Stock (Brembo? IIANM) Axxiss Ultimate pads and stop-tech steel-braided brake lines. I know the performance gains are anecdotal, but it's still an easy, fun thing to do to get some wrench-time in at my level.

This will be my first real mechanical procedure with this car. My previous mechanical experience is like I changed the alternator, brakes, thermostat etc... [OMFG is it 20 farking years ago already??!?!?!] in my '83 Caprice Classic when I was 16.

I have a lot of generic tools, of all sizes, torx, allen, etc... what other tools might I need for this job (I've heard there is a retainer for the rotor that might be a special tool)? Also any advice on where to get a procedure and the order for bleeding the brakes?

Is the best place to jack the front of this car up on that center pad under the center of the motor and put jack-stands under the body near the front door hinge?

Any other advice appreciated! Thanks.

 

why the lines?

 

Ostensibly the steel-braided brake lines don't expand like rubber does, therefore applying pressure more quickly and evenly?...people's opinions on that vary by driver, but it's easy and cheap, so I'm going to give it a shot.

 

Just an interested bystander waiting for replies.

I'm going to change my pads soon and I'm interested in finding out where you got your Axxis pads??? I had those on z BMW and liked them alot and they are a lot cheaper than the Porterfields.

 

Other than K&N's,it probably the best performance mod you can do for $100.00

 

I got the pads and lines on stop-tech's site, and the rotors come tommorow from sears imports in minnetonka mn.

 

Bif.. did you get stock rotors or did you order after market?

 

Apologies - Sears Imports is the local MB dealer, so I got stocks, which I'm told is actually a Brembo BBK. The Price was $115 per rotor from the dealer which seems like it's actually a reasonable price.

 

Well this is getting close, mostly at this point I'm looking for technical information:

Torque listings for fasteners
Order for bleeding brakes
Any special tools/tips for this procedure.

Many thanks!

Bif

 

i haven't changed these yet, but i changed the one's on my evo and they were Brembo 4 pot fronts and 2 pot rears with new pads and slotted rotors...

make sure you have at least four C-clamps to compress each piston on the front (although if you put the pads and rotors back together before you put the lines on, this will probably not be an issue...but it could be risky because you might chance getting fluid on the new pads if you are not extremely careful, fyi)

make sure you use some pretty thick towels or rags if you are going to use the C-clamps, otherwise you will be repainting your calipers...

the pads load from the top of the caliper, not the bottom, so if you weren't changing the rotors, the whole car would probaly take about 30 min...

i can't ever remember the bleeding order because i don't do it enough, but you start at the left front, right front, left rear, right rear...if not, then it is exactly backwards from that...

make sure you torque your wheels so that it is even all the way around the lug pattern...


AND PLEASE bed-in your brakes properly...if you don't know how, go read the tech articles on stoptech's website...if you don't do this, all of your effort will be in vain...

 

Many thanks 1fast, good information - I have a couple local buds helping me out that are old-shoes at this kind of thing, so hopefully they will be able to fill in the gaps

Thanks!

 

Check out this web site for some tools that may help You. AE
Caliper piston compressors

