Brake pad paste

[Kestas]

The shop manual says to use brake pad paste (PN 001 989 10 51) on the brake pad lining backplate. Is this also a "special" Mercedes item, or can any antisqueal paste work?

[omegabenz]

I use antisieze compound on the places where the pad rests on the caliper and where the pistons push on the pad. I have a bunch of mercedes grease, but I dont use it. Sometimes brakes will make noise no matter what you do...Look at my other posts about my troubles with brakes, I have tried everything. I use loctite high temperature antisieze, I think its nickel, but im not 100% sure.

[speedy300Dturbo]

I've had good luck with Permatex "Disc Brake Quiet". It's blue stuff that comes in a aerosol can, and you spray it on the piston side of the brake pads.

[dmorrison]

Just did the brakes and the senior mechanic at the local Mercedes dealer also recommended anti-seize paste. He showed me a can of permatex antiseize past that he uses. He recommends a small amount where the caliper piston touches the pad ( sort of a circular shape) AND where the edges sit in the caliper.

Dave

[95E320cab]

Kestas:

I use the cheap stuff from autozone and it works great. It is red and comes in a bottle of about 6 oz. More than I'll ever use for $3. I did learn from this site it is best to let the paste "cure" for a while before applying the brakes: For example overnight. Otherwise the paste just squirts out of the places you need it. I had to do mine twice because I didn't allow it to cure the first time.

I would suggest using more pate than you think is just enough to do the job. Also, I used some Berryman's "Brakeklean" to flush out the old anti-squeal and dust from around the pistons before reinstalling the pads and shims.

I like to really clean the inside of my rims when I have the wheels off the car, too. Go ahead, call me anal.

[omegabenz]

I clean my rims everytime I wash my car, it keeps them looking new from the inside and out.

Also dress the brake pads so they seat into your old rotors, meaning put a chamfer on the edges of the pad.

[Duke2.6]

Originally posted by 95E320cab
Kestas:
I like to really clean the inside of my rims when I have the wheels off the car, too. Go ahead, call me anal.

You're not alone. I do the same thing.

Duke

Some of those responding here refer to anti-sieze compound, others to anti squeal paste. The original question was surrounding the anti squeal paste.

I have never found a need for anti sieze compound on brake components, in fact it would kind of worry me to have it that near the friction surfaces. The anti squeal compound, on the other hand, works great if applied according to the directions and, as previous poster said, let cure before applying brakes.

Have a great day,

I've never had to use anti-squeal paste with my Mercedes but when I recently ordered new pads I also ordered packages of M-B anti-squeal paste at $.85/each.

[csnow]

I have never used the 'greasy' MB stuff on the pad backs. I looked at it, and decided to 'stick' with the sticky adhesive stuff from the parts stores. It has always served me well over the years.
I prefer the squeeze bottle over the spray.

Tip: The newer formulas will be ruined if they freeze. Must be due to 'low voc' or something.


I use a very thin coating of synthetic moly brake grease (Sta-Lube) on all sliding surfaces on the pad carriers (and pins for the multi-piston models), which is designed for this very purpose. It has proven to hold up well. I have doubts about anti-seize in this application, but it might work. This detail is somewhat less important on some MBs, due to those nice stainless shims the pads glide on.

The pins that the caliper 'floats' on get silicone grease. This stuff has held up really well for this application, and it appears to be kind to the rubber boots.

Best of luck.

[G-Benz]

Never had to use it when I did the pads on my W124...and never had a squeak problem...until now!

So I will get some and do them this weekend.

I never seem to have any around when I need it...probably from the days of eating paste in kindergarten!

[Kestas]

With some of the talk going toward antisieze compound being used for anti squeal, I decided to analyze the paste from the brakes I replaced. The stuff is gray in color.

It's essentially made of copper flakes in an organic carrier. There's some aluminum and zinc in the mixture, but most of it is copper. It appears that it could be copper-based antisieze compound. Similar material is used for antifretting compounds used in bearing mount applications.

I don't know if the brakes are original as I bought the car with 52,000 miles on it. The thinnest pad has 3mm left from an original thickness of 11mm. (It contacts the sensor at 2.5mm!)

[csnow]

Permatex makes a 'high temp' Anti-seize paste with copper in it. Perhaps that is what you are looking at.
Temperature range: -30°F to 1800°F
Suggested Applications:
Spark plug threads installed in aluminum, exhaust manifold bolts, engine bolts, oxygen sensors, knock sensors, thermostat housing bolts, fuel filter fittings, and battery cable connections.

The 'regular' anti-seize contains a lot of aluminum.
Temperature range: -60°F to 1600°F
Suggested Applications:
For easy removal of spark plugs, cylinder head and exhaust head bolts.

Then there is the 'super high temp' Nickel Anti-Seize:
Protects metal parts from seizing and galling at temperatures up to 2400°F.

Note, however, that brake use is NOT a suggested application for any of these. Link to Permatex products


They do make Ultra Disc Brake Caliper Lube for this purpose, which has a full synthetic base.


I use this stuff from CRC/Sta-Lube:

[ke6dcj]

I use the PermaTex Ultra Disc Brake Caliber Lube which I think is the same as the MB Brake Grease.

I use only "yellow-box" Textar pads, and I have kept the stainless-steel shim that goes between pad and pistions installed with a thin layer of the Ultra lube on both sides.

No squeals and wife doesn't complain.

:-) neil
1988 360TE AMG
1993 500E