How important - Brake Caliper Heat Shields? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

adamb · #1 01-27-2004, 10:30 AM

Hello,
I was curious just how important brake caliper heat shields are as they never come with a rebuilt brake caliper. I have had the ATE style rebuilt front caliper go bad twice on me in 50k miles and wondered how much the lack of the heat shield may have contributed.
I brought the ATE calipers back for warranty and was able to get the Bendix in return and it didn't come with the heat shield either, ableit a much smaller one than was on the ATE.
Since I have my vehicle apart, should I wait to get the shield as shown in the pic or will it be fine without it?
Thanks, Adam

psfred · #2 01-27-2004, 11:32 AM

The heat shield is there to protect the dust boot from excessive heat. When the dust boot cracks, you get dirt in the piston, or it corrodes, and sticks.

Rebuilt caliper should have a heat shield in place, or in the box for installation, I'd reject any that didn't.

An shield comes in the rebuild kit, as you have noticed. I don't consider them optional in ATE calipers.

Peter

adamb · #3 01-27-2004, 11:39 AM

Thanks, that answers it! I guess I'll have to spring for the shields seperately as I got mine on warranty replacement.
Side note:
I'm still waiting on my head to be finished from the machine shop. After 185k, the guy said I needed exhaust valve guides and light resurfacing on both the head (milled) and valve faces. I also got the .4mm thicker pre-chamber seals and was happy to see just how clean everything was after running 100% BioDiesel for about 3k miles.
Thanks again, Adam

wbain5280 · #4 01-27-2004, 11:46 AM

Where do you get those little heat shields anyway. I need at least on for my 300SE (gasser, ok ok, wrong forum)

adamb · #5 01-27-2004, 11:49 AM

you can get them at FastLane under "caliper rebuild kit". They cost a good penny if you have Bendix, but if you have ATE, they are about half as much.

rickg · #6 01-27-2004, 12:20 PM

Those silly things caused me no end of prob's with my brake job awhile ago. I bought rebuilts, without the pads as the counter dude convinced me it was a cheaper way to go overall to buy pads seperate. Fine, whatever. Calipers come in, get home and start to put them on, no shields. Back to the store. Order a 'hardware kit", which put me in the "more money" catagory. They gave me a discount on the kit to make up for the trouble. Fine, whatever. Kit comes in, no shields. They had called the warehouse at the time I ordered, to make sure the shields are included in the kit

) Had to run back home, gather up the calipers and pads, return everything, and order loaded calipers.
Loaded rebuilt calipers come with everything . Lesson learned.
All the while, the guys at the store kept mumbling about what a PIA Mercedes are. I'll go thru Fastlane next time, thank you very much.

Les Izmore · #7 11-30-2013, 07:09 PM

So I went to rebuild my rear ATE calipers this weekend (85 300d), a new job for me (never had an air compressor

) the left side pistons came right out with the air (I read somewhere to put a rag over the caliper when you blow it out - Very Important - vaporized brake fluid bad!). The inside heat shield came off - a bit mangled but usable - the outside was frozen pretty bad and I destroyed it... just a silly piece of metal right? I bought the cheap rebuild kit - no heat shields - so I searched "heat shield necessay?" and found this thread. Though I was conviced by the above posts that yes - heat shield neceassy - I decided to take of the right side and while i was still gung ho and... No heat shields! I included pics so you can see for youself the effects of not running heat shields. You can see the dust boots from the other side for reference as to what they should look (kinda) like. One piston was frozen - Itried to get it out and started making progress _after 2 broken srew drivers_ and part of the collar on the piston broke right off the piston. There is another pic, notice the rust on the botton of the "good" piston behind it, and another showing the break pad wear - i included a new pad for reference so you can see how long ago that piston froze. (and thougth severely uneven pad wear is a good inicator a frozen piston duh - i should have noticed that) And I'll mention, the left side caliper looks great, and the car had no problems braking when I drove it - - at least normallly - So I guess I'm buying a caliper... It better come with heat shields

I am still planning on resealing the good one, (plus I have to do the front and my 240 frnt and rr) CAnt wait

BTW The "Irish" chain shows orings in their rebuild kit - But NO heat shields! Where the heck can you buy just the Heat Shields?!?

unkl300d · #8 05-06-2015, 11:47 PM

For those in a pinch, NAPA does sell rebuilt ATE calipers that are authentic MBZ cores. 2015 update.

