Mercedes C-Class W205 Front Brake Pad Replacement

Brakes are one of the wear-and-tear items on any car. The time between changes depends on various factors, from driving habits to the brake pad material.

When servicing your brakes, one thing to consider is whether you should change just your brake pads or both the brake pads and rotors. Mercedes recommends changing them both at the same time. While we generally agree, if your brake rotors still have a lot of life left in them, you could change the brake pads.

Replacing front brake pads on Mercedes W205 is a very easy job, thanks to a specific brake caliper design that allows pad replacement without caliper removal. 

What you will need

• W205 Front Brake Pad Set 
• W205 Brake pad sensor 
• Mechanic tool set metric
• Low profile jack 
• Jack stands
• Torque wrench
• Breaker bar
• Punch set
• Brake caliper spreader

Procedure

1. While the vehicle is still on the ground and with the parking brake on, break free all-wheel lugs using a breaker bar and a suitable socket.
2. Optional Step - Open the hood and locate the brake reservoir. Extract a small amount of brake fluid from the reservoir to prevent it from overflowing during this procedure. Replace the brake fluid reservoir cap when you are done. 
3. Locate front lighting points, and lift the car in the air using a jack and secure it with jack stands.
4. Remove all wheel lugs and remove the wheel itself.
5. Turn the steering wheel all the way to one side to gain better access.
6. At the backside of the caliper, locate a brake pad wear sensor, two guide pins, and a metal bracket.
7. Disconnect the blue wiring harness jack and carefully wiggle the sensor out of the outer brake pad.
8. Using a hammer and a suitable drift pin, drive both guide pins out of the brake caliper, pushing them towards the inner side of the caliper.
9. With guide pins out of the way, remove the metal bracket. It may take some wiggling and bending until it is free.
10. Pull both the inner and outer brake pad out of the caliper by hand. If needed, give them a gentle tap with a hammer.
11. Using a brake pad spreader tool, spread out brake pistons to make enough room for new brake pads, which are thicker.
12. Install new brake pads, fit the new brake wear sensor to the outer pad, and connect the wiring harness.
13. Refit the metal bracket, guide pins, and then refit the wheel.
14. Repeat the procedure on the other front wheel.
15. Lower the car on the ground and torque all-wheel lugs to 96 ft-lbs​ using a torque wrench
16. Push the brake pedal several times until it gets hard, and then top off the brake fluid reservoir 

Torque Specs

• Wheel lugs: 96 ft-lbs​