shoes, and all four rubber brake hoses were replaced seven years ago and I just find it hard to believe that a brake hose would swell internally in only seven years. At any rate, I went ahead and ordered new front pads and four new brake hoses. Has anyone had to replace brake hoses in such a short period of time?

WRe · « **Reply #1 on:** March 14, 2021, 07:39:13 »

Hi,
swollen brake hoses can certainly be a cause of your problems, even after seven years, because the material quality is no longer what it used to be.
In my experience, the problem is with stuck brake pistons. Remove the brake pads and check that the brake pistons run smoothly.
...WRe

Nicolas Aristodemou · « **Reply #2 on:** March 15, 2021, 18:42:33 »

I had a similar issue with my 280SL last week. I ordered genuine ATE caliper seal kits and a set of brake hoses and problem went away.

What surprised me though was that the brake pads replaced about 5000 miles ago together with new discs (rotors) were almost worn out and so I replaced the pads again now with the caliper overhaul. Car is automatic so brake pads wear faster than in manual cars but not that fast.....

Charles 230SL · « **Reply #3 on:** March 27, 2021, 23:19:43 »

Quote from: naristodemou on March 15, 2021, 18:42:33

I had a similar issue with my 280SL last week. I ordered genuine ATE caliper seal kits and a set of brake hoses and problem went away. What surprised me though was that the brake pads replaced about 5000 miles ago together with new discs (rotors) were almost worn out and so I replaced the pads again now with the caliper overhaul. Car is automatic so brake pads wear faster than in manual cars but not that fast.....

only 5000 miles on a set of pads (wow!).
I was preparing to install the new brake pads when I noticed one of the dust seals on the right (ATE) caliper was torn. Corrosion had already set in but both pistons still moved freely. I went ahead and rebuilt the right caliper and I plan to rebuild the left one as soon as the seal kit arrives.

Charles 230SL · « **Reply #4 on:** April 08, 2021, 23:13:30 »

Quote from: Charles 230SL on March 14, 2021, 00:52:23

Over the past several months I've noticed my 230sl has been pulling to the left while braking...

I rebuilt both front calipers, replaced the rubber hoses, and installed new pads. problem solved (no more pulling to the left).

mauro12 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 11, 2021, 09:44:20 »

It is worth to buy genuine mercedes brake discs and pads or it’s just a waste of money ?
I want to replace my old discs and pads and maybe it’s a good idea to change the wheel bearings too. What you think ?

mauro12 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 11, 2021, 09:53:42 »

Sorry guys I forgot to ask . When you replace the brake hoses , pads and discs you have to bleed and replace the brake fluid or not ? Can you do the entire process without bleeding and replacing the fluid ?

Pawel66 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 11, 2021, 13:05:35 »

Mauro, if we understand bleeding the system as getting rid of air from it - yes, this necessity will always appear after any sort of work with pads, discs or hoses replacement. Or almost always.

If you mean draining the brake fluid - it is not always necessary. Although when replacing hoses, in my limited experience, I think it may be difficult to avoid it.

But also: we should be simply replacing brake fluid with new one, say, every 2 years. This is because brake fluid is higroscopic, so it absorbs water from air. Once it has too much water, it may be boiling in high temperature. Boiling means evaporating and gas or vapours is something we cannot have in the brakes system, as it will not be able to build pressure necessary to brake as gasses are squeezable (liquids are not).

So if you have not replaced brake fluid in your car, recently, this would be a good occasion to do it.

mauro12 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 11, 2021, 18:28:15 »

Replace the brake fluid is quite complicated because you need to bleed the sistem and maybe you need a special machine to do it . Is not for me .

Pawel66 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 11, 2021, 20:54:51 »

I fully understand. I am also careful not to take on too much as I am not qualified to do more complicated work on a car.

Any work on pads, discs or hoses will require bleeding of the brakes (getting air out). You just need a pot, a length of clear plastic hose and a patient helper to do that. Here is some instructions: https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=6513.msg40628#msg40628

There are devices for that, not very expensive, that use various types of vacuum generation to suck out the fluid from the system - to take out air or brake fluid, but for simple air bleeding out a pot or bottle will do.

I would, however, do change the fluid once in a while at some shop. It is not a very complicated procedure for a mechanic.

mauro12 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 11, 2021, 22:16:15 »

Even to change the brake discs and pads is needed to replace the brake fluid and bleed the entire sistem ? I thought it was not obligatory . If you have recently replaced the fluid and not discs and pads , you have to replace the fluid once again ?

