Brake question.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 384
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From: DMV
W209 500
Brake question.
Hey guys, I have couple questions regarding brakes.
I have a 05 CLK 500, right now it has 68k miles.
Is there a sensor on my car that tells me when my brake pads are low?
Lately I feel that my braking power has gone down, so I'm thinking about changing the pads all around.
Any suggestions on which type of pads i should buy?
Also, i read on the forums that switching out the pads is really easy, I don't even need to calipers off. Is that true?
I will take any suggestion/opinion you guys have.
Thank you all.
I have a 05 CLK 500, right now it has 68k miles.
Is there a sensor on my car that tells me when my brake pads are low?
Lately I feel that my braking power has gone down, so I'm thinking about changing the pads all around.
Any suggestions on which type of pads i should buy?
Also, i read on the forums that switching out the pads is really easy, I don't even need to calipers off. Is that true?
I will take any suggestion/opinion you guys have.
Thank you all.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu, Hawaii
2001 E55, 2002 ML55, 2002 SL500, 2003 CLK55
Hey guys, I have couple questions regarding brakes.
I have a 05 CLK 500, right now it has 68k miles.
Is there a sensor on my car that tells me when my brake pads are low?
Lately I feel that my braking power has gone down, so I'm thinking about changing the pads all around.
Any suggestions on which type of pads i should buy?
Also, i read on the forums that switching out the pads is really easy, I don't even need to calipers off. Is that true?
I will take any suggestion/opinion you guys have.
Thank you all.
I have a 05 CLK 500, right now it has 68k miles.
Is there a sensor on my car that tells me when my brake pads are low?
Lately I feel that my braking power has gone down, so I'm thinking about changing the pads all around.
Any suggestions on which type of pads i should buy?
Also, i read on the forums that switching out the pads is really easy, I don't even need to calipers off. Is that true?
I will take any suggestion/opinion you guys have.
Thank you all.
At the mileage you have you want to also change your rotors. Don't skimp. Rotors aren't very expensive and after changing everything you won't have to worry about them for the next 30-60k miles.
Don't forget to use the best brake fluid you can find. Ate or Pentosin.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 605
Likes: 0
From: NJ,USA
'10 c63,'03expedition,ducati999,22'Donzi
front calipers need to come off to change pads, no sweat at all. rear pads pull right out after removing the pin. got my parts on-line [OEM] for cheap. front rotors were like $75, rears about $65. pads about the same. i change rotors every other pad change. i usually get about 35k-40k miles out of my front pads. alot of highway driving. good luck.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu, Hawaii
2001 E55, 2002 ML55, 2002 SL500, 2003 CLK55
That was once in my stable of bikes, along with a couple of Duc's.
No longer ride
No time and have to take my boy to school. Don't think the wife would approve my boy riding with me on the bike to school!
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Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu, Hawaii
2001 E55, 2002 ML55, 2002 SL500, 2003 CLK55
Hey guys, I have couple questions regarding brakes.
I have a 05 CLK 500, right now it has 68k miles.
Is there a sensor on my car that tells me when my brake pads are low?
Lately I feel that my braking power has gone down, so I'm thinking about changing the pads all around.
Any suggestions on which type of pads i should buy?
Also, i read on the forums that switching out the pads is really easy, I don't even need to calipers off. Is that true?
I will take any suggestion/opinion you guys have.
Thank you all.
I have a 05 CLK 500, right now it has 68k miles.
Is there a sensor on my car that tells me when my brake pads are low?
Lately I feel that my braking power has gone down, so I'm thinking about changing the pads all around.
Any suggestions on which type of pads i should buy?
Also, i read on the forums that switching out the pads is really easy, I don't even need to calipers off. Is that true?
I will take any suggestion/opinion you guys have.
Thank you all.
Stick with Brembo, Ate, Balo, or Zimmerman. All good.
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Super Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 605
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From: NJ,USA
'10 c63,'03expedition,ducati999,22'Donzi
What....???? I didn't have to remove the front caliper when i changed the pads. I just removed the pins. My front caliper is 4 pistons, your must be different.
my bad! just looked at my breaks again.i was thinking of a different car.
my bad! just looked at my breaks again.i was thinking of a different car.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 384
Likes: 0
From: DMV
W209 500
THANKS GUYS. I ordered ATB front pads and Akebono for the rear. That's all they had on tirerack.com. I paid $138 shipped. I should get it on Monday and we will see how it goes.
So i don't have to take off the calipers?
So i don't have to take off the calipers?
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu, Hawaii
2001 E55, 2002 ML55, 2002 SL500, 2003 CLK55
Have they ever been changed before?
If not, I STRONGLY suggest you change your rotors also.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 384
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From: DMV
W209 500
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu, Hawaii
2001 E55, 2002 ML55, 2002 SL500, 2003 CLK55
Yes, they are worn down.
There's no such thing as "they look perfectly fine".
If the rotors' surface has been worn down and are not perfectly flat the new pads will no bed properly.
Why do you think people resurface rotors? It's to get a perfectly flat surface. However, most German rotors' tolerance is so small that once it's worn down by a set of pads you just toss the old rotors and put in a new set.
Seriously, rotors aren't that expensive when you consider how long they last.
Your braking is also a safety, this is not the place to pinch pennies.
There's no such thing as "they look perfectly fine".
