brake pads MERCEDES-BENZ CLK550 2007 A209 Owner's Manual

302 Operation
Driving instructions
Power assistanceBrakes
To help prevent brake disk corrosion after
driving on wet road surfaces (particularly
salted roads), it is advisable to brake the
vehicle with considerable force prior to
parking. The heat generated serves to dry
the brakes.
If your brake system is normally only sub-
ject to moderate loads, you should occa-
sionally test the effectiveness of the
brakes by applying above-normal braking
pressure at higher speeds. This will also
enhance the grip of the brake pads.
Warning!G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the
vehicle.
Warning!G
After driving in heavy rain for some time
without applying the brakes or through wa-
ter deep enough to wet brake components,
the first braking action may be somewhat
reduced and increased pedal pressure may
be necessary to obtain expected braking ef-
fect. Maintain a safe distance from vehicles
in front.
Resting your foot on the brake pedal will
cause excessive and premature wear of the
brake pads.
It can also result in the brakes overheating,
thereby significantly reducing their effec-
tiveness. It may not be possible to stop the
vehicle in sufficient time to avoid an acci-
dent.
!Because the ESP® operates automatically,
the engine must be shut off when

the parking brake is being tested on a brake
test dynamometer

the vehicle is being towed with the front axle
raised
Active braking action through the ESP
® may oth-
erwise seriously damage the brake system.

303 Operation
Driving instructions
Refer to the description of the Brake Assist
System (BAS) (
page 90).
Brake pad wear or a leak in the system may
be the reason for low brake fluid level in
the reservoir.
The brake fluid level in the reservoir may
be too low if the brake warning lamp in the
instrument cluster comes on and an
acoustic warning sounds although the
parking brake is released (
page 368).
Observe additional messages in the multi-
function display that may appear
(
page 389).
Have the brake system inspected
immediately. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.All checks and service work on the brake
system should be carried out by qualified
technicians only. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Only install brake pads and brake fluid rec-
ommended by Mercedes-Benz.
After hard braking, it is advisable to drive
on for some time, rather than immediately
park, so that the air stream can cool down
the brakes faster.High-performance brake system
(CLK 63 AMG only)
The high-performance brake system is
designed to operate under the extremely
high operating demands required to
accommodate the performance capabili-
ties of the vehicle. The brakes may
produce a squeaking-type noise depending
on the

vehicle speed

brake force applied

ambient conditions, e.g. temperature
and humidity
As with any brake system, the wear of indi-
vidual brake system components such as
brake pads or discs strongly depends on
your driving style and the conditions under
which you operate the vehicle. Thus, a driv-
ing style calling for high demand braking
will cause your vehicle’s brakes to wear
more quickly.
Warning!G
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers.
Warning!G
If other than recommended brake pads are
installed, or other than recommended brake
fluid is used, the braking properties of the
vehicle can be degraded to an extent that
safe braking is substantially impaired. This
could result in an accident.
!When driving down long and steep grades,
relieve the load on the brakes by shifting into a
lower gear to use the engine’s braking power.
This helps prevent overheating of the brakes and
reduces brake pad wear.

304 Operation
Driving instructions
Driving off
Apply the brakes to test them briefly after
driving off. Perform this procedure only
when the road is clear of other traffic.
Warm up the engine gradually. Do not
place full load on the engine until the oper-
ating temperature has been reached.Parking
Warning!G
New vehicle brake pads and discs, and
replacement brake pads and discs may take
several hundred miles of driving until they
provide optimum braking efficiency. Until
that time, you may need to use increased
brake pedal pressure while braking. Please
be aware of this and adjust your driving and
braking accordingly during this break-in
period.
Excessive high demand braking will cause
correspondingly high brake wear. Please be
attentive to the brake warning lamp in the
instrument cluster and brake condition mes-
sages in the multifunction display.
Especially for high performance driving, it is
important to maintain and have the brake
system checked regularly.
!When starting off on a slippery surface, do
not allow a drive wheel to spin for an extended
period with the ESP
® switched off. Doing so may
cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
!Simultaneously depressing the accelerator
pedal and applying the brake reduces engine
performance and causes premature brake wear
and drivetrain wear.
Warning!G
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
To reduce the risk of personal injury, or
damage to the vehicle or the vehicle
drivetrain, as a result of vehicle movement,
always do the following before turning off
the engine and leaving the vehicle:

Keep right foot firmly on brake pedal.

Firmly depress parking brake pedal.

Move the gear selector lever to
positionP.

Slowly release brake pedal.

When parked on an incline, always turn
the front wheels towards the road curb.