Pawel66 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 11, 2021, 22:23:38 »

No, for discs and pads you just need to bleed air from the system, you do not need to drain the brake system

For the hoses replacement- I do not know, I installed new hoses when there was no fluid in the system. You can probably plug the lines somehow when you unscrew the hoses, I do not know. Unscrewing the hoses, however, may be tough...

I need also to share my experience from discs change - it took some effort to unscrew the screws holding the discs to wheel hub - longer allen wrench (10mm?, not sure if I remember correctly) and a the impact wrench to unscrew them. I used new screws with the new discs.

mauro12 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 11, 2021, 22:54:14 »

Which discs and pads did you put ? Oem or genuine Mercedes ?

Pawel66 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 11, 2021, 22:58:20 »

ATE discs and Mercedes pads. For the next pads replacement I have ATE as well. Just regular ones. Discs are ridiculously expensive at Mercedes. We were discussing this a couple of months ago.

Charles 230SL · « **Reply #14 on:** April 12, 2021, 00:18:51 »

Quote from: Pawel66 on April 11, 2021, 22:23:38

For the hoses replacement- I do not know, I installed new hoses when there was no fluid in the system. You can probably plug the lines somehow when you unscrew the hoses, I do not know. Unscrewing the hoses, however, may be tough...

I unscrewed the hoses from the brake line fitting in the wheel well and plugged the line with a rubber cap.

mauro12 · « **Reply #15 on:** April 12, 2021, 09:01:16 »

I just wanted to have the satisfaction to buy genuine mercedes parts once , but I found that a set of discs cost almost 500€ and from ate they are about 40€ per piece .
Also here in Italy Mercedes dealers are not used to search parts for such old cars. It’s annoying becuse the first difficulties for them is to put our vin in the sistem . By the way, our vin 113042 or 043 starts with WDB letters like all other mercedes or not ? The w113 is shorter that other Mercedes .

dirkbalter · « **Reply #16 on:** April 12, 2021, 15:29:05 »

Quote from: mauro12 on April 12, 2021, 09:01:16

I just wanted to have the satisfaction to buy genuine mercedes parts once , but I found that a set of discs cost almost 500€ and from ate they are about 40€ per piece .
Also here in Italy Mercedes dealers are not used to search parts for such old cars. It’s annoying becuse the first difficulties for them is to put our vin in the sistem . By the way, our vin 113042 or 043 starts with WDB letters like all other mercedes or not ? The w113 is shorter that other Mercedes .

Mauro,
Its the same everywhere with the dealerships. You will have more success if you provide them with the actual part# you are looking for instead of telling them what car you have and have them search.
In my experience, anyone there can just punch the part number in and tell you if available and at what price.

Pawel66 · « **Reply #17 on:** April 12, 2021, 17:30:56 »

mauro, it is exactly like dirkbatler says

It took me some time to develop relationship, but the best way for them was to give me access to the system.

I think when you go through it with them once, then it will go smoother. It is worth it because you get really good parts and some prices are lower than in internet store and ebay.

Yes, the discs prices are insane there. Pads prices are ok.

Depending on what they use - 113043 will do. If not, yes WDB should work. You can go with just 113, but then it may be more work on the parts list as it may show all of them with notes for which model they are.

Everything works the same as with modern cars. Location of some parts in the groups is strange - I can help if need be. Tell thenm you will complain to Daimler if other, polite, means are not working.

mauro12 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 12, 2021, 18:23:11 »

Is possible to have access to their sistem and check from epc the part number and the availability? Maybe the price will not show up but at least you know if a part is available or not . What is the procedure to have access to the sistem?

dirkbalter · « **Reply #19 on:** April 12, 2021, 18:49:34 »

I have good luck with below web side to find MB part numbers:
https://nemigaparts.com/cat_spares/epc/mercedes/

Pawel66 · « **Reply #20 on:** April 12, 2021, 19:19:17 »

It is, but you have to pay for it. Try Dirk's alternative.

When you have part number, you may find price here: https://classicparts.mercedes-benz.de/cat/index/sCategory/5000804?fbclid=IwAR1u_2BJkLc_OeHLGordABc5TsFg9XCwDG2p2tXdcLdRGumATMdEITkMz7k&p=14

Put in part number without spaces.

On Niemoeller site you offten have Mercedes part numbers: https://www.niemoeller.de/en

On SLS site, click on the box Show/Hide mapping, bottom left of the picture - you may see quite a lot of Mercedes part numbers when you move cursor to the number on the picture.

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Author Topic: front brake pads and hoses... (Read 3643 times)