aigooalex

i need my rotors replaced soon with pads and i was wondering, should i just get the oem ones or are there any good aftermarket rotors for around the same price?
same with the pads as well. what pads do you guys use and recommend?

dirtdiggler

this is a reply from Jeff@mymercedes, forum sponsor

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Here's your numbers and prices: Front rotors: 203-421-13-12 $104.00 each X 2 Front pads: 004-420-51-20 $ 78.00 Sensor: 211-540-17-17 $ 6.18 Prices do not include shipping. We are an authorized M-B dealer, so all of our parts are genuine M-B. If you decide to order, just enter the part numberw in the parts search box provided and process your order thru there. Thanks, Jeff


Also look into ECS Tuning which is a BMW/Audi specialty supplier, but now carry MB part. Seems they carry Centric and Balo aftermarket rotors. I installed aftermarket ceramic low dust pads, but seems to eat the rotors - I will probably go back to OEM soon.

dynomite05

If your going to replace them anyway why not upgrade to better rotors and pads. I suggest to go with Akebono Ceramic pads, they give off NO dust and NO noise. For the rotors, R1concepts has some good ones at a decent price. Go with the premiums cross-drilled/slotted. I have used both and they have been great!

Glyn M Ruck

OE rotors & pads are hard to beat - just that damn dust.

Stock rotors & Porterfield pads are a good combo. It is very difficult to beat the bite of the standard pads.

dynomite05

I didn't have good luck with the Porterfields. They squealed like nobodys business combined with Brembo cross-drilled rotors. Maybe it was the combo I'm not sure. They are good with the dust but the Akebonos have them beat.

I must say the Brembo 355mm BBK I have now in the front is insane. I have never felt brakes bite like these. Stop on a dime!

Glyn M Ruck

A lot of people experience the opposite & have trouble with Akebono pads. There is no doubt that certain pads work better with certain rotors/discs.

Without going to a setup that increases the pad area in contact with the rotor it is very difficult to improve on the standard brakes. No carbon ceramic or ceramic pad improves brake feel over stock in my experience without re-engineering other parts of the system. The standard pad is excellently engineered for all round performance & no fade - running in wet conditions etc. It's just the damn dust. I have gone back to OE pads but I find since fitting AMG replica rims at ET32 they don't get anywhere near a dirty as the standard wheels did. The air flow around the wheel has obviously changed appreciably.

One thing I have found with ceramic pads is they don't like water & misbehave until they have wiped the rotor dry. Unfortunately our cheaper models don't have the auto wiping feature.

Javvy

I agree 100%...........but that dame dust.......................I will try out the oe pads when mine come up.........but woudn't the OE pads be similar to the cheapest raybestoes dusty pads........would save some $$$$ there......

Glyn M Ruck

No - the OE pad is not similar to anything apart from the shape.

TemjinX2

I have oem rotors with akebono ceremic pads. I wouldn't say the stop power is better, but probably on par with stock pads, but no brake dust. I drove them for about 50k without any problems. This includes daily driving and some spirited canyon runs.

e1000

I also vote for stock rotors. Most of the pad choices out there are also pretty good, just stay away from EBC.

Buellwinkle

I've replaced mine with stock rotors and pads, the price from parts.com made them the lowest cost solution, but the 4 pot calipers on the 2004.5 do not dust as much as the single and dual pot rotors used in other years. I've used Akebono on my kid's SLK230 and they have the least dust of any pad I've ever used on any car. I do get a little squealing at low speeds with a very light touch on the brake pedal. Other than that they are very smooth and so far are holding up well. During the last service, I had our indy put Akebono pads in the rear brakes on her SLK good so far.

Another pad that I've had great sucess with on other cars is the Pep Boys house brand, Pro Stop ceramic pads. Very low dust, not quite as dust free as Akebono, but no squealing at all. They also last forever. My wife's Wrangler needed brakes at 13K miles, replaced them with Pro Stop ceramic and it's got like 45K miles now and plenty of pad left. I've even did a lift kit and larger tires which puts a heavier demand on the brakes and they still hold up great.

aigooalex

seems like the OE is the best way to go haha
but i shall see about the akebono's too since i've been hearing okay things from few members