Brake pad shines
 

Doing my brakes today, pads and lines. The old non Mercedes pads have shines, one got damaged, do I need to use them? It’s a while that I did Mercedes brakes.

Thanks.

Jorn, you mean shims I think. They help inhibit brake squeal. You can use a coating of special brake paste on the back of the pad instead. It is available at any parts store such as Pep Boys or O'Rielly.

Shims, I knew it was wrong! Thanks that’s what I needed to know.

I always spray the back of the brake pads with the blue stuff and then stick the shims to the pads.

Another question. I'm not done yet with the job, have to do the rear tomorrow and than bleed the system. I noticed that the front drivers side wheel spins freely with the new pads, but the psg side is hard to turn. Without the wheel installed I wasn't able to turn it all, will this correct it self when the fluid is flushed and the pads settle?

With my Volvo there is a specific procedure you have to do after new pads are installed; you bring the car up to 20mph and press the brake softly until you come almost to a stop, without stopping you accelerate to 40mph and do the same. Is there something similar with a W126/123?

the volvo procedure is called burnishing which is required with every car once new brake material has been installed, without burnishing the brakes wont work as good.

for the dragging wheel, first make sure the wheel bearing is perfectly installed then make sure the brake caliper pistons are fully retracted and can actually move.

Thanks, will do.