How to Replace Front Brake Pads on a Mercedes C230


1. Park the C230 on a flat surface and apply the parking brake.
2. Place tire blocks behind the rear wheels.
3. Loosen the lug nuts on the Mercedes' front wheels with the lug wrench.
4. Place the jack beneath the frame in the front of the vehicle and lift the front tires off the ground. Place two jack stands under the vehicle, one under each axle.
5. Remove the lug nuts and take the front wheels off.
6. Pull the spring clip from the outside of the caliper with a pair of pliers.
7. Remove the dust covers from the caliper slide bolts with a flat screwdriver. Remove both slide bolts on each caliper with a 14 mm socket wrench.
8. Lift the caliper from the caliper bridge and suspend it from the upper steering arm with a bungee cord or wire coat hanger--do not allow the caliper to hang by the brake line.
9. Open the brake bleed valve on the caliper with a 10 mm wrench. Place a drip pan below the caliper to capture the brake fluid that will flow from the bleed valve during the caliper piston depression.
10. Place the C-clamp over the piston and the back of the caliper. Squeeze the piston to force it into the side of the brake caliper. This will allow the caliper to fit over the new brake pads, which will be thicker than the outgoing, worn pads.
11. Remove the C-clamp from the caliper once the pistons have been completely depressed within the side of the caliper. Close the brake bleed valve with the 10 mm wrench. Dispose of the expelled brake fluid properly (see epa.gov for your state's regulations on disposal of hazardous materials).
12. Remove the two brake pads from the slots of the caliper bracket.
13. Apply brake grease to the back side of each of the brake pads and slide them into the caliper bracket slots on either side of the Mercedes' rotor.
14. Replace the caliper over the new brake pads in the caliper bracket slots and screw in the caliper bolts with the 14 mm socket wrench. Insert the spring clip back into the caliper.
15. Repeat the process (steps 6 through 14) for the other front brake pads.
16. Replace the front wheels onto the C230's wheel bolts and screw on the lug nuts.
17. Lift the front of the Mercedes and remove the jack stands. Lower the front tires to the ground and tighten the lug nuts with the lug wrench.