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Operat ing noise
Noises may occur when braki ng depend ing on t he
speed, braking force and outside cond itions such
as temperature and humidity.
Due to the natu re of t he mate rials used in ceram-
ic bra ke rotors*, noises may become mo re appa-
rent at low speeds.
Effect of wat er and road salt
In certain situat ions, for example after driving
through water, in heavy rain, afte r overnig ht con-
densat ion or after washing your car, the braking
effe ct can be reduced by moisture or ice on the
brake rotors and brake pads. The brakes must be
dried first w ith a few careful brake applications .
At highe r speeds and with t he windsh ield wipers
turned on, t he bra ke pads press against the bra ke
rotors for a short amount of time . This occurs at
regular intervals without the driver noticing and
provides f or better bra ke response time under
wet conditions.
The effectiveness of the brakes can be reduced
when the vehicle is driven on a salt-covered road
and the brakes are not used. Likewise, you clean
off accumu lated salt coat ing from brake discs
and pads with a few cautious applications of the
brake
c::>
,&.
Due to their surf ace characteristics, ceramic
brake rotors* absorb mo isture in such condit ions.
This can cause a temporary reduction in braking
force compared to dry brakes. You can compen-
sate f or this by pressing the brake pedal harder.
Corrosion
There may be a tendency for dirt to build up on
the brake pads and corros ion to form on the discs
if the car is not driven regularly or only for short
tr ips with little use of the brakes.
If the brakes are not used frequently, or if corro-
sion has formed on the discs, it is advisable to
clean off the pads and discs by brak ing firmly a
few t imes from a moderately high speed
c::>
,& .
Sma rt Technology
Faults in the brake system
If
you shou ld notice a
sudden
increase in brake
pedal t ravel, then one of the two bra ke circu its
may have fai led
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,&.
Low brake fluid level
Malfunctions can occur in the brake system if the
brake fluid level is t oo low . The brake flu id level
is monitored elect ronically.
Brake booster
The brake booster works w ith vacuum pressure
wh ich is created only when the engine is runn ing
c::>
,&.
Brake lining wear status
Brake li ning wear may be checked by visua l in-
spect ion of the cond ition of the brake pads
t hrough the openings in the wheel. If necessary,
the wheel may be removed for t his inspection
c::>
page 259, Replacing wheels .
.8_
WARNING
- New brake pads don't have the best stop-
ping power and must be "broken-in" during
the initial 250 miles (400 km) . The break-in
period can be considerably longer for
veh icles with ceramic brake rotors*. You can
compensate for this by pressing the brake
pedal more firmly. This also applies late r
when new pads are installed.
- You shou ld perform braking maneuvers for
the purpose of cleaning the brake system
only if road condit ions permit . Other road
users m ust not be put at risk - you may
cause an accident!
- Before descending a steep grade, reduce
speed and shift transmission into a lower
gear or lower dr iving range. Do not ride the
brakes or hold t he pedal down too long or
too often. This could cause the brakes to get
hot and dimin ish braking effic iency.
- Do not " ride t he bra kes" by rest ing you r foot
on the pedal when you do not intend to
brake. This may cause the brakes to over-
heat, premature wear and increased stop-
ping distance.
193
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