If the rotors' surface has been worn down and are not perfectly flat the new pads will no bed properly.
Why do you think people resurface rotors? It's to get a perfectly flat surface. However, most German rotors' tolerance is so small that once it's worn down by a set of pads you just toss the old rotors and put in a new set.
Seriously, rotors aren't that expensive when you consider how long they last.
Your braking is also a safety, this is not the place to pinch pennies.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 384
Likes: 0
From: DMV
W209 500
Yes, they are worn down.
There's no such thing as "they look perfectly fine".
If the rotors' surface has been worn down and are not perfectly flat the new pads will no bed properly.
Why do you think people resurface rotors? It's to get a perfectly flat surface. However, most German rotors' tolerance is so small that once it's worn down by a set of pads you just toss the old rotors and put in a new set.
Seriously, rotors aren't that expensive when you consider how long they last.
Your braking is also a safety, this is not the place to pinch pennies.
There's no such thing as "they look perfectly fine".
If the rotors' surface has been worn down and are not perfectly flat the new pads will no bed properly.
Why do you think people resurface rotors? It's to get a perfectly flat surface. However, most German rotors' tolerance is so small that once it's worn down by a set of pads you just toss the old rotors and put in a new set.
Seriously, rotors aren't that expensive when you consider how long they last.
Your braking is also a safety, this is not the place to pinch pennies.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
To check if the rotor needs to be replaced you need the measure the thickness of the rotor. There is minimum thickness for a reason. When the rotor gets too thin you can actually loose your pads (yes they will fly out)! Typically you can feel the ridge on the edge of the rotor with your finger nail. If this ridge is not very deep you are probably OK.
The real reason why rotors are re-ground is because they are warped, not because there is minor grooves on the rotor. Warp rotors will pulsate when you brake. New pads are fine with fine grooves on your rotors.
The wear on your rotors greatly depends on the pads you use. Semi-metallic or race pads will kill your rotors much quicker than the organic (OEM) or ceramic pads.
If you have CLK with AMG calibers, or CLK 500 with premium brembo made disc and 4-piston front calibers you are looking at way more than $70 / rotor. For my Infinity G35 the brembo rotors were $400 / piece, have not yet changed on CLK500 with 38k miles. Zimmermann replacements rotors for my car were around $800.
And if you DO end up changing your rotors get good rotors as the cheap cast iron non-heat treated rotors are GUARANTEED to warp on you. You cannot go wrong with Brembo rotors for sure!
Hope that helps
The real reason why rotors are re-ground is because they are warped, not because there is minor grooves on the rotor. Warp rotors will pulsate when you brake. New pads are fine with fine grooves on your rotors.
The wear on your rotors greatly depends on the pads you use. Semi-metallic or race pads will kill your rotors much quicker than the organic (OEM) or ceramic pads.
If you have CLK with AMG calibers, or CLK 500 with premium brembo made disc and 4-piston front calibers you are looking at way more than $70 / rotor. For my Infinity G35 the brembo rotors were $400 / piece, have not yet changed on CLK500 with 38k miles. Zimmermann replacements rotors for my car were around $800.
And if you DO end up changing your rotors get good rotors as the cheap cast iron non-heat treated rotors are GUARANTEED to warp on you. You cannot go wrong with Brembo rotors for sure!
Hope that helps
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 384
Likes: 0
From: DMV
W209 500
To check if the rotor needs to be replaced you need the measure the thickness of the rotor. There is minimum thickness for a reason. When the rotor gets too thin you can actually loose your pads (yes they will fly out)! Typically you can feel the ridge on the edge of the rotor with your finger nail. If this ridge is not very deep you are probably OK.
The real reason why rotors are re-ground is because they are warped, not because there is minor grooves on the rotor. Warp rotors will pulsate when you brake. New pads are fine with fine grooves on your rotors.
The wear on your rotors greatly depends on the pads you use. Semi-metallic or race pads will kill your rotors much quicker than the organic (OEM) or ceramic pads.
If you have CLK with AMG calibers, or CLK 500 with premium brembo made disc and 4-piston front calibers you are looking at way more than $70 / rotor. For my Infinity G35 the brembo rotors were $400 / piece, have not yet changed on CLK500 with 38k miles. Zimmermann replacements rotors for my car were around $800.
And if you DO end up changing your rotors get good rotors as the cheap cast iron non-heat treated rotors are GUARANTEED to warp on you. You cannot go wrong with Brembo rotors for sure!
Hope that helps
The real reason why rotors are re-ground is because they are warped, not because there is minor grooves on the rotor. Warp rotors will pulsate when you brake. New pads are fine with fine grooves on your rotors.
The wear on your rotors greatly depends on the pads you use. Semi-metallic or race pads will kill your rotors much quicker than the organic (OEM) or ceramic pads.
If you have CLK with AMG calibers, or CLK 500 with premium brembo made disc and 4-piston front calibers you are looking at way more than $70 / rotor. For my Infinity G35 the brembo rotors were $400 / piece, have not yet changed on CLK500 with 38k miles. Zimmermann replacements rotors for my car were around $800.
And if you DO end up changing your rotors get good rotors as the cheap cast iron non-heat treated rotors are GUARANTEED to warp on you. You cannot go wrong with Brembo rotors for sure!
Hope that helps
