Mud

At 27K miles, I've got a mild bit of pulsing from the front brakes, so I plan to replace front pads/rotors. I do my own work where warranty is not involved, so it's not a big deal to do the work.
I searched through pad and rotor threads and I'm a bit confused on rotor replacement though. Cost is fairly close on OEM vs aftermarket, what I really want to ensure is the quality.
Pads will be Akebono Euro Ceramics, but I get into the rotors (drilled) and have a bit of a hard time figuring out what the latest OEM part number is. I see both 2044211012 and 2204211812 listed as applications, so I'm guessing one is a more recent part number. From what I read on 2010-2011 rotor quality you want the latest part number as it seems MB has been upgrading the original rotors due to lots of complaints.
There is also choice of Zimmerman coated that seems to be decent quality, they may be OEM supplier along with Brembo for all I know.
Does anyone happen to have any info/recommendations on all this?? thank you

ss3964spd

Mud, not sure if you saw my post but I think I listed the OEM P/N for the rotors.

FYI on the Ake pads. About 3 years ago I replaced ALL the rotors and pads on my wife's '04 330CiC. I used OEM rotors but the Ake EC pads. About 2 months ago she mentioned the brakes were pulsing so I replaced the front rotors and pads about two weeks ago. What I found was this; after 20...maybe 25K miles the Ake pads really hadn't worn much at all, they BUT they definitely chewed on the rotors. They definitely wouldn't have passed a state inspection.

Dan

Mud

Dan, yes I saw several of your responses and they were really helpful. I might have missed the P/N's though, I'll go back and double check.


Wow, that's interesting on the Ake pads, I wonder something to do with that particular formulation? I've used them on all sorts of vehicles with really good success. But I really don't want to go back and re-do them at an early stage.


IMO the car has original rotors but the pads look a bit cleaner than what the miles would indicate, I'm guessing they may have been replaced at some point. But since it's my "free" labor lol I prefer to replace all together. Sounds like you recommend all OEM as replacements?


thanks for your help.

Mud

OK, I think I found your info:


"I ended up going with MB rotors and pads. As mentioned in a different brake thread the latest iteration of the MB rotors are P/N 000-421-15-12-07, and the pads are 005-420-85-20. Interestingly, the pads I removed had the same P/N and dated about a year ago."

I noticed your car is an E550, I'm sorry I don't know enough about 350/550 differences, I'll try to verify the P/N applies to both models.

ss3964spd

Mud,

Given all the posts/threads on this forum having to do with warped rotors, and finding out that MB has updated/superseded the P/N for the rotors several times, I just wasn't confidant that the aftermarket had kept up or that their R&D pockets were as deep as MB's. Surely someone else supplies the rotors for MB, but to MB's specifications. I think.

Pads - I dunno. The pads on my previous car - an '05 E500, were terrible with dusting so that car got the Ake EC pads, but I never looked at the brakes again before I got rid of that car so I don't know what the rotors looked like after living with the Ake pads.

So I can only go on what I saw on my DW's car. The Ake pads were great; low dust, great feel, and it appears they will last forever. It does look like they may sacrifice the rotors though.

A RWD E350 Sport is basically the same as the RWD E550 Sport - except for the V8. Ditto on the AWD's. I don't know if the RWD front rotors are the same as the AWD fronts.

Dan

Mud

I looked on Rockauto and the P/N's for the front rotors are different, so I'm thinking that your part numbers may not be applicable on my 350. It's good to sort this out though.


I've also given thought to going with Zimmerman coated rotors and the Ake pads - I've seen decent feedback on that combo. Of interest to me was that the Z-rotors are cast with the holes and not drilled afterwards. Actually to be honest I would be fine with solid rotors but I was going with direct replacement (drilled) to ensure there wasn't some change. Would hate to find out with the car up on stands in the garage.

ss3964spd

I know the rotors for the non Sport models are different, and given the drive line components in the front of the AWD cars, it wouldn't surprise me if the rotors are also different for those. So that would be 4 different front rotors.

I've done the RockAuto stare-and-compare many times. Mostly accurate, but not 100% fool proof.

Mud

LOL! well said, me too,