pbedrosi

I ordered front and rear Akebono brake pads using their own online catalog. Rears look identical to mine, but the front are much larger, in height but same width.

Part number from Akebono is EUR689, same part number on the box in my hand but wrong pads. When I look up SL600 fronts in the same Akebono online catalog, its EUR561. I can't tell the dimensions from the online images but the 561's with curved pin tabs look identical to my old pads.

These pads seem very popular with MB guys, so am I the first to run into this? I've tried search on this site and google with no luck.

I tried couple of local part stores to see if they have a matching Akebono front, no luck and few pulled alternate pads that obviously fit a sliding caliper, maybe for the C280. WTF. Same with the front hardware kit, they give me the C280 kit. Anyone with a link to correct front and rear hardware would be appreciated. Thanks.

Pete

nd4spd13

What year is your C36? I've run into this before

FCSmthree

Damnit, I ordered these pads from autopartswarehouse for my 95 because that's what came up under my yr/model, installed today and noticed the difference in height.

Did I just install the wrong pads on my car?

pbedrosi

It's a 1997. The front caliper is 4 piston, made by ATE.

I found the front hardware kit RAYBESTOS Part # H15919A on rock auto. The rears are only available from Europe on Rock auto with $30+ shipping, but I'm passing.

nd4spd13

Hmm I thought that these were the correct numbers for the 96-97 (and maybe C43?) brakes but not for 95. I now I was running wrong pads on the front for a while. They were too tall because the bottom part of the pad was on top of the inner edge of the rotor, causing a large groove in the pad when I finally removed them. I just went with Pagid pads all around this time, but they are VERY dusty compared to the ill fitting Akebonos. I think i never even installed the rear akebonos because they were completely the wrong shape/size

pbedrosi

That sounds odd...I slipped these pads into the caliper and they bottom out before the pin holes align, there is no way I can complete the installation.

I can take a pic and post soon.

pbedrosi

Here are pics....

old brakes just before staring the job











Front Hardware


Rear Hardware


New Rotor - ATE Slotted

pbedrosi

I have the front and rear partially completed. I just need pads and hardware kit for the front, and hardware only for the rear.

Here are the hardware kits and pads that show up on Autozone/PepBoys/Napa/PartsGeek/etc...





This is what my brakes look like waiting for pads and hardware...

Rear Brakes


Front Brakes (what a pain to clean the rotors).

FCSmthree

What pads are you going with? Are the Akebonos getting returned? I'm surprised no one can chime in on these pads.....

pbedrosi

I'm sending the fronts back to Amazon. No issues with that. Rears work and installed so my goal is the find the matching fronts. I'm 99% sure its the EUR561's.

I found these pads on rockauto for SL600 fronts.


Coincidence that ATE fronts part number is same as Akebono (561)? I checked the dimensions and these are identical to my pads. Now I just need to confirm if Akebono 561's have the same dimension at these ATE's. Secondly, why is Akebono listing the 689's? did 1995 C36 have different brakes?

Most of the front pads for C36 on Rockauto look identical to my original pads with the same width and height (same as the image above). There are couple of misrepresented listings that show pads for a standard c-class and the Akebono 689 which visually does not match any of pads listed.

I need to get my car going, my restored wheels show up soon and I need to get this thing out of the garage. I may just order the Akebono 561's from Amazon, then grab the lube and head to the dealership for the hardware.

FCSmthree

For the rears, did you use EUR603s? Need to order my rears and want to get the right ones.

Keep us updated on the fronts and if the 561s are indeed the right pads. Looks like I'll be taking off the 689s and try to return them....

pbedrosi

Yes, 603's fit perfectly. I'm ordering the 561's tonight, it should arrive fast from Amazon.

Does your caliper look identical to mine? made by ATE.

FCSmthree

My front caliper actually has an AMG stamp on it, no mention of ATE from what I remember...

pbedrosi

Found the rear hardware kit ~$18 shipped.

