yukpo

I am also in the market for a set of Porterfield for C32 brake setup. Jerry at Formymercedes sells them for less than Porterfield direct and Jerry includes noise reducing kit as well.. I haven't found any places selling them for less than Jerry's price. Anyone??

FrankW

i haven't got any email...at least I didn't check yet.

mbworld email usually goes to junk mail folder and i rarely check'em. Please email me at frank@gtuningwerks.com

EDIT: eddie, just got your email which was sent 2:36PM EST 11/23/04. it's only been less than 12 hrs. it's Thanksgiving, I can only check for you Friday.

FrankW

I like your car ...mine will be pretty similar in few weeks.

yukpo

Thanks for your comment. I love the look of CRS kit, and sure yours will be looking great too

razorfish228

What do you guys think of the price?

PorterFields
2005 Mercedes C230:
Front R-4S AP872 - $153.00
Rear R-4S AP779 - $81.00

If this is good I'm getting them. If anyone is interested, PM me I'll give you the guys name, company that sells them.

drexappeal

Frank, wtf? So you took the plunge? Did you buy original or from dronellis?

drexappeal

That's a good price.

razorfish228

Thanks! The price includes shipping too which is good.

drexappeal

Then that's a really good price. Only thing is, for a 2004.5, those pads won't fit. 2004.5 models need C32 front pads (due to the bigger calipers).

FrankW

original Carlsson C-RS and 1/16 BE on the way

and I'm going to debadge the trunk and put on Carlsson badge and leave the v6 kompressor on the side to confuse the hell out of people.

drexappeal

LOL...I think that'll look sweet!...Although, those who are smart will know what the v6 Kompressor badge means and hear the difference in engine sound.

razorfish228

Thats really strange. I wonder why the 2004.5 model that you have has bigger calipers versus a newer model 2005 that I have. How do you actually tell that you have a 2004.5 model besides the C32 calipers? I never thought about it.

Thanks

nlpamg

razorfish, your information is incorrect. the front pads for the 05's and up are not out yet. I e-mailed Porterfield a few weeks ago regarding pads for the 05 C230WZ and this was their response:

drexappeal

Do a search and you'll see that the 2004.5 models (refresh model / pre face lift) have the C32 brakes (cross-drilled rotors and 4 piston calipers). 2005 + models, for whatever reason, Mercedes changed them to 2 piston calipers.

I've attached a pic and circled the 2 pistons that you can see on the bottom of my caliper. From the same pic, you can't see the top of the caliper, but there are 2 pistons on the top as well (equaling 4 total).

If you look at the 2005 model, there is one piston on the bottom and 1 on top. It's been debated on these boards a few times of why Mercedes would do this. Some say it was due to cost cutting, some say it was to separate the 230 from the C32, etc... According to what I've heard from people connected with MB, the 2 piston calipers are supposedly more effective for the 230's. Whether that's the truth or not can definitely be debated. I don't understand that reasoning at all, but what can you do.

drexappeal

You can tell if you have a 2004.5 model vs. a 2004 or 2005 w/ the following:

2004 vs. 2004.5 - 2004 is similar, if not the same as 2003 models = no big cross-drilled brakes, no 5 spoke rims.

2005 vs. 2004.5 - 2005 has AMG kit, 2 piston calipers w/ cross-drilled rotors (which the rotors are probably similar in size to the 2004.5 or C32, but has not been confirmed, but the calipers are definitely smaller), AMG swaybars (I'm pretty sure) and AMG springs/shocks (I'm pretty sure on this too).

The 2004.5 model, from what I've been able to determine so far, only got 2 significant upgrades from the 2004 and prior. 5 spoke 17 inch staggered wheels stock (17X7.5 front and 17X8.5 rear / 225/45r17 front and 245/40r17 rear) and Front Cross-Drilled Big Rotors w/ C32 4 piston calipers. I confirmed with the parts department at my dealership on whether the calipers were the same and took the same brake pads. They said that the Sport model parts were given different numbers, however, they were definitely the same size and same part as the C32.

razorfish228

Drexappeal,

You are so right. I just checked my brakes and I only have 2 pistons. There is 1 nut on the bottom and 1 on the top. I pissed because I'd rather have the 4 pistons like yours.

If I changed them to the 4 pistons I might as well get brembo or something else but I was just wondering.

I read the post above and could not believe that Porterfield doesn't have the front brake pads for us yet. But I could have swore that someone here has them on their car.

So I guess you are the lucky one out of the few people who got the 2004.5 model versus my 2005 model.

drexappeal

Here's the thing, all MB brakes (calipers and rotors) are made by Brembo. MB outsources Brembo to fabricate the parts and they slap on the MB logo (whether Mercedes Benz or AMG).

As for the Porterfields on the '05, I'm not sure. Someone may just have taken a chance on it and purchased the C32 front pads. If not, I don't know if they're running on the right parts (and there would be no guarantee that the C32 pads would work for the '05 and up calipers).

As for being the "lucky one", that's definitely debatable. Some people prefer having the upgraded face lift with the AMG body kit vs. not having free service. Initially, I was upset that they did the facelift after my car (because the '05 came out a couple months after I took delivery on my car), but I started to realize how much I didn't want to look like a C32 (as much as I love how the AMG kit looks). That being said, I also had to upgrade my swaybars and suspension (since my suspension was still the standard "sport" suspension). There are a few people on here who have the 2004.5 model and I can honestly say that I prefer having the free service over the AMG upgrades (aside from the brakes).

This can be debated back and forth, but until my car gets its body kit (whichever I end up going with), it's still looks very ordinary up front and from the sides. The rear was easier to upgrade (S Class tails, Euro Trunklid, MH-Dezent Roof spoiler, Carlsson-style deck lid).

FrankW

don't forget my v6 kompressor badge's crooked too...too close to the door instead of being in the middle of the fender....lol

SteveL1

I could not find anything searching that idicated a source for Axxiss Deluxe pads that will fit the '06 C230 big calipers. All of the on-line application charts only go up to '04. Any of the board sponsors carry them??? Frank??? Neal???Thanks!

GPI

I'm looking for brake pads that are low in dusts. Who knows what brake pads have this feature? I'm sure you all know that the factory pads leave so much dusts.

Thank you!

StapleGun

Mintex, Padgids...come to mind. The Jurids are factory OEM

CM208

what about the performance in those low dust pads? thanks.

WaveyKat

porterfield

LowCaliTi

AXXis.... i have been running them front and rear for 6 months and they are great....i have a brand new extra front set....$50

HoustonC230

Second that... my porterfield's have a lot less dust than stock... My rears(stock) now get dirty faster than the front (porterfields).