The X253 GLC has motor-driven electronic parking-brake actuators on the rear calipers, so the pistons must be retracted electronically into service position before you replace the rear pads — never wound or pushed back by hand. Some cars can enter service mode through the instrument-cluster workshop menu (hold the Phone/Call and OK buttons on the steering wheel together for about five seconds, then choose Brake Pad Replacement), but availability depends on the build, so the dependable method is a diagnostic scan tool with an EPB service function (Mercedes XENTRY or a capable aftermarket tool).
Overview
On the GLC the rear parking brake is applied by an electric motor turning a spindle inside each rear caliper. To change the rear pads you must first command those actuators to wind the pistons back into the fitting position; afterwards they are wound back out and the brake is re-calibrated. Forcing the piston with a clamp or wind-back tool while the parking brake is engaged shears the actuator gears and destroys the caliper, so the electronic retraction step is not optional.
Applies to
2015–2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC (X253/C253) with the electric rear parking brake. Whether the cluster workshop menu is available depends on the car's software build; the scan-tool method works regardless.
What you’ll need
- Mercedes XENTRY/STAR or a capable aftermarket scan tool with a Mercedes EPB service function
- Standard brake-service hand tools and new rear pads
- Note: a piston wind-back tool alone is NOT sufficient and must not be used to force these pistons
Step-by-step
- Prepare the car — Ignition on (engine off), do not press the brake pedal, and make sure the electronic parking brake is released — it will not enter service position while applied.
- Method A — open the cluster workshop menu — On cars that support it, press and hold the Phone/Call button and the OK button on the steering wheel together for about five seconds to open the hidden workshop menu, then select Brake Pad Replacement and confirm the Fitting/Service position. You will hear the rear actuators run the spindles back.
- Method B — use a scan tool — If the cluster menu is absent or greyed out (it varies by build), use Mercedes XENTRY or a capable aftermarket tool with an EPB service function: run 'Parking brake → service/assembly position' to retract the pistons.
- Replace the pads — With the pistons retracted, change the rear pads as normal.
- Close service mode and re-calibrate — Command the actuators back out (via the same menu or scan tool) to re-set the brake, then run the re-adaptation/calibration routine and clear any codes. Test the parking brake before driving.
Important
- Never force, clamp or wind the rear pistons back by hand — the parking-brake actuator gears will strip and ruin the caliper. The pistons must be retracted electronically.
- Skipping the post-job re-adaptation can leave a parking-brake fault (for example an actuator code such as C1110) or reduced clamping force.
- If power is lost or the actuator is disconnected mid-cycle the spindle can be left part-way, which may need a scan tool to recover. If you are not equipped for this, have a workshop do it.
FAQ
Can I push the GLC rear caliper pistons back by hand?
No. The rear pistons are driven by an electric parking-brake motor on a spindle and must be retracted electronically in service mode. Forcing them shears the actuator gears and destroys the caliper.
Do I need a scan tool to change the GLC rear brake pads?
Effectively yes. Some cars allow service mode via the cluster workshop menu, but it is build-dependent, so a scan tool with a Mercedes EPB service function is the dependable way to retract the pistons and re-calibrate afterwards.
How do I open the Mercedes workshop menu?
On supported cars, with the ignition on and the parking brake released, hold the Phone/Call and OK buttons on the steering wheel together for about five seconds, then select Brake Pad Replacement. If it is missing or greyed out, use a scan tool instead.
The parking brake warning is on after changing the pads — why?
That usually means the re-adaptation was not completed or an actuator code (such as C1110) is stored. Run the EPB calibration routine with a scan tool and clear the fault, then re-test the parking brake.