Hello: I'm changing the front calipers, pads and brake hoses on my 1990 300SE W126. I've changed those items on the right side already. My problem is the pads are tight on the rotor. The bottom of the pads went onto the rotor easier than the top part did when I was attaching the caliper to the rotor. The calipers are remanufactured and the pads are new. I'm calling the top of the pads the part where they attach to the caliper via the hardware.

Well, I got the caliper with the pads attached, but when I attached the wheel and turned it I can feel and hear the pads dragging on the rotor. I don't know if it has anything to do with it, but I haven't bled the system yet and most of the fluid is out of it.

I just want to find out what I've done wrong, if anything, before I go forward.

Thank you.

Well, while waiting for a response to my initial inquiry I went ahead and started working on the other caliper. And in doing so I found the problem with the first one. The rebuilder put the retaining rings in upside down. The lips on those rings are at the top, not the bottom where they're supposed to be. That obviously inhibits the pads from opening as they should.

I don't think I can slide the rings around to their correct positions. I have another rebuilt caliper for that side so I'm going to put that one on and just have the store exchange the one that was assembled wrong.

Nice detective work.

__________________
- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

I just do not understand what has happened to work ethic and the desire to do a good job - no matter what you are doing.

Thanks, but it sure took me long enough to figure it out. I had actually changed those pads previously and it was quick and easy. This time I wanted to change the calipers and from the difficulty I was having I knew something wasn't right.

The caliper with the problem was a Cardone from Advanced Auto Parts. It was rebuilt in Mexico. All of the calipers I've gotten from them were real clean. This is the first one I've had a problem with as the other 3 were fine.

I have a lot of spare parts on hand and put in a Mercedes remanufactured caliper instead.

Shoddy 3rd party items made in 3rd world countries......no surprise.

And on that model it helps to first loosen bleeder to get pistons to retract.

__________________
Mike Murrell
1991 300-SEL - Model 126
M103 - SOHC
"Fräulein"