Yo!

After a mishap with some decorative chrome lug nut caps I finally got the tire off of my '87 300SDL. The thing has been pouring out black dust for the past few weeks and we finally had time to work on it. Over the past weeks i've noticed a drop in fuel efficiency too...

My father noted that the front passanger wheel was really hard to turn, so we jacked up the driver side and it spun like butter (also had no frightening black dust)

He (is a bit of a fatalist and) thinks that the wheel bearing is shot. The brake pad looks fine but it appears to be stuck down on the disc. There has been some squeaking on the brakes for the past month that was on and off at first but has become a commonplace thing...

My pops is off to Oreileys to get some brake cleaner to try and loosen it.

There are no grooves on the disk...

So is it a wheel bearing or the brake pad is just stuck? and how do I fix it?

Thanks!

We can't tell you which it is, you will have to tell us. It could be a stuck caliper, as they tend to rust in place if the fluid isn't flushed every year or two. The fluid develops moisture, which can stick your caliper in place.
I hope it it that and not the wheel bearing........

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

The pad looks like its stuck down on the disc...

How can I unstick the caliper? Just an ass-ton of brake cleaning spray?

Is there any looseness between the wheel and the knuckle? Is there any in-out slop? Can you rock the wheel holding the top and bottom? Pry the bearing cap off the hub and describe the condition of the grease.

Sixto
93 300SD

No, we couldn't rock the wheel (dad tried to)

When he gets back from the auto shop (think i hear him right now...) i'll see if he can pull the cap off and i'll take some pics for you guys...

Once again, thanks for all the help! You are all truley saints and most deserving of ice cool beers...

You either pry the caliper apart carefully with a screw driver, or use a C-clamp to compress the caliper pistons back into caliper body.

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

It could be a swollen brake hose. Try to open the bleed nipple and see if it releases its grip. If so, you need a new brake hose. If not, you have caliper issues.

Bearings look fine and dandy like sour candy... Its gotta be the caliper...that brake pad aint movin :-/

I also agree its probably a restricted brake hose to the caliper. Should replace both front caliper hoses. Very common condition. alot of calipers have been needlessly rebuilt/replaced because a faulty hose!

__________________
81 300CD (sold) 1972 280 SEL 4.5 (sold) 1966 250 S 4 spd (sold) 1974 450 SL (sold) 86 BMW 325ES (sold), 1973 280C (sold) 1988 300 SE.

Nah, it isn't the hose. We loosened the brake bleeding nipple a bit and when I pushed on the brakes we were getting fluid through there just fine.

Right now i'm looking at replacement calipers but I really think this can be fixed...

There should be a rebuild kit available. Did mine 4 years ago; still works fine.

__________________
Paul
2004 E500 4matic; 72,000mi

Rebuild kits are cheap and it's an easy job. Make sure you get the right type as there are a few different types of calipers. Then while you're at it, flush the brake system and replace it with fresh fluid.

__________________
DJ


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

The hoses are very cheap, and it would be foolish to do this job without replacing them.
Also, rebuilt calipers aren't that much more than the rebuild kits, and you can't always scotch-brite off the rust barnacles satisfactorily.
Also, you still can't be sure of the hose, as they will let fluid flow one direction, but not the other. Hence, the stuck caliper.
If you ask the question, heed the advice of the guys above.......

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Well, upon jacking the car up again we did notice a bit of play in the wheel...

But i'm sure the black dust is from the brake pad...

Will I have to bleed the entire system if i replace the hose?

The grease is fine according to my dad...