Mercedes W123 Brake Pad Front Replacement Repair Guide

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Easy

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Time Required

                          45 minutes

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Brake Pad, Front
15 steps

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Introduction

Replacing the pads is one of the simplest ways to keep your front brakes working effectively.

Learn how here. Please keep in mind that brake fluid is corrosive to paint so try to keep it from getting on your car’s paint. Be sure to rinse it off if any does land on your paint.

When replacing your front pads, be sure to check your rotors for excess wear. If necessary, have the rotor re-surface or replace the rotor along with the pads.

What you need

Step 1

              Brake Pad, Front

The pad removal process in this guide is performed with the caliper off of the vehicle. The installation process is documented with it on the vehicle. Both procedures can be done with the caliper on the vehicle. The calipers were off of this car for cleaning, since the soft rubber hoses were being replaced too.
You’ll need to remove your wheels to perform this work.
The first step is to remove the brake pad wear sensors. First, disconnect them from the sensor harness bolted to the caliper.
Then use a needle nose plier to remove the sensors from the old pads. The wires may break as they did on this set, but you can still grab the sensor body to remove it.
These sensors cannot be re-used. They should be replaced with the pads.

The pad removal process in this guide is performed with the caliper off of the vehicle. The installation process is documented with it on the vehicle. Both procedures can be done with the caliper on the vehicle. The calipers were off of this car for cleaning, since the soft rubber hoses were being replaced too.

You’ll need to remove your wheels to perform this work.

The first step is to remove the brake pad wear sensors. First, disconnect them from the sensor harness bolted to the caliper.

Then use a needle nose plier to remove the sensors from the old pads. The wires may break as they did on this set, but you can still grab the sensor body to remove it.

These sensors cannot be re-used. They should be replaced with the pads.

1024

Step 2

Next use a punch and hammer to tap the pad spring retaining springs out of the caliper.
Note that there are several styles of springs and pins, depending on the brand of caliper and the age of your W123. Some pins have cotters holding them in place that you would need to remove before punching them out. See the rear brake pad replacement guide to see this style.

Next use a punch and hammer to tap the pad spring retaining springs out of the caliper.

Note that there are several styles of springs and pins, depending on the brand of caliper and the age of your W123. Some pins have cotters holding them in place that you would need to remove before punching them out. See the rear brake pad replacement guide to see this style.

Step 3

Once you have punched the pins out part of the way they may be pulled the rest of the way out with a needle nose plier.

Once you have punched the pins out part of the way they may be pulled the rest of the way out with a needle nose plier.

Step 4

With the pins removed the pad retaining spring will come free and can be set aside.
Note that it’s possible this spring is under some tension and could pop out.

With the pins removed the pad retaining spring will come free and can be set aside.

Note that it’s possible this spring is under some tension and could pop out.

Step 5

The old pads can now be slid out of the caliper. With the caliper off of the car they can slip out either direction. With the caliper on the car they will only slip out away from the brake rotor.
If your pads look this dirty and rusty upon removal, consider removing the calipers for inspection and cleaning.

The old pads can now be slid out of the caliper. With the caliper off of the car they can slip out either direction. With the caliper on the car they will only slip out away from the brake rotor.

If your pads look this dirty and rusty upon removal, consider removing the calipers for inspection and cleaning.

Step 6

Now that the pads are removed you will need to move the pistons in the caliper back so that the new, thicker pads will fit in.
First, you should remove a bit of brake fluid from the system. As the old pads wore down, there was room for more fluid in the system and the level was likely topped off. With the new thicker pads in place there will be more fluid in the system that there is room for, potentially.
Begin with this process by removing the cap on the brake fluid reservoir.

Now that the pads are removed you will need to move the pistons in the caliper back so that the new, thicker pads will fit in.

First, you should remove a bit of brake fluid from the system. As the old pads wore down, there was room for more fluid in the system and the level was likely topped off. With the new thicker pads in place there will be more fluid in the system that there is room for, potentially.

Begin with this process by removing the cap on the brake fluid reservoir.