362 Operation
Vehicle care
Cleaning the windows and the wiper
blades
Make sure the hood is fully closed.
Make sure the vehicle’s on-board
electronics have status0 (
page 36).
Fold the wiper arms forward until they
snap into place.
Clean the wiper blade inserts with a
clean cloth and detergent solution.
Use a soft, clean cloth and a mild
window cleaning solution on all outside
and inside glass surfaces.
An automotive glass cleaner is
recommended.Light alloy wheels
If possible, clean wheels once a week.Use Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel
Care, a soft bristle brush and a strong
spray of water for cleaning the light
alloy wheels.!Never open the hood when the wiper arms
are folded forward.
Warning!G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and
remove SmartKey from starter switch
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: Make sure the
vehicle's on-board electronics have
status0) before cleaning the windshield
and/or the wiper blades. Otherwise, the
wiper motor could suddenly turn on and
cause injury.
!Do not pull on the wiper blade inserts. They
could tear.
!Fold the windshield wiper arms back onto
the windshield before turning the SmartKey in
the starter switch or pressing the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button (vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*).
Hold on to the wiper when folding the wiper arm
back. If released, the force of the impact from
the tensioning spring could crack the windshield.
!To clean the window interior, do not use a
dry cloth, abrasives, solvents or cleaners
containing solvents. Do not touch the inside of
the front, rear or side windows with hard objects
such as an ice scraper or ring. Doing so may
damage the windows.
!Only use acid-free cleaning materials. Acid
may cause corrosion or damage the clear coat.
!The vehicle should not be parked for an
extended period of time immediately after it has
been cleaned, especially not after the wheel rims
have been cleaned with wheel rim cleaner.
Wheel rim cleaners can lead to increased
corrosion of the brake disks and brake pads.
Non-approved wheel cleaners may also damage
the wheel paint if the car is not driven after
cleaning. Therefore, the vehicle’s brake system
should always be warmed-up before it is parked
after cleaning. To do so, please drive your vehicle
for several minutes to allow the brakes to dry.
When applying Mercedes-Benz approved Tire
Care and Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel Care
products, take care not to spray them on the
brake disks.

389 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
2Brakepad wearThe brake pads have reached their wear
limit.Have the brake pads replaced as soon
as possible.
;(USA only)
!(Canada only)
Release parking
brakeYou are driving with the parking brake set.Release the parking brake
(
page 52).
3 Check brake
fluid levelThere is insufficient brake fluid in the res-
ervoir.Risk of accident! Stop the vehicle in a
safe location as soon as possible and
notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. Do not add brake fluid! This
will not solve the problem.
Warning!G
Driving with the message Check brake
fluid level
displayed can result in an ac-
cident. Have your brake system checked im-
mediately. Do not add brake fluid before
checking the brake system. Overfilling the
brake fluid reservoir can result in spilling
brake fluid on hot engine parts and the
brake fluid catching fire. You could be seri-
ously burned.
!If you find that the brake fluid in the brake
fluid reservoir has fallen to the minimum mark or
below, have the brake system checked for brake
pad thickness and leaks.!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the intervals
specified in the Maintenance Booklet.

482 Index
Automatic locking when driving 117
Automatic shift program 176
Automatic transmission
Accelerator position 174
Automatic shift program 176
Emergency operation
(limp-home mode) 183
Gear ranges 175
Gear selector lever 50, 170
Gear selector lever control
one-touch gearshifting 177
Gear selector lever positions 172
Gear shifting malfunctions 183
Kickdown 174
Kickdown, manual shift program 183
Manual shift program
CLK 63 AMG 181
Program mode selector switch 176
Shifting procedure 171
Starting engine 50
Steering wheel gearshift control
one-touch gearshifting* 179
Transmission fluid level 319
Automatic Transmission Fluid see ATFB
Backrest
Seat, Multicontour* 121
Seat, Power 40
Backup lamps
Messages in display 399
Replacing bulbs 427, 428
Bar 347
BAS 90
Batteries, SmartKey
Changing 426
Checking battery condition 107
Batteries, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Checking battery condition 107
Battery, Vehicle 321, 447
Charging 449
Connecting 449
Disconnecting 448
Installing 449
Jump starting 450
Messages in display 388
Removing 448
Bead 347
Beverage holder see Cup holder
Block heater (Canada only) 352
Bolts, Spare wheel 409Brake fluid 475
Checking 314
Messages in display 389
Brake lamp
Cleaning lenses 361
High mounted 428
Replacing bulbs 428
Brake pads
Messages in display 389
Brakes 302
High-performance brake system
(CLK 63 AMG only) 303
Warning lamp 368
Break-in period 300
Bulbs, replacing see Replacing bulbs

492 Index
Multifunction display messages 378
ABS 380
Battery 388
Brake fluid 389
Brake pads 389
Check engine 390
Coolant 390–392
Engine 390
Engine coolant 390–392
ESP
®380
Fog lamps 397
Front passenger
front air bag 382–385
Fuel cap 393
Fuel reserve tank 395
Gear selector lever 386
Headlamps 397–400
Key, SmartKey 395
KEYLESS-GO* 395
Lamps 397
Lamps, exterior 397–400
License plate lamp 398
Light sensor 396
Parking brake 389
Parking lamps 398
Roll bars 386Soft top 402
SRS 401
Steering gear oil 402
Tele Aid 401
Telephone* 403
Turn signals 397
Windshield washer fluid 403
Multifunction steering wheel 28, 140
Button operation 140
N
Navigation system* 151
See separate
COMAND* operating instructions
Net, Parcel 277
Neutral gear position,
Automatic transmission 170, 172
New vehicle break-in 300
Night security illumination 129
Normal occupant weight 348
Number, paintwork code 462
Number, vehicle identification
(VIN) 462, 463O
Occupant Classification System see OCS
Occupant distribution 348
Occupant safety 64
Active head restraints 80
Air bags 65
Children and air bags 82
Children in the vehicle 82
ETD 79
Fastening the seat belts 47
Front air bags 69
Front passenger front
air bag off indicator lamp 74, 376
Head-thorax air bags 70
Infant and child restraint systems 82
LATCH-type child seat anchors 85
OCS 71
Rear side-impact air bags* 70
Roll bars 81
Safety guidelines,
Seat belts, Air bag, ETD 67
Seat belts 47, 75
SRS 64