Are there any signs that the rear brake pads are going? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DieselHead · #1 02-18-2003, 04:19 PM

Hi,
I know that the front brake pads have a pad wear sensor (which is a feature that I find to be pretty rare on newer cars), but how will I know when the rear pads are going? I don't think my rear pads have been changed in something like 60K city miles and I'm worried that they're going to wear so far down that they pad backs will start scraping the rotors. If you tell me that the only way to know is to take the wheels off and have a look, then so be it. It's damn cold though, and I don't have a garage space to work in now, so it'd be nice if Mercedes engineered some kind of warning system into the rear brakes.

Alex

84300DT · #2 02-18-2003, 05:07 PM

alex - if you have a small powerful flashlight like a min maglite or similiar it is possible to shine it through the bundt rim onto the caliper to check the outside pads. it's not the best solution but it may indicate whether you need to take the wheel off for a closer inspection.
bob

lrg · #3 02-19-2003, 12:17 AM

The wear on the rear pads is much less than the fronts so you are probably still OK. I drive mostly in the city on big hills and my rears outlast the fronts about 3 to 1.

hill · #4 02-19-2003, 12:32 AM

I know it is time to change mine when the parking brake set point gets close to the floor.

dmorrison · #5 02-19-2003, 12:42 AM

Darryl

I have to ask, Why do you think the rear pads are worn when your parking brake needs adjustment when the parking brake is a shoe setup inside the rear brake rotor and the rear brakes are pads that press against the rear rotors. The systems are completely seperate. Or have you noticed a correlation between the two systems.
I'm thinking 123 body not your year 107.
Please let me know if I'm not thinking of something
Dave

hill · #6 02-19-2003, 01:09 AM

Never mind I am getting my cars mixed up.

gsxr · #7 02-19-2003, 02:16 PM

The only way to properly tell is to pull BOTH rear wheels off and inspect the pad thickness visually. The newer 124 chassis cars (and probably other newer MB's) have wear sensors on both pads, inboard and outboard, front AND rear... a really nice feature!

unkl300d · #8 02-19-2003, 02:54 PM

Alex< find out the minimum brake pad depth for your state
or car model, find a piece of wire that measure about that
width.
Get your small mag lite and wire and fish it through the rim opening. Place the wire next to pad and compare.
This only gives some indication of outside pad wear. sometimes the inside pad wears more or less.
Also, if you run your finger along the rotor and it is deeply scored, you might as well change it all out.
It WILL improve braking even if you still have meat on the pads.
That is how I monitored my W123 rear pads.

P.E.Haiges · #9 02-20-2003, 09:31 PM

If the car is going, the rear pads are also going unless they fell out. Seriously, you have to visually check them fr wear. As long as they are 1 mm thick, thst are OK.

P E H