Brakes "Sticking" - rebuild ?

[tivoliman]

Car: 1993 500SEL and 1992 190E 2.6

The brake pads are wearing uneven. This suggests to me that a caliber (piston) is “sticking”, or just not moving smoothly.

My choices – rebuild or replace.

I’ve been told FastLane has the rebuild kits for the calibers.

Is rebuilding the brake calibers a “big” job? With some American type cars, years ago, I simply removed the brake calibers and pumped the breaks – soon the piston popped out. I replaced the rubber and reassembled all.

Do the Mercedes follow the same design?

Pictures and hints are appreciated.

Your thoughts and comments are appreciated.

[nglitz]

I'm not familiar with your particular model, but if it's a single piston caliper, the piston will probably pop out, just as you said.

However, a little lubrication on the sliders might solve your problem. If the calipers aren't leaking, you probably don't need to rebuild the caliper and it wouldn't help anyway. Your issue is the lateral sliding of the caplier and it sticking instead of sliding. Wire brish & lube. "Never sieze" for lube between two cast iron parts or silicone grease if it slides on pins. :p

Slick,

[psfred]

Uneven meaning?

Describe the uneven-ness, there are several different types with different causes.

Peter

[tivoliman]

By uneven wear i mean that the brake pads are not the same size.

On the same wheel - one pad may be 1/8 inch, while the other is 1/4 inch (not exact numbers), but both sides are thinner than new brakes.


Thanks

[psfred]

The pads normally are a bit different in thickness. Sometimes it's the outside, sometimes the inside that's thinner, probably due to the greater exposure of that side to road dirt, etc.

However, if there is a full 1/8" difference, I would check for a sticking piston on that side, or one dragging on the worn side, there shouldn't be that much difference.

Peter

[tivoliman]

please suggest how to get the piston not to stick?

Thanks