I've had bad brake squeal for over a year. Had the brakes done THREE TIMES in less than a year.

Today I had a mechanic come, who works from the trunk of his car only (which scared me), who says he's a brake expert. He came, immediately found out that the wheel shakes. So he took off the wheel and caliper, pryed off the cap over the hub (is that what it's called? Under the cap is a bunch of grease and stuff), and once the cap was off, tightened up the big nut just to where it was snug, not tight. I asked him about that, he said you don't want to make it tight, something about it works against another nut.

He used a special silver aluminum dust anti-squeal kind of stuff in different places, said it's European anti-squeal.

We tested it, sort of no squeal, one little one, but at least it was a lot better. Then when he left, it started to squeal a bit more, so I'll have to see how it goes.

But about the hubs, just tightening the bit nut just a bit, is that the way to do it? He showed me when he was done, that the wheel didn't shake left to right like it did before he did that.

Thanks,

Jeff 1991 300d, 117k

If the front wheel bearings were loose / had play, they needed adjustment. I'm used to them requiring a torque-setting, but haven't done Mercedes wheel bearings so that's not my area (yet).

As far as brake squeal, you say you have "had the brakes done", what was done?

If there is a squeak, it might be the pads you're using. It can also be the rotor surface, you can go in and rough them up a bit with 600grit paper and brake the glaze on the rotors, that might help also. Another thing I used to do with fair-weather cars is to spray some water on the (cold) rotors and let them sit overnight, the slight rust would break up the smooth surface.

There's an old saying: "Germans don't care if the brakes squeak, as long as they stop the car. Americans don't care if the brakes don't stop the car, as long as they don't squeak."

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I had new NAPA OEM rotors put on, and MB pads (Padgid brand), for all 4 wheels, and new sensors put on the fronts (I don't think the back has any).

Jeff

An expert would have used a dial indicator when he/she adjusted the bearings. People who don't just think they are experts!!!

Yes, Mercedes calls for a dial indicator. Other manufacturers usually have a torque spec for the nut. The last time I did one was when I had the catastrophic rotor failure on my 240D. The "brim" separated from the "hat" when I nailed the brakes hard at about 70. So, I had to put a new rotor on. I did this in one of the shops at work, but it was after hours, so I couldn't borrow any tools and had to go by feel. I'm pretty sure I went a little too tight, since the car started pulling to that side slightly, but that's diminishing and everything seems ok 4,000 miles later.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

Going down a steep hill, no doubt!!!

My mechanic insists on using some sort of red goo on the pad backs. When it gets cold, or after a few months, the goo hardens up and glues the pads to the caliper pistons. In the middle of this winter it got so bad I had to pull the rears and replace the goo with silicone brake grease. The rears still squeal a little, but at least I don't wake the entire neighborhood pulling out of my driveway anymore.

When I did the fronts, I replaced the fossilized red goo there too and used a file to round off the edges of the pads that face the inside and outside edge of the rotor (ie. where the rust builds up because the pads don't rub). More than a year later and they still don't squeal.

Of course, now I can hear all the other unhappy noises the car makes

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'83 300DTurbo http://badges.fuelly.com/images/smallsig-us/318559.png

Broadband: more lies faster.

See if this stuff works.

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83 SD

84 CD

Put new padgid pads on my 95e300d. Squeeked all the time. After about 250 miles, I couldn't take it and installed new Textar pads - all is well.

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2009 E320 Bluetec 117,000
1995 E300D 306,000 Sold
1996 Ford Taurus LX 130,000 Sold
1985 300TD Still 225,000 Sold
2016 Ford Fusion 24,900

I notice that on occasion, just before coming to a (squealing) stop, the squealing will actually set off the anti-lock system. That'll freak you out the first time it happens!

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

I must be German. That would explain my last name. Or maybe it's just all the time driving air brakes. They always squeak.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

What happens when the anti-lock comes on?

Jeff