What Kind Of Brake Pads Are You Guys Using?
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Member
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 77
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From: Irving Texas
2003 Benz C240
What Kind Of Brake Pads Are You Guys Using?
2003 c240 87k miles
Needs new B/pads. The current ones produce much brake dust than to my liking. Wifey drives 6 miles a day in city streets. So I am not looking for pricey, performance stuff. Just good quality, functional and less dusty brakes. I have read about Akebono ceramics. And that today's ceramics don't wear disc rotors like they used. Is this true today? What are you guys using, that you would recommend?
Needs new B/pads. The current ones produce much brake dust than to my liking. Wifey drives 6 miles a day in city streets. So I am not looking for pricey, performance stuff. Just good quality, functional and less dusty brakes. I have read about Akebono ceramics. And that today's ceramics don't wear disc rotors like they used. Is this true today? What are you guys using, that you would recommend?
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Joined: May 2017
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C320
How important is brake dust to you? Ceramics produce less brake dust at the expense of braking power. Metallic and semi metallic are the only pads appropriate for these cars. Ceramic pads are purely a vanity option.
Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 102
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From: Vancouver, BC
2002 C240
I replaced my brake pads and rotors on my 2002 C240 last fall. On the front I replaced with the Akebono ceramics since they tend to dust up the most. For the rear I used Pagid (OE style) replacement pads since the rears do not seem to dust up nearly as bad as the fronts.
With this combination the braking is good and acceptable, but must admit not as good as OE type pads. Definitely about 90% less dust on the fronts with the ceramics pads.
I have tried another brand of ceramic brake pad on the front and found the Akebono to be much superior in braking/stopping. The price difference was minimal between the two brands.
For the brake rotors, I used the Zimmerman - Z-coated rotors front & rear. I am happy with this combination . . . so far. Time will tell.
Oh! have to mention that before I replaced the brakes and rotors, I had a slight vibration when braking coming from the front brakes. This was after about 4-5 years of driving. Don't know if it was caused by the previous pads or rotors. Or if it was a combination of both. The old brake pads still had 40-50% remaining. Placed a dial indicator on the rotors and found the left rotor had a slight warp. Previous rotors were: Zimmerman (front) and Balo (rear). Good luck with your choice.
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With this combination the braking is good and acceptable, but must admit not as good as OE type pads. Definitely about 90% less dust on the fronts with the ceramics pads.
I have tried another brand of ceramic brake pad on the front and found the Akebono to be much superior in braking/stopping. The price difference was minimal between the two brands.
For the brake rotors, I used the Zimmerman - Z-coated rotors front & rear. I am happy with this combination . . . so far. Time will tell.
Oh! have to mention that before I replaced the brakes and rotors, I had a slight vibration when braking coming from the front brakes. This was after about 4-5 years of driving. Don't know if it was caused by the previous pads or rotors. Or if it was a combination of both. The old brake pads still had 40-50% remaining. Placed a dial indicator on the rotors and found the left rotor had a slight warp. Previous rotors were: Zimmerman (front) and Balo (rear). Good luck with your choice.
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Last edited by 1st lite; Mar 20, 2018 at 10:16 AM.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Akebono all the way.
Awesome pads.
Maybe the last ones you'll ever need.
Do absolutely start with fresh
rotors. Go with the MB ones.
I've got 170K on my front pads.
No joke. Of course, I'm running the AMG brake setup which doesn't 'brake' a
sweat most of the time. R R R
They're down to nothing right now, need replacement soon,
squealing when cold, but didn't squeal at all for most of the life of the pads.
Awesome pads.
Maybe the last ones you'll ever need.
Do absolutely start with fresh
rotors. Go with the MB ones.
I've got 170K on my front pads.
No joke. Of course, I'm running the AMG brake setup which doesn't 'brake' a
sweat most of the time. R R R
They're down to nothing right now, need replacement soon,
squealing when cold, but didn't squeal at all for most of the life of the pads.
