C63fora2w1

Recently I was looking for a ceramic pad option to get rid of the horrible dust that the stock pads produce. It was really annoying having to scrub wheels every week and having the rag come out completely black when I was finished.

When looking for pads I saw that Porterfield get alot of good press on this site but they were not a ceramic pad and they were about $300 for a set. I really didnt want to spend that much so I looked at a set of Akebono pads and ordered them BUT. Akebono's part numbers (EUR1342 ft and EUR986 rear) from the manufacturer are completely wrong. The Akebono's come with a big rose clip in the center. I called their HQ in michigan and spoke with their tech who confirmed they do not make a pad for a C63 and they are labeled wrong from the factory.

So the solution that I found was the Powerstop Z23 Carbon fiber Ceramic pads, Pn Z23-1291 front $52 and Z23-1373 rear $49.



So for less than $100 I found a set of ceramic pads and after about 2 weeks of driving I can say they are fantastic. The performance is equal to OEM if not slightly better and they do not squeak or make noise and I have zero dust. For me they are a homerun. I am not sure I would say they are a track pad but if you want a good pad that produces no dust and gives good performance at an affordable price I highly recommend them.

Ryan951s

Interesting, I just put up a positive review on these same pads yesterday ... glad someone else share some my opinion!

alexanderfoti

Looks good! Any idea of any suppliers that ship to the UK?

C63fora2w1

Amazon ??

alexanderfoti

Wont ship to uk. Found the front sets from a seller that does on ebay, have asked them if they have the rear set too.

alexanderfoti

I think the rears are Z23-1373 rather than 1372?

Jasonoff

You guys are fkn crazy to cheap out on brake parts.

C63fora2w1

Yes you are correct.. it was a typo... sorry.

C63fora2w1

I would put these up against Porterfied or Redstuff or any other non track ceramic pad you can buy. It doesn't have to cost a fortune for it to be effective. Quite honestly most of the pads that I have used throughout my life have been autozone cheapest you could buy and I've never had an issue. These pads are as good if not better than Mercedes OEM just without the dust.

Jasonoff

Sure, maybe they're fine. Maybe the pad won't release from the backing plate because the heat and pressure our 6 piston calipers can generate.

The first you have a mechanical failure could be your last. Just saying.

alexanderfoti

I agree

EBC redstufs are £200 a set and are the same thing.

Our motorfactors sell pad sets at £18, and they are from brand names. There is huge margin in these.

C63fora2w1

I'll tell you what I'll rebrand them as Euro-stop pads and sell them an ultra premium ceramic performance pad and charge you $500 a set would you feel better then ? I'll make a fortune and you'll feel better because you overpaid.


Seriously there are laws that mandate that they have to be as good as OEM. Powerstop is a well known brand that makes pads for high performance cars and trucks. This particular pad is well known in the dodge hemi community who have 6 piston calipers as well. The Z-23 happens to be the high performance line.

Jasonoff

Relax Sally, if they're cheap because of cutting out a middle man cool. If they're cheap because they do the absolute minimum to meet standards that's another thing.

Gambling on a safety item could be your last gamble but if you're comfortable with them sweet...

Ryan951s

Admittedly I've only had my Powerstops on the car for a few weeks, but they are great. They are a major supplier of brake components so am expecting they're concerned about their rep. As for bite, noise and dust, the best ceramic pad I've tried.

The only pads I've ever had delaminate from the backing plates were Hawk HPSs. And it wasn't a random ... all 4 front inner pads on my old S4 delaminated. Absolutely terrible pads ... the ones on my Audi delaminated and the ones on my Porsche were basically useless when cold and not very good when hot, so what's the point? And those are obviously premium pads...

Im going to give Powerstop's 'Track Day' pads a try in a few weeks and will report back on those. Had to get pads for the CTS-V as they don't make one specifically for Merc. The only difference is there is no spot for the wear indicator which I'm obviously not worried about on a track pad.

Ambystom01

How can you say that when your testing consists of driving around town?

Jasonoff

I just can't wrap my head around $50 for our front pads. There's almost $50 of just backing plate material there...

skhan91

so does that mean that more expensive pads come with certifications showing they will have higher stress failure compared to lesser priced pads?

good god. There are regulated standards. these items are over engineered 2-3x their required limit to even be sold to the public.

I swear i could sell people Walmart ****ty pads as long as i charge $500 and call them premium.

Jasonoff

You're missing the point. There's cheap, then there's ridiculously cheap.

You don't find $50 pads ridiculously cheap given their size?

EDIT: http://www.brakeandfrontend.com/brake-pad-regulations/

Ambystom01

No, more expensive pads have decades of proven results on the race track.

**** guys, this is like listening to the "hopped up tuner car vs. C63/M3/RS4/whatever" debate.

skhan91

A: he isnt using them on track.

B: Powerstop has TONS of proven results over many years.

C: the point is that a higher price doesn't always mean better quality.

Ambystom01

A. I wasn't suggesting he was. However, what a manufacturer learns on the track trickles into their street products.

B. Powerstop sounds like a fancy store brand. I'd run them on my Miata, not my 4000 lb C63.

C. As Jasonoff pointed out, these pads are stupid cheap, suspicious cheap. They cost less than the oil used for an oil change. And these are the parts meant to stop the car.

C63fora2w1

Ridiculously cheap would be the $12.99 I paid to replace the front pads on my civic. Fifty dollars for front pads seems reasonable to me.

Ambystom01

Not on a C63. $50 is suspiciously cheap.

C63fora2w1

Advanced auto sells a set of (mandated by law OEM equivalent) Weaver front pads for $24.99


https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/...463%7CL3*15694


So $50 is definitely not the cheapest.

Jasonoff

Read the article I posted and google "brake pad regulations". I'm just trying to help guy, do whatever you want. I don't actually care about your life...