They do not come with heat shields installed nor pads, however, they sell good quality pads that now come with a metal back plate heat shield that installs with the pad super easy.

For one, PAGID metallic made in Germany.

A-1 Cardone appears to be folly. They cast their own copies of ATE caliper bodies that are out of dimension and the holes are not accurately set...

Good luck.

Graham · #9 05-07-2015, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unkl300d

For those in a pinch, NAPA does sell rebuilt ATE calipers that are authentic MBZ cores. 2015 update.

They do not come with heat shields installed nor pads, however, they sell good quality pads that now come with a metal back plate heat shield that installs with the pad super easy.

For one, PAGID metallic made in Germany.

In Canada, I asked NAPA and they could not supply rebuilt calipers for my 85 300D. They listed them, but none were available. (Had my own rebuilt at $60 each and that included proper heat shields)

There is a lot of heat in the area around the caliper pistons. I somehow doubt the metal back plates on pads would protect the rubber of the caliper seal.

I would recommend that anyone installing rebuilt calipers make sure they also install the proper heat shields. Can't understand why well known rebuilders don't supply them when a small Toronto shop includes them in his $60 per rebuild.

BTW, I may be wrong, but I thought the metal backing on pads was there as a shim to reduce brake noise.

Zulfiqar · #10 05-07-2015, 10:17 AM

anyone installing pagid pads.

they will squeal like a pig for a couple of months - you need to cook the pads for them to bed in and stop squealing.

dont think they are bad because they squeal.

Graham · #11 05-07-2015, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zulfiqar

anyone installing pagid pads.

they will squeal like a pig for a couple of months - you need to cook the pads for them to bed in and stop squealing.

dont think they are bad because they squeal.

Interesting observation.

I installed Pagid on rear of our 98 W210. All last year, they squealed at very low speeds. We were away for 3 months over winter, so car was parked. This year, no squealing. Didn't "cook" the pads. I suspect rust on disks may have somehow changed the friction of the pads so they no longer squeal!

Lucas · #12 05-07-2015, 12:27 PM

My calipers didnt come with heat shields. They said they are lifetime warranty and if they needed it they would be there. They wouldnt want to sell something with a warranty that will break.

And if does break, they have a warranty.

My thought was rubber quality has probably improved since they were built.

Graham · #13 05-07-2015, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucas

My calipers didnt come with heat shields. They said they are lifetime warranty and if they needed it they would be there. They wouldnt want to sell something with a warranty that will break.

And if does break, they have a warranty.

My thought was rubber quality has probably improved since they were built.

If they fail, you have to remove the calipers, remove the seals, get into a claim situation. In the meantime, what do you do? Most of those type of warranty's are worthless. At most they would replace the failed seals. Sort of like muffler warranties. Ever tried to collect on those? I have and only the muffler cost was rebated, rest like labour clips etc were not.

I had my brakes done previous time by a local shop. They must not have replaced the heat shields. My front seals were toast after about 5 years of use.

It's such a small price to pay to do the job properly. And brakes are kind of important.

Ceristimo · #14 05-07-2015, 04:38 PM

Yeah, "life time warranty'. I have one of those on the refurbished alternator that I put in my daily driver after the original one seized up about two years ago.

It's been two years. I am on my third refurbished alternator. Sure, whenever it dies I just take it off, take it to the store with my receipt and get a new one, but it means that:
1) I can't drive my car
2) It takes a whole evening at the least, since it's a b*tch to get to on the Mazda.

Just saying, those life-time warranty's are not as sweet as they sound sometimes. It sometimes feels like it's a way to sell inferior products.

unkl300d · #15 05-07-2015, 04:43 PM

I just replaced both my front ATE calipers and pads on my 79 300D.

The original 'heat shields' apparently also are considered to be 'friction shields' and 'shims' by some mechanics although the official MBZ tech book names them as 'heat shields'.

No matter. The oem round shields are simply stamped metal anyway that serve the same purpose as an additional floating metal backing plate found on some pads like Pagid. IMO

I consider that the original wheels were metal with hubcaps and my current wheels are bundt type with open to air vent holes.

In any event, I did remove the original 'heat shileds' from the old calipers but decided it was easier to get the aforementioned pads and not fuss with installing and aligning the oem 'shields' etc..

So far my Pagid pads do not squeal at all. From the get go.

"your mileage may vary"