"break in by only making gentle stops for about 150k or so, else they will groan badly on stopping"

Just realized that last summer when we had the brake pads replaced in our 190E, after I took it from the shop (yes, why did i not do it myself), I took the car and made same very hard stops. Shortly after, I blamed the rotors for the shuddering and groaning. I guess I messed them up when I did the harsh braking just after I took the car from the mech.


Another story popped in my head. Once I broke off one of the rear caliper bolts on a C230, I went to a shop and they did the following:

1. Heat up the caliper and remove the bolt with vise grip
2. Change one broken spring in the parking brake.

All of that cost me $120 CAN ?? only for labour!!! I think it was too much.
But o well, its over now. Also the same mech who did the job told me once that the 190 2.3 and the 2.6 have indentical suspension. Same springs, spring loads etc