Brakes, 312 operation – Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2008 Owners Manual User Manual
Page 313
312
Operation
Driving instructions
Brakes
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-
jected 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.
Refer to the description of the Brake Assist
System (BAS) (
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 red brake warning lamp in
the instrument cluster comes on while the
engine is running and an acoustic warning
sounds (
page 376). Observe additional
messages in the multifunction display that
may appear (
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
effect. 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
accident.
!
Vehicles without 4MATIC:
Because the ESP
®
operates automatically, the
engine and ignition must be shut off (SmartKey
in starter switch position 0 or 1 or KEYLESS-GO
(Canada only) start/stop button* in position 0
or 1) when
ț
the parking brake is being tested on a brake
test dynamometer
ț
the vehicle is being towed with the front axle
raised
Active braking action through the ESP
®
may oth-
erwise seriously damage the brake system.
For information on vehicles with 4MATIC, see
“Four wheel electronic traction system (4MATIC)
with the ESP®” (
Warning!
G
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking ma-
neuvers.