Mercedes brake nightmare

[Trav]

Millions of Germans do their brakes every year with after market pads. Jurid, Pagid, ATE are some very popular brands.
Jurid is made by Bendix. Bendix CT+3 or ATE Premium One work well silently in this car.
It sounds like your pads are just to hard, probably better suited to very spirited driving when they are up to temp.

 

[SteveSRT8]

The three star folks would be proud to hear the "use only factory parts".

Someone's been drinking the kool aid.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Scott_Tucker
Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: Scott_Tucker
You should be able to get the copper anti-seize paste at any auto parts store or hardware store. I think it works best and I've done hundreds of brake jobs.

From my experience only, regardless of what the OEM or the pad maker says, any chemical (be it anti-seize, caliper grease or disc brake quiet) has had no effect on brake noise.


In my 20+ years of professional experience, it makes a huge difference. Most of the noise you hear is the pads vibrating. It there is no lubricant between the pad and the caliper the caliper bracket vibrates, which causes the noise. Putting new pads and unmachined rotors can also cause noise.

With coated and rubberized shims, this may not be necessary any more.

GM does not recommend/require the use of any compound between the shim and the caliper. Neither does Toyota, Nissan or Mazda.

That's a lot of cars, if you ask me.

 

[SteveSRT8]

In my experience as a fleet owner, former NIASE dealership diagnostics specialist, and weekend hot rodder the idea that some goo on the backing plate will cure your pad noise is almost ludicrous.

It may work, but why wouldn't the car come with that on it? I have never seen a factory disc brake pad with any copper anti seize on it before!

Hs the op tried bedding the brakes? While this may seem counter intuitive it really does work.

 

[fabbrisd]

Like sometimes people should check the instructions.

On MB brake pads (especially the heavier V8's) the MB brake paste (which is Polycote Cu Plus) is put on the "edges" of the pads for anti-squeal effect.

A added "schmear" on the back of the pad is a optional thing, and only to minimize pad lockup when pulling them out next time.

 

[Kestas]

I reverse-engineered the existing paste when I did the brakes on my Mercedes. At 52K I could assume the brakes (and paste) were factory original. I identified the Cu flakes, but I couldn't verify the "Polycote" part of it. Any additional information? What is Polycote? I can't find anything on the internet on it.

Otherwise, I agree with dabbing paste on the pad edges, but disagree that it's optional on the pad backing. We have an entire culture of using brake paste on pad backing and pad manufacturers who incorporate shims and coating technologies on the pad backings. Neither the mechanics nor the manufacturers would take these extra measures if it wasn't needed.

 

[mechtech2]

When I worked at Mercedes [AMG], we used copper antiseieze on the back of the pads.
This made no sense to me, as the small contact area [pad to puck] goes metal to metal in a week or so.
Who cares about lube on the rest of the ares that contacts nothing?
But try and argue with Germans! Either at work or with my mother!

 

[spasm3]

For the past 20 years i have always used rtv orange or copper silicone compound between the backs of the pads and the caliper, never even one squeel. i install the pads, tighten them up with the brake pedal then go have a cup of coffee as the silicone sets before test driving.

 

[onion]

I've used antisieze, RTV, and assorted brake-pad-specific goo. Never noticed any difference in any case.

The wife's Lumina is the only vehicle I've had with squeaky disc brakes that were bad enough for me to take notice- and it was that way when I bought it. They only squeal when it's really humid out- and then they sound NASTY. 60k after I bought it (brakes have 65k according to maintenance records) there's still quite a bit of pad left... I'll fix it when they wear out.

 

[mechtech2]

RTV sealant is not a good idea. [You could put bacon grease on there and it may not hurt either, but don't claim it does anything.]
BRake anti squeal sauce is very good, but is NOT the same. It kinda looks the same. It is a silastic vibration damper.