Doing 50 down the road, the "usual" noises, suddenly, a loud bang, then the front left tire froze up. From the way it sounded, I thought I'd lost a flex disc. I could go in reverse, and forward only as long as i didnt tap the brakes or hit a bump. Limped back home to find that one of my front brake caliper bolts had fallen out! This made it possible for the pads to engage and seize everything up, sort of like a drum brake. Not fun. Amazingly, I was able to go back to the scene and find the old bolt sitting there in the road.
Anyway, the moral of the story, Make Sure Your Brake Bolts are Tightened To Spec!

By the way, with them now tight, the banging under my left foot which I was sure was a track rod mount, disappeared. It also took away most of the pull to that side I'd assumed was an alignment issue.

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Paul
2004 E500 4matic; 72,000mi

I recently took my 85 300td to a shop to have the entire front suspension rebuilt. After driving it home I crawled under to inspect everthing and one of the caliper bolts was sticking out about half and inch, wasnt even finger tight. Guess I dodged one that time.

I just changed the pads a few weeks back; must have forgotten to really torque them down. Mistakes happen; double check!!

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Paul
2004 E500 4matic; 72,000mi

Why'd you even unbolt them to do pads anyways?

Sounds scurry...

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

After 3 years out to pasture, they had sorta "melted" onto the caliper and had to be, um, forcibly evicted. Oh, and the the rotors needed to be recut.

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Paul
2004 E500 4matic; 72,000mi

Always double check your work, and you will not have this issue.

I replaced the caliper bolts on the SDL actualy, I don't trust 20 year old bolts.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200