W220, needs new pads and discs, DIY or not?

[PJayUK]

My 1999 S320 needs new front pads and discs before its next MOT in February. Local Indi quotes around 600 quid for this, also including re-greasing the hubs and bushes etc.

Seems a little steep, and got me thinking.. I can buy the bits from Euro's for 150 quid, and I am fairly handy with a spanner. So how feasible is this as a Saturday afternoon DIY task? I cant seem to find any step by step instructions so cant work out how hard the task would be...

What do you reckon, could I do this myself?

 

[Leemc2008]

Easy peasy job if your handy with a spanner.. just remember to put wear indicators back in the right way on the pads..

 

[wemorgan]

Wow £600 sounds very steep indeed. With the car on ramps I would expect to pay for 1 hr labour each corner. Which makes it less than £400.

With the right tools it's a 3-4 hr job if it's your first time.

 

[Dinnie]

Wow £600 sounds very steep indeed. With the car on ramps I would expect to pay for 1 hr labour each corner. Which makes it less than £400.

With the right tools it's a 3-4 hr job if it's your first time.

Well the £600 would include the parts too so £400 for labour isn't that bad but I don't think it should take one hour each wheel to change the disc and pad for an indy. I'd say more like 20 mins each corner if you had a ramp.

 

[lynall]

I would say the 20mins per corner is spot on as i recently fitted new discs and pads to the front of my W210 E430 i never stripped the hubs, just caliper off and pushed to one side, caliper carrier off and a few blows with the hammer and the disc is off.

It really is that simple

I did it on the flat with a trolley jack so you dont need a ramp.

Oh yeh and little steep is under statement of the year!



Lynall

 

[flango]

20 minutes a corner if you are handy with a spanner easy, bit longer if you don't have access to a ramp and have to jack and lower the car. Did my CLK in March Saturday afternoon job, brakes, fuel filters air filter and drop oil, less then 3 hours for it all but have then benefit of a 4 post ramp.

You'll save yourself a wad of cash if you DIY.

 

[franey]

I have a spare pair of new front discs & pads if you need them. About £130 depending on model.

 

[grober]

If your car has sensotronic brakes then things are a little more complicated, and there are some additional precautions to be observed while working on the brakes. ( if you do a forum search on SBC or sensotronic you will find the info you need) You will have to remove the front brake calipers to replace the discs so you will need some threadlocker and a torque wrench when you come to rebuild them. The discs can be problematic to remove if they are are corroded on to the hubs. Whether you should attempt this yourself depends on whether you have done this sort of job yourself before. Even brake pads can be quite demanding at first. For a complete novice I would say no don't even try. If you have done lots of brake pad changes before then maybe but read up on it first. For someone on their own with limited resources and without a lift I would allow at least a working day if not a weekend. That reduces if you have a knowledgeable buddy to help and to add a bit of support/muscle.

 

[bolide]

If you do it yourself you can afford to put proper discs & pads on it

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[lynall]

Have a look here http://mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=107227 dont forget the yanks need special tools for everything whereas we would just use a screwdriver



Lynall

 

[grober]

Have a look here http://mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=107227 dont forget the yanks need special tools for everything whereas we would just use a screwdriver



Lynall

Excellent post BUT you will have to join the MB world forum to see the pics.

 

[miro]

IF your car fails to stop for any reason what will you tell the insurance company.

Dont grease the bushes and bearings, have them replaced. Dont risk taking the liability for the sake of a few notes.

 

[PJayUK]

Sounds like hard work for the sake of a few quid. Local indi is happy to install aftermarket parts so I will source the bits myself and get him to fit them.

Franey interested in the parts you have I will pm you my email address, send me some detail.

 

[PJayUK]

Sounds like hard work for the sake of a few quid. Local indi is happy to install aftermarket parts so I will source the bits myself and get him to fit them.

Franey interested in the parts you have I will pm you my email address, send me some detail.