95 E300D brake caliper cradle bolts & brake sensor wires - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Texasgeezer · #1 11-01-2018, 01:46 PM

I changed my front rotors, pads, and brake fluid a couple of days ago.

Don't have lift at home and did the work in my driveway. Easy enough but I was having trouble loosening the caliper bracket bolts ( hard to get leverage in the wheel well ).

I found that using a bottle jack to apply pressure to the outer end of the wrench made that work easy. Just a few quick pumps and the wrench turned like a hot knife through butter.

Most of y'all might already know this, but 1st time I tried it and made the work a lot easier.

Also ended up sheathing the long brake sensor wires in a split vacuum hose and black silicone due to wire insulation failure. Split the hose, squeezed some black silicon inside and then zip tied the full length up to the top of the fender well. Vacuum hose fit snugly into the two retainer clips between the caliper and the top of the fender well.

tjts1 · #2 11-01-2018, 01:51 PM

Get an electric impact gun. It makes brake and suspension work a lot easier.

Texasgeezer · #3 11-01-2018, 02:01 PM

I have air wrenches but the suspension parts prevented easy access.

Diseasel300 · #4 11-01-2018, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjts1

Get an electric impact gun. It makes brake and suspension work a lot easier.

X2!

I have an ancient B&D electric from the 70s. Absolutely anemic by today's standards and I still couldn't live without it.

tjts1 · #5 11-01-2018, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texasgeezer

I have air wrenches but the suspension parts prevented easy access.

Weird, my 1/2" Milwaukee had no problem accessing the caliper bolts and it's pretty bulky compared to most air impacts.

Bolognablake · #6 11-01-2018, 04:53 PM

Swivel sockets and wobble extensions make all the difference in suspension work. Also, a compact impact is helpful as well. Milwaukee has their new M12 Stubby that will do 250ft lbs.

I have the compact Air Cat impact. A lot of people really like the Astro Nano too.

A long flex-head 3/8" ratchet is worth it's weight in gold. Lots of people make a 14-15" in a flex-head 3/8". The Pittsburgh Pro for Harbor Freight aint bad. Carlyle from NAPA is almost tool truck quality. My go to currently is a Matco, because I love the slim ratchet head. Obviously any Snap-On is fantastic too.