[W126 Coupe] Brakes

[Dick Spellman]

Hovsep:

For what it is worth, the MB OEM brands for brakes on our cars are Balo 
rotors and Textar pads.  This for me has been the only combination of 
rotors/pads that does not squeal when braking.  Your wear mileage seems 
way off however.  You do not say if it's the front pads or the rear pads 
that are wearing out so frequently, which is it or are you doing both 
front and rear each time???

Have you tested and confirmed that both front and rear calipers are 
working properly?  When you've changed the pads have the pistons 
retracted okay?  Is rotor wear even to both in and outside of the rotor 
surface?  Are you getting two pads changes on your rotors?

You may well try this test when you get a chance.  Rotate the front 
wheels (lifted) by hand with car cold.  (Check your wheel bearings for 
play at the same time) Do the wheels turn freely and run several 
rotations without a lot of drag?  Now compare after running the car on 
the street to operating temp, braking normally several/many times.  Then 
put the car on a lift and rotate each front wheel by hand to see if it 
moves freely or if you feel drag where the rotation is not free but, 
stiff maybe moving 360 degrees or less.  If it's the latter, I'd replace 
your brake hoses which may look fine from the outside but, are probably 
swelling on the inside especially as you heat the fluid up.  I'd 
recommend you really flush the calipers and lines with an extra liter of 
brake fluid per caliper to get all the sludge and debris out of there if 
you suspect troubles with calipers or brake hoses.

The other test is on your brake master cylinder.  Is the pedal firm or 
does it with continued pressure fall to the floor?  If it's the latter, 
than I would R&R the master cylinder and while in there shine a bright 
light at the floor of the brake booster to see if the leaking brake 
fluid has reached the rubber booster diaphragm at the base.  You'll be 
able to see the shinny fluid low in the booster if the master cylinder 
has in fact been leaking.  If it has reached the rubber diaphragm, 
replace the booster otherwise it should be okay even with some fluid 
down in there.

Other causes of early brake wear might be you riding the brakes, braking 
hard and often, etc.etc.
Disclaimer: I am not a mechanic, just someone who's been there done that 
on all of the above at one time or another on MB's.

Dick

Hovsep Dovlatian wrote:

> Hey guys just wanted to welcome the all the new people, and I  wanted 
> to know what brand brake pads are u guys using and how long do the 
> last? Cause im using tekstar and the last me about 8k miles.
>  
> My dads flipin out. Ive had the car for under a year and have changed 
> the pads 3 or 4 times.  
>
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