Mercedes Benz Brake Repair Service: Prevent Brake Failure

Do you need a brake repair service?

When the brakes are applied, the brake pads are forced against the brake rotor, which causes friction and heat.This is what slows down and stops your vehicle. The cost to repair Mercedes brakes varies from model to model. Brake repairs are commonly offered at low ball promotional prices that may be lower than the repair price estimate. Make sure you understand exactly what parts and services are included in your estimate for repair (keep in mind tax and fees). German Car Depot only uses factory or OEM brake pads and rotor disks.

Symptoms of Mercedes-Benz Brake Failures

Grinding or squeaking noise while braking.
A small amount of brake noise when lightly applying brakes is normal.
The brake pad wear indicator light is on.
Brakes feel hard, soft, or spongy
When braking, the car pulls to one side
Since brake pad material wears out over time, the pads should be inspected periodically.
Most Mercedes-Benz front brake pads are about 12mm when new and can be driven to about 3mm of thickness. Rear pads new are about 8-10 mm thick and can be driven till about 3 mm. At German Car Depot, we measure your pads every time your vehicle is lifted. We keep a record of your brake pad thickness and send you reminders. By using this proven method, our customer will not waste money by replacing pads way before they are due.
The brake fluid should be serviced every two years. This should include a complete inspection and moisture reading of the brake fluid. Fluid should be under 2% moisture and clear in color. Then a complete bleeding flushing of the system.
Brake pads must be replaced before the friction material is worn away completely. If they are not, metal-to-metal contact will occur between the brake rotor and the worn brake pad. This will damage the rotor, which will then need to be resurfaced or replaced.
Brake rotors If you change your brake pads before they get too low, you can save your rotors, as really low brake pads will damage your rotors.
Mercedes-Benz brake rotors are machined by the manufacturer’s then heat-treated. They cannot be safely machined. If your vehicle has any pedal pulsation issues, you may be better off replacing worn rotors.
We recommend braking gently for the first 40 to 50 miles of driving on new pads. This will allow them to adjust to the rotors and help prevent squeaking.

Symptoms of Mercedes Brake Pad Wear or Failure

The brake pads on one wheel may wear unevenly
The vehicle may pull to one side when braking
Brake fluid loss
Modern Mercedes have calipers on all four wheels
German Car Depot only replaces in pairs and the brake hydraulic system flushed.
We inspect the entire brake system and verify that the vehicle stops efficiently and in a straight line

Mercedes-Benz Brake Fluid

Whenever the brake pedal is depressed, the pressure that is generated by the master cylinder is transferred to the calipers and/or wheel cylinders through the use of brake fluid, which is a fluid that has been specially manufactured.

Symptoms of Wear or Failure

Brake light may illuminate
Soft or spongy brake pedal

More Symptoms of Wear or Failure of your Brakes

In most modern vehicles, the brake fluid level is monitored via a sensor in the brake fluid reservoir
Brake fluid can damage a vehicle’s paint and trim; any spills should be cleaned up immediately by flushing the area with water (no soap is needed)
Brake fluid should be replaced if the fluid is dirty or if the brake system shows any evidence of rust or corrosion

Because brake fluid is a fluid that collects moisture and loses its efficiency over time, we recommend that it be replenished every two years as a preventative maintenance measure.

It is highly recommended that the hydraulic system associated with the brakes be cleaned whenever a component within the hydraulic system is replaced or whenever the hydraulic system is opened.

Wear Sensors for Brakes and Pads

The wear sensors for the brake pads are mounted to the brake pads themselves. When the brake pads have worn down to the point that they are causing the pad light to illuminate, they will cause a warning to be shown on the instrument cluster. Unfortunately, when the pad light illuminates, the pads are typically grinding on the rotors. It is possible that the rotor, pads, and sensors will need to be replaced.

Signs of a brake job in your Benz's future

The wear sensors for the brake pads are mounted to the brake pads themselves. When the brake pads have worn down to the point that they are causing the pad light to illuminate, they will cause a warning to be shown on the instrument cluster. Unfortunately, when the pad light illuminates, the pads are typically grinding on the rotors. It is possible that the rotor, pads, and sensors will need to be replaced.

The brake master cylinder generates hydraulic pressure to operate the braking system when the brake pedal is applied. A bad brake master cylinder might trigger a diagnostic fault code and illuminate the dashboard warning light. Failure of the brake master cylinder causes a mushy, unresponsive brake pedal. Braking may also feel like the brake pedal goes to the floor. It may be an internal leak. This is a significant brake issue. Do not drive the automobile and call German Car Depot to arrange a tow.

The hydraulic brake fluid should be constant because the system is sealed. Lower fluid indicates a leak. Master cylinder brake fluid levels below normal may indicate worn brake pads. The fluid displaces to the brake calipers as brake pads wear down, lowering levels. Other brake system issues like jammed calipers and ABS valve bodies can cause symptoms like a bad master cylinder.

We recommend flushing brake fluid every two years or when it has more than 2% moisture. Every automotive inspection at GCD measures moisture. This prolongs brake master cylinder life.

Brake Caliper

Once the brake pedal is pushed, the brake caliper makes use of the hydraulic pressure that is produced by the brake master cylinder in order to apply pressure to the brake pads so that they are pressed on the brake disc. The clamping force causes the wheel to move more slowly.

Brake Flexible Hose

With the help of the flexible brake hoses, the stiff metal brake lines are connected to the brake calipers and, in some cases, the ABS hydraulic units. Free movement of the wheels and suspension is made possible as a result of this.

Symptoms of Wear or Failure

Pedal may sink slowly when braking
Visible cracks on the hoses
Uneven braking, such as pulling to the left or right while braking
Brakes may feel slightly applied or drag when the vehicle is moving
The brake pedal effort can feel normal, but the Mercedes will not stop correctly.

Related Repair Advice

When replacing a brake flexible hose due to internal blockage, all of the brake flexible hoses should be replaced as well
When replacing a brake flexible hose due to cracking, all of the brake flexible hoses should be inspected
We recommend having the brake hydraulic system flushed any time a component in the hydraulic system is replaced or if the hydraulic system is opened

Brake Booster

In the space between the brake pedal and the brake master cylinder is where the brake booster device is installed. By doing so, it helps lower the amount of effort that the driver needs to apply to the brake pedal in order for the brakes to function properly.

Hub Assembly

A connection between the wheel and the suspension knuckle is made via the hub assembly. It comes with a wheel bearing that is sealed as well as the hub that is used to mount the wheel.

Signs of worn wheel bearings or hubs.

The hub bearings make a grinding or groaning sound while the vehicle is in motion, particularly when the vehicle is turning.

It is important to ensure that the hub is clear of rust and debris in situations where the brake rotor is installed on the hub. This will ensure that the hub provides a smooth mounting surface for the brake rotor.

When the car is braking, you will be able to feel it if it has hit a curb or if the hub is bent. Depending on the severity of the bearing failure, the entire hub assembly might need to be replaced.

Electric Parking Brake

Most new Mercedes-Benz have electronic parking brakes. Ending parking mode to leave releases this service brake automatically. It usually turns on and off with a central console switch. When replacing Mercedes-Benz brake pads, service facilities need sophisticated diagnostic computers to retract and calibrate the pads. German Car Depot receives many MBs with malfunctioning rear parking brake motors. When questioned, automobile owners frequently state they saw a non-MB specialist.It takes skill and equipment to change the rear brake pads on most new Mercedes-Benz cars.