I started driving my 230CE (just like a 300CD but with a gas engine) again and it seems now my front brake calipers are probably sticking. I get a constant squeeking noise while driving and with the window open I could hear a dragging sound while rolling. I had to rebuild my rear ones for a similar problem but then it sounded way worse.
Its so frustrating that no sooner did I start driving the car again, some other annoying problem crops up. Am I right to assume that I've got sticky calipers. The car stops normally and doesn't grab suddenly. The squeek/squeel goes away when hitting the brakes. I haven't pulled the front wheels yet. I'm saving that for the weekend, maybe. The problem is that my wife is already sick and tired of me working on the car so much lately. I know she's going to nag me again about getting rid of it, again.
Looking for a little extra advice here as well.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

No, not on the basis of the fact that brakes squeak. The noise is often caused by vibration between the metal pad backing and the piston. (Which is why the noise often stops with the slightest brake application.) The noise alone is not indicative of a larger problem. If a front caliper sticks, symptoms would include: car pulling to one side, wheel getting hot, hot brake smell, uneven pad wear. My rear brakes used to squeal when I backed up, never going forward. New pads stopped the problem.

The one thing that makes me think that the calipers are sticking is the constant dragging sound I hear when I drive at low speeds. Then as I speed up it turns to a hissing like squeel. There is no pulling whatsoever but from what I could see through the wheels, I think I saw a discoloration to the rotors possibly indicating overheating. Last I drove it, there was no vibration on stopping so the rotors are not warped. This morning when I told my wife I was driving the 300D instead of the 230, she asked why and I told her I needed to check the brakes before driving it again. All she did was sigh but I have a feeling when I get home tonight, I guess I can expect to hear some more nagging.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

An update, I pulled the wheels off on the weekend and saw no discloration. The brakes seemed to drag a bit more than they should but the calipers didn't show any signs of sticking. I was able to compress the pads without any problem.
I forgot to mention, I had recently replaced the pads but I didn't resurface the rotors since they didn't have any grooves or warpage. I'm thinking is it possible that the pads I was supplied with are too thick? At low speeds I can hear quite a bit of dragging.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

Do you use brake pad goop to stop squeaking?

If your caliper was sticking or slow to withdraw, would'nt you feel the pedal as harder?

Anyway, mice it ain't.

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1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
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1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

Hey,
It's always a good idea to spray the crap out of the calipers and rotors with some brake cleaner. After the old pads are removed of course.
I go to the dollar store and get an aluminum pan to collect the cleaner.

That and some anti squeal paste on the back of the new pads should do the trick.

Danny

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1984 300SD Turbo Diesel 150,000 miles

OBK member #23

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