Squeaky brakes get the grease. Problem with new 300D pads. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

showme · #1 11-21-2008, 02:09 PM

hey, all, I need some advice about a problem I've got on the wife's 81 300D. Actually, this has been a problem for a while, but it's getting worse. I had the pads replaced with Mintek OE pads, (metallic), and for a while they were ok. They started squeaking early on (This has been a few months ago), and I told the wife to take them up to the shop that we always use and have them looked at. Didn't have the rotors changed, because the didn't need changed at the time, and still don't. (Size and condition are within specs as good) Well, she didn't take it up there, and it has continued to squeak and now squeal. I bought the parts from ********az., and I've never gotten any junk from them before, but we waited too long to send them back.
I took the car to the shop about a week ago, and my brake and muffler guy, (and also installed them for me), who is a friend and I trust, told me that, from his experience, he believes there is a "hard spot" in the pads. He said if they were the organic or asbestos type, it wouldn't happen, but there are cases where there is something in the pad material that, when the so-called hard spot is there, it will squeal. He pretty well pin-pointed the symptoms- It doesn't do it till it's been driven enough to warm them up. It doesn't do it at the beginning of the braking, but the slower I get (closer to the stop sign), the louder they scream. Anybody know about this? Can I do anything about it short of changing out the pads? And is Mintek a good brand, or did I screw up in buying them? Thanks for any and all replies. Lee

oldsinner111 · #2 11-21-2008, 02:18 PM

I notice front pads on my SD weren't like the replacement.There is no chamfer where they extend a little over the rotor towards the hub.A dust mask and grinder took care of that.

SD Blue · #3 11-21-2008, 02:24 PM

The blue goo called "brake quiet" on the back of the pads has usually taken care of this for me.

(The only "but" to add is that the rear pads have always squeaked when in reverse. Some have mentioned Textar brand solves that situation but I can live with it.)

rrgrassi · #4 11-21-2008, 02:27 PM

Make sure the shims are installed, the pad contact with the caliper and pad holder is clean and free of anything that can bind the pads. Follow the directions posted in the formum concerning areas to apply brake pad/shoe contact grease.

showme · #5 11-21-2008, 02:57 PM

So there actually is a grease for brakes?? Wow, you learn something new everyday on this forum. Is it pretty common at parts stores, or do I need something in particular for the Benz brakes? (Don't want to put something on there that would mess things up)

Hatterasguy · #6 11-21-2008, 03:34 PM

Take some wheel bearing grease and spread it on the offending rotor. Works like a charm.

I use the same stuff that I use for muffler bearings, synthetic of course.

rrgrassi · #7 11-21-2008, 04:08 PM

Yes, there is grease, but only for the contact points between caliper and pads, and for the contact points for springs and shoes/backing plate for drum brakes. It's the same grease used on the pins of floating calipers.

tangofox007 · #8 11-21-2008, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Take some wheel bearing grease and spread it on the offending rotor.

I hope that what you said is not what you meant to say!!!

showme · #9 11-21-2008, 05:11 PM

tangofox- I believe the muffler bearings gives it away. I pity the poor schmuck who would actually try everything that people write on these posts. Somebody's kid could end up wrapped around a telephone pole. Bad joke, hatterasguy.

tangofox007 · #10 11-21-2008, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD Blue

Some have mentioned Textar brand solves that situation...

I can testify that Textar pads are absolutely not immune to squealing.

Hatterasguy · #11 11-21-2008, 09:18 PM

I couldn't resist.

I'm so fed up with the brakes squeaking on my car that I just might do that. Replacing the rotor and pads didn't seem to help.

zu! · #12 11-22-2008, 02:50 AM

This worked for me: Bought some permatex brake pad paste and didn't use it. My buddy Bens Lover gave me some of the pink MB stuff and I spread just one little itty tube over (under?) the pads of both front brakes. I went one step further and used a bastard file (dunno why they call it that, but they do...illegitimately filed?) to file away a bevel on all the edges of each pad.

That was almost a year ago...it never squeeled again.

showme · #13 11-22-2008, 02:54 AM

Yeah, me too. I've had 2 people in the last week yell at me and tell me I need new brakes. That I can handle. It's the fingernails-on-the-chalkboard sensation I get when I pull up to a light and all the heads turn. I'm wondering in my brake and muffler shop didn't put the shims back on.

tangofox007 · #14 11-22-2008, 10:05 AM

showme,

I had essentially the same problem after installing new Textar pads several months ago. Prior to that, my rear brakes would squeal slightly only when backing up. After installing the Textar pads, the front brakes squealed painfully; it sounded exactly like metal on metal. (I was in the garage one day wnen my wife pulled the car in; it actually hurt to listen to the squeal.)

I had lubed the pads properly when they were installed. After allowing plenty of time for break-in, I removed the pads, cleaned the calipers and re-lubed with Permatex brake grease. All that did was make the problem worse.

So, I replaced the front rotors a couple of weeks ago. No more squeal.

After examining the new pads, it appears that they are sized slightly larger than the previous pads, so that they made contact with the rotor in a previously untouched area. Maybe that was the problem. Or maybe it was an uneven surface on the rotor. In any case, new rotors have stopped the squeal.

rg2098 · #15 11-22-2008, 02:24 PM

July of 07 I through new pads on to pass tech at Gemutlichkeit. A year later they were vibrating and squealing so I did pads and rotors. After a week they were squeaking again. I would have rather burned the money and saved me time and a dirty job. I've given up at this point.