Step 7

Then lift the screen out of the neck of the reservoir.

Then lift the screen out of the neck of the reservoir.

Step 8

Suction out a few ounces of brake fluid. You can use a suction tool as shown, or a clean turkey baster. Just never use the turkey baster in the kitchen again!
Do not suction the reservoir dry! You would need to bleed the system if this happens.

Suction out a few ounces of brake fluid. You can use a suction tool as shown, or a clean turkey baster. Just never use the turkey baster in the kitchen again!

Do not suction the reservoir dry! You would need to bleed the system if this happens.

Step 9

With some fluid removed and the top left off of the brake fluid reservoir, use a large pry tool to gently pry the pistons back in to the body of the caliper.
Always use the flat surface of the pry, never the tip, and try to push the piston back in as straight and evenly as possible.
Alternately, you can purchase the proper brake caliper piston compression tool from Mercedes…but this pry bar technique works if you are careful.
Repeat this on all four pistons. Watch the brake fluid level as your proceed to ensure it does not overflow the reservoir. Remove more if necessary.

With some fluid removed and the top left off of the brake fluid reservoir, use a large pry tool to gently pry the pistons back in to the body of the caliper.

Always use the flat surface of the pry, never the tip, and try to push the piston back in as straight and evenly as possible.

Alternately, you can purchase the proper brake caliper piston compression tool from Mercedes…but this pry bar technique works if you are careful.

Repeat this on all four pistons. Watch the brake fluid level as your proceed to ensure it does not overflow the reservoir. Remove more if necessary.

Step 10

Cover the back of each new brake pad with a very light coat of brake pad grease/anti-squeal coating.
Be very careful to not get any of this grease on the front of the pads, where the pad material is.

Cover the back of each new brake pad with a very light coat of brake pad grease/anti-squeal coating.

Be very careful to not get any of this grease on the front of the pads, where the pad material is.

Step 11

Slide the pads in to the caliper with the pad material facing in towards the rotor.
If the pads are not sliding in, try prying the piston back a bit further.
The pads should be seated fully in to the caliper until they stop.

Slide the pads in to the caliper with the pad material facing in towards the rotor.

If the pads are not sliding in, try prying the piston back a bit further.

The pads should be seated fully in to the caliper until they stop.

Step 12

Place the retaining spring back on top of the pads.

Place the retaining spring back on top of the pads.

Step 13

Re-insert the pins as far as you can by hand.
The pins should be on top of the retaining spring.

Re-insert the pins as far as you can by hand.

The pins should be on top of the retaining spring.

Step 14

Tap them in with a hammer, finishing with a punch to get them all the way in.
These pins are a compression fit. Your pins may have cotters that hold them in place. If you had to remove cotters in order to get the pins out, be sure to use cotters in the same manner when you re-install them.

Tap them in with a hammer, finishing with a punch to get them all the way in.

These pins are a compression fit. Your pins may have cotters that hold them in place. If you had to remove cotters in order to get the pins out, be sure to use cotters in the same manner when you re-install them.

Step 15

Then push your new brake pad sensors in to the holes made for them in the pads. There is one hole on each pad. Make sure the sensor seats in the clip on the top of the pad securely.
Then push the tips of the sensor in to the sensor harness that is bolted to the caliper.
Be certain to top off the brake fluid reservoir before driving, if necessary.

Then push your new brake pad sensors in to the holes made for them in the pads. There is one hole on each pad. Make sure the sensor seats in the clip on the top of the pad securely.

Then push the tips of the sensor in to the sensor harness that is bolted to the caliper.

Be certain to top off the brake fluid reservoir before driving, if necessary.

When you’ve finished, go for a test drive. Be sure to follow the bedding-in procedures from the manufacturer of your pads to ensure maximum performance. In many cases, this means moderate driving for the first 500 miles or so, with no aggressive stops. However, check with the manufacturer.

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                    Nicolas Siemsen

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guidopicca - May 17, 2017

Excelent! Very gratefull

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Introduction

What you need

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