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2016 Smart Proxy & Brake Pads

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Purrson

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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
I have a 2016 Smart Proxy with 20,000 miles and took it in today for the 20 K service to the Mercedes Benz Dealership and was told I should have my brakes and routers replaced! It only has 20K on it! this us my 3rd new Smart Car and I had more miles on my previous cars and never had to replace the brake pads not alone the routers as well! Anyone else have this told to them? im thinking since I am a woman they are trying to take advantage of me. :(
 
jwight

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#2 ·
Welcome to SCoA! :) I'd get a second opinion if I were you. The brake pads have wear indicators on them that would be making a buzzing noise if the pads were worn, and if the rotors are warped you'd feel it through the brake pedal pulsing. Unless you drive it like a Formula 1 car there should be plenty of life left in those brakes. :)
 
sokoloff

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#3 ·
It's rotors and there are minimum thickness specs for both the rotors and the pads. Did they tell you what the thickness was for each? Do the Smarts have a sensor that indicates when the pad is worn? The typical minimum spec I'm familiar with on Mercedes is 2 mm - that's when it's time to replace the pads. When a car is in for service, 4 mm is the typical thickness the service department is told to tell the customer that the pads need changed. That keeps the customer from coming back in a couple of months to complain that they weren't told the pads were needing replacement. That's a good thing and a bad thing. Good that you won't have to return soon to have to get your car serviced again. Bad in that you may have several thousand miles left on those pads. I would expect more than 20K miles on a set of pads and certainly on a set of rotors. I've gotten as much as 75,000 miles on a set of front pads on a Mercedes. I would think that you ought to get at least two sets of pads out of a set of rotors. It does depend on your driving style somewhat too.

Len
2014 EV
 
J

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#4 ·
sokoloff said:
Do the Smarts have a sensor that indicates when the pad is worn? The typical minimum spec I'm familiar with on Mercedes is 2 mm - that's when it's time to replace the pads. When a car is in for service, 4 mm is the typical thickness the service department is told to tell the customer that the pads need changed. That keeps the customer from coming back in a couple of months to complain that they weren't told the pads were needing replacement. That's a good thing and a bad thing. Good that you won't have to return soon to have to get your car serviced again. Bad in that you may have several thousand miles left on those pads. I would expect more than 20K miles on a set of pads and certainly on a set of rotors. I've gotten as much as 75,000 miles on a set of front pads on a Mercedes. I would think that you ought to get at least two sets of pads out of a set of rotors. It does depend on your driving style somewhat too.

Len
2014 EV
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I just looked on EPC and nope, don't think there's any wear indicator sensors...

Good info!

If you're concerned about whether they really need to be changed, you can ask for the old parts back. (Hopefully they don't have another 453 there that is having it's brakes done!...)
 
sokoloff

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#7 ·
Under warranty - sure, go ahead and replace them if on their dime. However, brakes are a wear item and at 20K miles most likely wouldn't be covered unless you are REALLY good at sweet talking them.

Len
2014 EV
 
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J

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#10 ·
Here's a sensor for a W204:

http://www.autozone.com/brakes-and-...IgnoreVehicle=false&isSearchByPartNumber=true

I guess Mercedes did not want to break patent rules to follow the "scraper" method....

They have holes drilled into the pads right next to the backing for that little "pin" to go into. When worn down will wear through the plastic cover to metal lead and close a circuit causing the indicator light to come on....
 
J

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#13 ·
BTW- If that is a picture of your car, you could ask to go see it. Take a peek into the wheels to see the pads, and guesstimate the remaining thickness. As Len noted, 2 mm is pretty much done, 4 mm is when they may start bugging you to change them. I would personally wait until 2 myself. Looks pretty open the spacing of the spokes that you could check them just by looking through...
 
Purrson

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Discussion Starter · #14 ·
I opted not to have anything replaced at this time espically after receiving a phone call today that...I'm sorry Mrs McGinnis...the technician made a mistake in measuring the pads...they are at 4mm but we want to replace the pads for you at a cost of $96 and will not charge for any labor.... My Husband worked for years in an auto parts store and when it is time to replace the pads and rotors he can do it with no problem.
I found new pads on the Smart Madness site for around $70...anyone know of anywhere else I can find the pads? Seems as the rotors will be easy enough to buy but the pads aren't as readily available...
 
jwight

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#15 ·
sokoloff

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#18 ·
Sounds like the pads will "talk" to you when they are worn. I would have no problem waiting for that, because you aren't going to do any damage to the rotors as long as you don't drive thousands of miles more on them. There is also a spec for the rotor thickness. Maybe it is routine for this dealer to change the rotors with a pad change, but that certainly isn't necessary. As long as the rotors aren't warped, then they can go two or more sets of pads before they need to be changed.

Len
2014 EV
 
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jzchen
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