Dorman HW 13197

Found it on eBay

pbedrosi

Okay, I have an answer for the Akebono question. The customer service rep provided my findings (with dimensions) to one of their technical staff to figure out whats going on. They called this morning to tell me that EUR561 is the correct front pad for 1997 C36 AMG. They mentioned an error in their system during some transition period.

I will confirm once the EUR561's show up and installed.

I am still having a tough time finding the front hardware kit. The rears mentioned before Dorman HW13197's are on their way.

I did get the part numbers for the front hardware kit from parts.com:
Clip 0004218891 x 2 just under $4 a piece
Pin 0004210818 x 4 just over $11 a piece!!!!

Two things...I don't want to spend $44 on pins, now i'm thinking if I should re-use? does anyone know the rule of thumb for these pins?

Secondly, the clip part number search on google shows the C280 wire pad type retainer, not the flat metal type clip in my photo. When I called parts.com rep, happened to be MB dealer in IL, said don't look at the image the clip number above should be correct.


Summary of part numbers:
Front Disc ATE CW 28126 PremiumOne Slotted Rotors
Front Pads Akebono EUR561
Front Hardware
- Pins: MB 0004210818 (not confirmed)
- Clip: MB 0004218891 (probably not correct)

Rear Disc ATE CW10217 PremiumOne Slotted Rotors
Rear Pads Akebono EUR603
Rear Hardware Dorman HW13197 (I still need to confirm once parts arrive)

jumph4x

Never buy from them. They are an outsourced operation and are generally garbage... easy to see from their website.

FCSmthree

561's work, I received mine earlier today, they match up with the original pads and I couldn't wait to install them so I did. Didn't take long obviously and they are indeed the correct ones...

I reused the hardware, mine didn't look all that bad. Waiting for my rear rotors to come in and that will be next. Parts.com only uses one dealership for MB parts and they happen to be in my town so I literally just pick up the parts I need. Doing some searching on this forum, found that my 95 uses modified SL600 rotors so I had to buy OEMs which was an arm and a leg, wish I could've bought slotted aftermarket rotors like yours.

Also, did you call Akebono customer rep? If so, pls provide the number, I'd like to complain about the error which caused me to order the wrong pads.

Thanks, really helpful thread, hopefully helps others avoid this...

FCSmthree

Gotcha, thanks for the advice, I've ordered parts through them before with no issues. But I usually look at AutohausAZ before I go to Autopartswarehouse, they just didn't have Akebono pads. Learned from the OP that I could order from Amazon instead for cheaper and with my prime acct, free 2 day shipping to boot....

DRBC43AMG

I have the same ATE rotors on my C240T. They don't need cleaning at all prior to use, as per instructions in the package. The gray protection on the surface wears out fast.
Or are you talking about cleaning the calipers? They look much better now than before

steve s

95 used a different pair than 96/97 (even if it's only by name/stamping)

pbedrosi

yes...sorry. Cleaning the calipers were a pain!! I got smart and put on some rubber gloves for the other side to keep my hands somewhat clean.

I'll have to post pictures but the 561 Akebonos fit perfectly. The issue now is the rear hardware kit is incorrect. The pins in particular are 1/4 inch too short. The spring clips looks different but does fit the caliper and puts tension on the pins.

The dealer did find the front caliper spring clip, but $25 a piece. I decided to clean them up and re-use. The pins were $11 each (x4) I decided to clean and re-use.

nd4spd13

Did you happen to ask the dealer about reusing the old hardware? Because every time I change them I re-use and I never thought this to be an issue

pbedrosi

I typically replace the hardware because they are cheap, but no the case with MB. The parts guys at my local dealer says to re-use the parts. The problem I have is the rear caliper clip center spring held by a small rivet is detached. I have to rivet back on or something else. The part guy that sold me the hardware is willing to find the correct one, I just need to find time today to give him a call. Here are the new pad and rear hardware pics.