How to Replace Rear Brakes for a C230


1. Park the C230 on a flat surface and turn the engine off. Place tire blocks in front of the front tires.
2. Loosen the lug nuts on the rear heels with the lug wrench. Place the jack under the frame in the back of the vehicle and lift the rear tires off the ground. Place jack stands under the rear axles and lower the Mercedes onto the stands.
3. Remove the lug nuts and take the rear heels/tires off. Remove the spring clip on the outside of the right rear caliper with a pair of pliers. Tap each of the caliper slide pins with a punch and hammer to force them from the caliper. The pins are located on the top and bottom of the caliper, near the outer edge.
4. Lift the caliper from the caliper bracket and suspend it from the shock tower above the brake assembly with a bungee cord or wire coat hanger. Remove the two caliper bracket bolts with the 15-mm wrench. Remove the worn brake pads from the slots of the caliper bracket and remove the bracket from the rotor.
5. Remove the rotor locking screw with a #3 size Phillips-head screwdriver. Spray chain lubricant on the screw to loosen the bond of rust. While the lubricant soaks in, move to the left side of the C230 and remove the caliper, brake pads and caliper bracket. Spray chain lubricant on the left brake rotor's locking screw and head back to the right brake.
6. Remove the rotor from the Mercedes' wheel bolts by pulling with even force on both sides of the disc. Clean the wheel hub behind the rotor with brake cleaner and a wire brush. Clean the new rotors with brake cleaner and a cloth towel. Remove all excess brake cleaner and packing oil before installing the discs.
7. Place the rotor onto the right side of the C230's wheel bolts. Apply a thin layer of brake grease to the rotor locking screw, the caliper bracket bolts and the caliper pins. Screw the rotor screw into the rotor with the screwdriver. Place the caliper bracket back around the rotor and screw in the bracket's bolts with the 15-mm wrench.
8. Apply brake grease (anti-squeal brake compound) to the back side of the new brake pads and slide them into the slots of the caliper bracket.
9. Open the brake bleed valve located midway between the two caliper pin slots. Use a 10-mm wrench to turn the valve one-quarter turn to sufficiently open the bleed valve. Place a drip pan below the caliper to catch any leaking brake fluid. Place the C-clamp over the back side of the caliper and the piston that protrudes from the inside. Squeeze the piston into the side of the caliper to make room for the new brake pads and rotor. Remove the clamp once the piston is fully depressed within the side of the caliper. Close the brake bleed valve with the 10-mm wrench.
10. Place the caliper over the new brake pads and caliper bracket. Place the caliper pins into their slot and knock them in with the hammer. Move to the left brake and replace the rotor and brake pads as described in Steps 6 through 9.
11. Replace the rear wheels/tires onto the Mercedes' rear wheel bolts and screw on the lug nuts by hand. Lift the back of the vehicle with the jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the rear tires to the ground and tighten the lug nuts with the lug wrench.
12. Start the engine and press the brake pedal three times slowly. Pull the hood release lever under the dashboard on the driver's side of the vehicle and move to the front of the car. Lift the hood and remove the master cylinder cap. The cap is located to the right of the C230's engine, near the back of the engine compartment. Insert a funnel into the reservoir and fill it with DOT-4 brake fluid as necessary. Remove the funnel and replace the master cylinder cap. Close the hood.