How do you change the front brake pads and rotors on a 2003 Mercedes Benz C230?

Answer 1

NOOO... Please don't follow those instructions, they're completely wrong.

What you need:

PARTS: 1) Set of New brake pads, Autozone $44.99, dealer $99.99, 2) Set of new brake rotors (optional), Autozone, $31.99 ea, 3) Synthetic wheel bearings grease, Valvoline $4.99, 4) Permatex Black Sylicon, $3.99, 5) Permatex Thread locker $3,99, 6) Four (4) M8 1.00 25mm studs with Hex head, Lowes $5.49, 7) Two (2) M6 1.00 25mm Allen head bolts, Optional, Lowes $2.49 8) WD40 or Liquid Wrench, $3.99, 8) Disc Brake cleaner spray $2.99

TOOLS: 1) Floor Jack, provided with your car, 2) Wheel studs wrench, provided with your car, 3) 12mm socket, 3) 13mm Socket, 4) 18mm Socket, 5) ratchet, size according to sockets, 6) short ratchet extention, 7) 5mm Allen wrench, 8) Big Telescopic C Press, 9) Paper towels, 10) Clothe rags, 11) Big flat screw driver, 12) Big pair of angle pliers, 13) Set of 6 points torx bits, Lowes $6.49 (I don't know the exact size, you need the whole set anyway, they don't sell the bits one by one ;( ) 14) Two pieces of wood, with one side at least 4" wide

PROCEDURE: Replacing Brake pads 1) Jackup front end of car on one side, 2) Remove the wheel, 3) If brake caliper assembly pins are original, use the 12mm socket (if not use the 13mm socket) and ratchet remove the pins holding the brake pad assembly on the caliper (it's recommended that you replace these pins) They're provided with the brake pads set from the dealer, 4) Pull brake pads assembly out, brake pads will come out easily. 5) Open the hood of the car, 6) Unscrew the brake master cylinder cap to release the preasure, 7) Place clothe rags very tight around the master cylinder cap, to collect brake fluid when realeasing pressure, 8) Using the Telescopic C Press, push the piston all the way back into the caliper. 9) Remove Press, 10) Clean Extra fluid around Master Cylinder, 11) Using a paper towel, fold it and remove extra brake fluid from Master Cylinder, leave level on Max, use as many paper towels as needed, 11) Spread a small amoount of black sylicon on back side of brake pads, 12) Place new brake pads in place, 13) Put thread locker on 2 bolts, 14) Place bolts in place using the 13mm socket... You're done with the brake pads.

IF REPLACING BRAKE ROTORS (DISCS), 1) Using a big flat screwdriver, remove the spindle dust cap, place the screwdriver between the dust cap and the hub and rotate the screw driver to separate them, rotate the brake rotor to apply force in a different spot, repeat the procedure until you remove the dust cap; if necessary apply WD40 or equivalent. 2) Using the 5mm Allen wrench untight the spindle nut lock 3) Using a big set of angle pliers unscrew and remove the spindle nut, 4) With the 18mm socket, remove the brake caliper bolts, apply WD40 or equivalent if necessary, 5) Move aside caliper, I placed it on top of the brakes pad box on the tall side. 6) Pull out the brake disc, it comes out the the spindle hub, the outer wheel bearing comes out, place it on a clean spot, 7) Remove spindle hub from brake rotor using the corresponding torx bit, it should be very tight, I used WD40, stepped on the rotor and used the necessary combination of tools to use the ratchet and be able to apply enough force to unscrew it. 8) Place the rotor on top of the two pieces of wood, on the 4" tall side, 9) Gently hit the hub down to remove it from the rotor, make sure that you don't' get any dirt inside the hub, 10) Clean the new brake rotors with disc brake cleaner spray, 12) Pack the spindle hub with new synthetic wheel bearings grease, 13) Repack the outer wheel bearing with the same grease, 14) place the hub on the brake rotor, make sure to tight it as much as possible... You can take it from here, use place the parts back in the way they were removed... I found it very easy to do, it was a matter of having the right tools... I didn't have it at the time, but the excitement of find out how easy it is made me go round and round until the job was done... Good Luck, feel free to contact me if you have any questions... hrodrigu

I missed something... when tighting the spindle nut, tight it all the way, when you cannot tight it anymore, go back 1/4 of a turn to allow the bearings to spin; then tight the spindle nut lock using the 5mm Allen wrench....

>>>assuming you already taken the tires off you will have to remove the two caliper bolts that hold the caliper in place. once you have removed the caliper you will see a pin holding a spring in place. you will have to take a punch and a hammer and puch that pin out so the spring comes of the caliper. once you have done that you can pull the old brake pads straight out. then just slide the new brake pads back in and re install the spring by pushing down on it with one hand and inserting the pin with your other hand. and for the rotors they should have a screw holding then down just romove the screw and they should slide right off. hope this helps.