Brake Pads: OE vs Akebono
06-03-2023, 04:45 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Brake Pads: OE vs Akebono
It’s time for new pads and rotors on all four corners. It would be a relief not to have to clean the wheels of brake dust every week so I’ve been looking at Akebono pads. Anyone have any experience with these pads on a W204? I did read a thread on the W211 forum and the results were mixed. I don’t want to sacrifice brake performance just to save time cleaning wheels.
Last edited by alynch; 06-03-2023 at 04:57 PM.
06-04-2023, 12:47 AM
#2
MBWorld Fanatic!
Just out of curiosity, did your 2013 C250 not come with ceramic pads? Mine did and brake dust has never been a problem. Could you just ask at the parts counter for the ceramic pads rather than the organic or the semi-metalic ones?
06-04-2023, 01:03 PM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I believe the ceramic pads were standard on the C250 from MY 2014 onwards. Perhaps MY 2013 was a transitional year, and some vehicles, like yours, had ceramic pads. My vehicle was manufactured in 10/12, so it was at the very start of the MY. Good idea about ordering the ceramic pads. The Boxster is next on the waiting list for pads, and the OE pads are really, really bad for generating brake dust. I may try Akebonos here first, although I have the same dilemma about compromising braking performance. Braking on the Boxster is top-notch and is like throwing out an anchor.
06-04-2023, 11:33 PM
#5
MBWorld Fanatic!
My C250 is older than yours, 09/12 build. There is nothing special about the brakes on my data card. Mine is a Sindelfingen car, so maybe the build plant matters. I have had this on German brands before. The EPC shows at least 3 different brake pads under my VIN. Sorry, but I have never changed the front brake pads, so I don’t have a record of the part number that’s actually on the car.
06-05-2023, 08:10 AM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My C250 is older than yours, 09/12 build. There is nothing special about the brakes on my data card. Mine is a Sindelfingen car, so maybe the build plant matters. I have had this on German brands before. The EPC shows at least 3 different brake pads under my VIN. Sorry, but I have never changed the front brake pads, so I don’t have a record of the part number that’s actually on the car.
06-05-2023, 07:55 PM
#7
Super Member
Love the Zimmerman/Akebono combo. As close to OE as I can get without paying for it. Last set of fronts went 140k miles.
At 212k, I’m still pretty far from the next change but when the time comes I’ll most likely go for the same combo.
At 212k, I’m still pretty far from the next change but when the time comes I’ll most likely go for the same combo.
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alynch (06-05-2023)