www.elpsotools.com

I while back I did a small how too, in simple terms. look / search under Front brake pad dust
After many Trips I was cleaning the disc brake dust & rewaxing all the wheels on the CLK 5.5. So I talked to my Friend at The garage to see if he has had any experence with EBC Sport Formula (Green Stuff) disc brake Pads. Butch & Jerry @ Butch Stokes Automotive in Pembroke Park FL. Near Miami & Ft. Lauderdale. Have installed them on Lots of Porsche's
With no customer complaints. So I order front Pads Part Number DP21363 & rear pads Part Number DP2887 . I installed them Myself. ALSO HAD THE REAR CALIPERS painted Silver ( hi temp Urathane 2 part Paint). I recently had the rotors replaced ,Warped . Car only had 8000 miles.So I didn't need to put a fresh cut on them. Please note This is a 03 Car. It has 4 piston Brembo's in the front and what looks like E55 amg / 300 series 91 thru 93 . Brakes in the rear. (2 piston cast iron) I know 05 CLK 5.5 AMG has Brembo's front (6 piston) & Rear (4 piston) so the part numbers will differ.. Expect to spent about a hour per wheel labor time , with cleaning the old dust off. It was just a simple to drive the retainer pins out , drop in the new pads.
I did a little extra work. and applied a little constant pressure to the brake pedal , with a 2x4 cut to lenght , wedge between the lower seat frame & the brake pedal. WHY?
This closes off the brake fluid inlet port in the master cylinder and keeps any old contaminated fluid from being force back in the the brake system , when you compress the pistons to install the new thicker pads. Put a 12"piece of clear hose on the caliper Bleeder screw , Then take a empty 16 oz water bottle , drill a hole in the top ,not to big ,sized to the clear hose , to capture the old fluid . Watch out brake fluid will lift or damage any paint it touchs. Please despose of the fluid properly ,DO NOT REUSE IT. Have fresh DOT #3 brake fluid on hand. When each wheel is done , release the brake pedal , do not apply pedal pressure yet , be ready to top off the master cylinder. At this time,
Repete for each wheel job , start with the wheel closest to the master cylinder . POOF a saturday morning gone . Time to seat up the new pads as per EBC instructions
The brakes seated up quickly & actually work better than than the OEM pads ,Seat of Pants / No fading or noise, BEST OF ALL NO DUST!!
Retail price for the front pads is $158.40 & rear is $94.40. Butch & Jerry also offered a discount on the pads (Met) Tire rack Pricing.
Next task is Exhaust

 

Axxiss Ultimate's are really dusty and squeaky. However, performance wise, they are good. Please keep us updated with the results. I'm curious if they are still as dusty and squeaky as I experienced when I had them installed on my Subaru.

 

hehe, I havent posted in a while, (been busy)... BUT I saw this and wanted to chime in, I installed (well I paid someone) to install new SSB lines and Motul brake fluid earlier this year, and yes the brake pedal has a slightly better feel to it than stock. It has a "firmer" feel to it... Now the axxis ultimtes are going to be VERY dusty!!! I put them on my xb (along with ssb lines also) and I can tell you that they grab very hard, but they have soooooo much dust to them that I have considered going back to stock. I will take my car to the car wash, have the wheels cleaned and with 10-20 miles you can see the brake dust on them.. So if you dont mind that then you will have much better braking than the stock pads. I am glad I didnt get them for the Merc like I almost did. BTW I think the xb stops faster than the merc right now, its sooo much lighter and with the axxis pads it stops hard...

 

Wow, thats a great price.
I was just quoted 175 and 165 at 2 different dealers.

Anyone find a good aftermarket rotor?
I'd like to get ones that are directional instead of 2 rights.
I'm thinking Porterfield pads.

 

I was thinking Porterfield pads myself. I wanted to try some aftermarket rotors since I seen a set that offed the rears drilled like the fronts but I am not sure. I had went cheap aftermarket rotors on my last car and had no issues so I was thinking it would be ok but you never know with some company's because you have no idea what your getting.

 

I found some info for C32 owners on the EBC pads.

I am not saying these are good pads for our car. I have never used them nor do I know anyone who has. Please do your research on these before buying them. If anyone on this forum know about these from experience please chime in.

Part Name: Brake Pad Set
Part Number: DP21363 = $92.70
Brand: EBC
Fits:
3.2L, Supercharged – C32 AMG
5.5L – CL55 AMG
5.5L – S55 AMG
========================
Part Name: Brake Pad Set REAR
Part Number: DP2887 = $56.70
Brand: EBC
Fits:
3.2L, Supercharged – C32 AMG
3.2L, Supercharged – SLK
5.5L – CLK55 AMG
5.5L – E55 AMG

EBC also has a RED STUFF PAD that is supposed to be better than there classic GREEN STUFF PAD.