[vexed]

In May 2012 I replaced the front brake pads on my wife's 2007 E350 Sport with Akebono ceramic pads. No problems thereafter. In April 2013 the dealer replaced three tires included one front and did not tell us anything was wrong with the brakes.

About 2 weeks ago the dealer replaced under our ELW motor mounts, transmission mount and thrust bushings. In addition they replaced the gas tank and related components based on the strong smell of gas when we filled the tank. Nothing said about the brakes. After we got the car back my wife hears a clunk sometimes when stopped other times while cornering. I drove the car but did not hear it. Take car back to dealer who now claims something is loose in front brakes and of course wants to replace the Akebonos with MB pads etc. When I pressed the service advisor he claimed the tech said something is loose but won't know until he takes it apart. When I asked why they did not detect this in April he did not have an answer.

My reaction is if anything is loose it would be the pins and/or retaining clip which is easy to replace. I reused the pins and clips in 2012. Would calipers just work their way loose? I never touched them when I did the pads? If they are loose, remove and reinstall bolts with loctite?

I am not convinced that is the issue, and frankly my respect for the dealer's service department is almost zero.

 

[Kajtek1]

I don't have much respect to stealers neither, but for different reasons.
You have to give them, that judging from the clunk, you can have 100 diagnosis.
You had the car for other issues there, but you did not have a service that would include checking the brakes.
We can guess forever, but sounds like you are due for second opinion.

 

[Jake2]

Would suggest that it is possible the Akebono pads are a bit loose in the calipers. Had the same problem when they were installed on my XJ8. Stopped well and no dust, but definitely wiggled around a bit. Indie shop relaced them for me with another set of Akebono pads, thinking it might be a bad set, but the new pads did the same thing.

 

[vexed]

The Akebonos have been in the car since May 2012. I asked my wife if she felt anything through the brake pedal and she said no.

After the prior work which included the mounts and thrust bushings I would think they would have road tested the car.

Faith in dealer= zero.

 

[johnquantran]

This happen the same on my E350. I change ONLY the brake pads but REUSE the retaining clips. So most of the time when the car goes thru a pot hole or when I step on the brake, it have a clunking noise. Best way to fix is buy another brand new brake from the stealer, then install the new clips and pin on your current pads. Problem will be solved. Next time, DO NOT reuse the pins and/or retaining clip.

 

[vexed]

This happen the same on my E350. I change ONLY the brake pads but REUSE the retaining clips. So most of the time when the car goes thru a pot hole or when I step on the brake, it have a clunking noise. Best way to fix is buy another brand new brake from the stealer, then install the new clips and pin on your current pads. Problem will be solved. Next time, DO NOT reuse the pins and/or retaining clip.

Expensive lesson learned. The actual diagnosis was a missing pin, I was very suspicious since they had the tires off in April and should have noticed it last month when they did the other work.

Since we are selling the car my wife whose car it is felt we should pay the stealer for a front brake job. Ironically they did not have the pin in stock and are waiting on it. My faith in their service and parts departments is less than zero.