Looking for a little help, I searched the forum already and didn't find an answer. I'll be doing a brake job for my sister soon, and need to know if I'm missing something. Car is a 2001 C240, 30,000 miles. I plan on replacing front and rear pads, keeping the old rotors, and flushing the lines with new fluid.

Sound reasonable?

My real question- aside from using a power bleeder, how do you go about flushing old fluid out through the resevoir/master cylinder/ABS pump?

Thanks in advance

Did you check the discs for thickness? If they are close to spec, replace them. Don't turn MB discs.

Don't forget wear sensors. The old ones may be reusable if they have not yet contacted the rotor but for like $1 a sensor, I always put new ones in. Rear pads usually last about twice as long as front pads. From my experience, rotors usually last 2 sets of pads before they wear to min thickness.

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Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record

I didn't check the discs for wear yet- this is the first set of pads, and I'd be surprised if they have already worn the discs close to spec. Wear sensors will be replaced of course- I usually end up breaking them anyways when I pull them out.

What about bleeding the system without a pressure bleeder? Any hints for this? I'm assuming that pumpung the pedal will not flush all the old fluid out of the system.

Check the fronts. I have seen plenty of folks that have worn through their front discs at 30K-miles, me included. Better safe than sorry. Also, with front pads lasting about 30K-miles, think about the discs if they're less than 50%, or they might not last until your next pad change.

As to changing the brake fluid, I hadn't thought much of it. I haven't done that job as it's really cheap to have it done at the dealer.

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John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/4050/tophat6.gif

i installed speedbleeders on my car, and it is so easy to bleed the brake system without any help - this is a one man job...

I've been asking some questions about brake fluid bleeding on the 203's.

From what people tell me ( Pat Goss from Motorweek among others ) better left for the dealer.

Seems a diagnostic computer needs to be attached after the bleeding.

I am curious to know if anyone has bleed there own brakes on a 203 0 211.

I just did a brake job on my 2001 c320 few months ago at
about the mileage as yours.

I found my front disks were worn just as bad as
the pads. I ordered a set of Balo and put them on as
well as a new set of pad.

The rear pads and disks have plenty left and they mayl probably
last till the front is worn again.


Your US benz dealer should cover the brake fluid
change under the regular maintanence program at the end
of your 3rd year maintanence visit. (check your car maintance
manual to be sure).

Does anyone have the specifications for a 2005 W203 Sport Sedan - C230...?

Pads and rotors;

New thickness, minimum thickness and rotor run out permissible?

Thanks
Jake

The only bit of info I have is;
Caliper retaining bolt - 115nm
Wear sensor bracket - 8nm

New front pad thickness - 19.8 mm (with back plate)
Service limit 2 mm without back plate

New rear pad thickness - 15.5 mm (with back plate)
Service limit 2 mm without back plate

New front discthickness - 28 mm
Service limit 25.4 mm

New rear pad thickness - 10 mm
Service limit 8.3 mm

Torque on front caliper attach bolts - 25 Nm (replace these)

Good Luck!

Jerry

I'm surprised to read that the car in question needs pads at only 30K miles. Driving my '01 C320, I make no particular effort to conserve brakes or tires and yet my original pads finally needed replacement this summer at 40K miles and all four wheels were worn evenly. I didn't change the discs because they had only a small ridge.

My two 201s needed front pads every 14K miles and rears at 27K. I changed the front discs on the '89 at about 49K miles. The W202 '95 C280 wore it's rears out first at 30K miles with the fronts a bit later. Increasing disc diameter and enlarging the pads has done wonders for brake life. And, the C32 brakes are even larger.

Changing the rear pads on a current C-Class takes no more than five minutes per side once the wheels are off since the caliper design is different with only one cross pin. Of the four pads on the rear, only one has a wear sensor and it's on the inside right pad.

The fronts have sensors on both sides..

Since my car was delivered in April 2001, it's already had two fluid changes.

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Roger E.

Pat Goss would want you to leave wiper blade replacement to the dealer as well.

Fear of liability I guess.