Hello all,

I just wanted to share my experience in changing the rear brake pads.

I was very frustrated with the Mercedes PIN design. I've never had a harder time changing brakes on a car before. First the pin would not come out, it was rusted enough that it would not budge. When i first punched the pin back enough to make it flush with caliper, I took a punch and tried pushing it further, but it would not move. Using the punch was also akward trying to keep it lined up. I then pushed the pin back to the original position and then tried removing it again. The back and forth must have loosened it enough to allow it to be punched out further than before.
I easily removed the old pads and easily compressed the pistons.

I then had a heck of a time trying to push the pin back in place. Of course that is because the pads did not get pushed down enough to allow the pin through the hole (of the pad).

The second side (rear right) was easier to do because I knew what I had to do. The kicker is that I used the wrong pads on the other side. Apparently only one pad has a brake sensor and that pad has a notch in the top where the sensor is inserted. I did not notice that and used it on the first side I did the brakes on. Of course I assumed, because I did not have any sensors on the first side, that my car was not equiped with brake sensors.
Nevertheless another lesson learned.

I also ended up removing the caliper, so I could better position the brake pad pin hole and pin.

The next time I change my rear brakes I will purchase a new pin and anti-rattle plate for each wheel.

I will definitely not be as frustrated the next time I do the rear brakes.

I have done many brake jobs before on VWs, Ford, Chevy, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, and I've never had such a frustrating time. I guess these cars are not that DIY friendly??

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1998 E300 Turbodiesel 184K