Hi everyone,
Today im having $1400 done on my benz including new rotors and pads on the front. Now the car seems to brake fine, i do notice however if the car sits for a few days or more, my first couple of stops i hear slight noise and a scraping feeling through the pedal. After the first few stops the feeling and noise disappear. Of course if i drive the car everyday, i never notice this.
Since im having the tie-rods, lower ball joints and upper control arms replaced my mechanic said id save a little money if i just do the front brakes now. Did i need brakes anyways?
Hope im not getting ripped off!!!

Does you car sleep outside?
More than likely it is just a simple case of your brake disks getting rusty from moisture. The first few times you brake, all of the rust is being removed.

My car does this the morning after I wash it in the driveway and pull it into the garage without driving it. The wet brake disks rust overnight.

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Bill Wood - Retired Webmaster
My Personal Website
1998 Mercedes E430
2010 Toyota Sequoia
My Photo Albums

Yes it does stay outside, and thats what it feels like, grinding away the rust. I only hope these rotors truly need replacement.

They very well may need replacement but, because they are worn...NOT because of the grinding noise.

It's pretty easy to tell when your pads need to be replaced because the sensors will trigger the light in your instrument cluster to alert you. The disks are a little tougher. Usually they are replaced because they have worn and are too thin. The only way to tell is to measure the thickness with a micrometer.

Any good shop worth their salt will save your old parts and gladly show them to you. Ask to see your old disks and have them show you that they are out of spec. If they cannot do that I would never return there for service.

__________________
Bill Wood - Retired Webmaster
My Personal Website
1998 Mercedes E430
2010 Toyota Sequoia
My Photo Albums

I agree with the "just go ahead and change" on brake stuff. I do hate the idea of shops replacing parts to make money (and I'm sure that happens). But on my own cars which I keep forever, good, dependable, no worry brakes are at the top of the list. Rotors are cheap. Refinished ones or used ones can warp under on good hard panic stop (or so I've heard). Some fixes I just overdo and others I try to save money on.
Just one way of looking at it.

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Dan Stadt
'85 300D turbo
'79 300SD
'73 220D

I agree, rotors are cheap and should be replaced when too thin or warped, causing pedal pulsation. However, replacing them with every pad change is extreme over kill. Thoroughly flushing brakes with fresh fluid annually is not overkill.

Just my $0.02,