me too!

 

just go to the dealership and buy pads. alot easier.

 

I know they aren't the same, I have a 2004.5 with 4 piston calipers and I bougth today pads for it and they don't fit in the brakes I bougth (2005 c230SS brakes)

 

I know Mick1 and BelletheBenz both have 2005 C320's... I tried looking at the pics of their cars, and they are indeed the same 2-pot calipers as the C230's...

I guess MB changed it up for 06 w/the 350's... I've also noticed the same brakes on the S500 and CLK500, so perhaps it is part of their marketing plan with the new more powerful non-AMG w203...

As for the pads, I know for a fact that the 2004.5 and 2005 do not share the same pads. Porterfield did not have the pads ready when I needed to change them on my 2005 and they told me that the pads were in fact different from the C32 AMG brakes.

 

I was hoping you'd chime in at some point, dawg. You're the only one that I remembered off the top of my head that had to change the front pads.

BTW, 2004.5 and C32 pads are definitely the same size. My car is evidence. But that means that 2005 pads are definitely "unique".

So I guess this is what's been determined:

2004.5 230K SS/2006 350 - 4 piston Sport brakes
2005 230K SS/2005 320 SS/2006 230 - 2 piston Sport Brakes

 

Just looked up a brochure I have for the C class from 2004. The sport sedans had and I quote "Enlarged perforated and internally ventilated front discs with 4-piston fixed-type calipers. Solid rear discs." The C32 had "Enlarged perforated and internally ventilated front discs with 4-piston fixed-type calipers. Ventilated rear discs with dual-piston fixed-type calipers." I didn't find anything on brake size though.

 

Yeah, that much had already been established. The debate is more with the size of the 2005 vs. the 2004.5 vs. AMG. nlpamg had said that 2 members on here have a 2005 320 SS and they didn't get 4 piston calipers. They have the 2 piston (just like the 230 K SS).

I have a 2004.5 myself, so I know that I have the 4 piston calipers up front (unlike earlier production 2004 models). The big difference on the C32 is the rear ventilated 2 piston brakes.

The strange part is that it seems the 2006 350 came with the same 4 piston caliper that was offered on the 2004.5 models.

Either way, gaiex is trying to find out if the C32 brake pads will fit on the 2005 C230K. So far, it looks like they won't (based on nlpamg's comments and 2 piston calipers developed for 2005 models).

 

^ This quote is from mbusa regarding the 350 SS.

e1000, did you do a swap?

 

Wondered why a brake thread was so long....but I know I wasn't asked.

But to throw a wrench in the debate...'05 230 SS has 4 piston calipers

 

It's gotta be production date. Then again, how the heck does e1000 have the 4 piston calipers - unless he upgraded himself?

 

That's what I thinking and thought right after I read the thread. So I went out and look in my door pillar. Sadly, enough, first time I done it. Mine was built 04/04. So I thought, maybe they sold me a 4.5 thinking it was a '05. Checked my VIN # and it comes up as '05. So it HAS to be by production date.

 

Thing is, you'll know if you have an '05 for sure because you'll have the AMG body kit and no free service. Is that the case for you?

 

DAMN, you just HAD to go there didn't you.

 

Hey, well look on the bright side, you've got the AMG body kit, upgraded suspension (even from the 2004.5), changed interior, and you have the same brakes as the 2004.5 (4 piston).

That's not too bad a trade off.

 

my car was made 04/04 and purchased 06/04 and it has the 4 piston caliper like the 2004.5

I have a 05 C230

 

The C32/C55/SLK32 all use the 13.6 inch rotors with four piston calipers. The 2004.5 SS sedans use a 12.8 inch rotor with four pistion caliper. The two piston caliper probably use a different pad than the four piston caliper. If you look at the two piston caliper closely, You don't see the slider pins that are in the top of the four piston calipers to keep the pads aligned. The comment about the brakes being limited by tire grip is true. I've tried it many times. The main advantage to the AMG brakes is fade resistance. Even the 11.8 stock brakes worked well. I would think the two piston calipers with 13.6 inch rotors would give a similar performance to the four piston calipers in most US driving situations

 

nope - haven't done a swap. other than the things in my sig, my car is stock

 

my understanding is that the 2005 C230Kss and 2006 C230 ss have 2 piston brakes in front.

 

I have told it before, yesterday I bougth brake pads for my 2004.5 4 piston and they wont fit on the 2005 brakes I bougth for my coupe....

I just want to know the pads and rotors part # of the 2005 SS if someone knows, or if anyone want to share with me your VIN number so I can search for pads an rotors it would be wonderfull

PLEASE , someone with a 2005SS say me your VIN # by PM

PS: its beeing very difficult to find pads and rotors without a part # in the pads or the callipers I bougth, they don't have any part # on it, only MB and brembo on it and some other numbers not part #

 

Well as stated in this thread, that is not correct. My '05 has 4 piston.

 

Do you have any pic or they are the same as some above?

If they are 4 pistons that is beacuse your car was produced before 2005 and it could be a 2004.5 model and not a 2005, I'm guessing...

 

They are same as the set in your "2nd pic". No I checked, it is branded as a 2005, was sold to me as a 2005, and has VIN that comes up 2005. The logical conclusion is that it is based on actual production date and not. actual model year.

 

In a certain way, yes

 

Check here: http://www.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/?lng=eng

Your car is a 2004.5, only cars produced after 6/2004 are 2005 models

 

Well put a call 2 dealers, 1 local, 1 in the ATL. Gave them VIN, they both responded it was an '05. I asked to see if it was a 4.5. Both said no, 05. Not sure what else to tell you. CARFAX has the VIN listed as '05.