Non-OE Brake Pads
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 10
2004 CLK320
Non-OE Brake Pads
For the next brake pads change, I am thinking to go non-OE.
I read many good reviews on Akebono Euro Ceramic Pads (Premium). Somehow Tirerack's rating on stopping power is only 3 of 5 stars. How do these pads feel, as compared to stock OE pads?
Just curious, who makes the OE pads?
I read many good reviews on Akebono Euro Ceramic Pads (Premium). Somehow Tirerack's rating on stopping power is only 3 of 5 stars. How do these pads feel, as compared to stock OE pads?
Just curious, who makes the OE pads?
Last edited by mis3; Apr 12, 2012 at 03:52 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
From: San Diego North County
2015 E400 CAB, 2010 Jeep Compass, 2009 E350 Sedan
I was having the same problems with the brake dust as you are with the OEM pads. I replaced the rears with the Akebono pads and love them iI will do the fronts when needed.
No need to get new rotors unless you need them and you will sooner or later.
Louie
No need to get new rotors unless you need them and you will sooner or later.
Louie
Last edited by Louie D; Apr 12, 2012 at 04:52 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,124
Likes: 223
From: Milton/Westport, MA USA
me: 2015 SL400 & 2015 ML400; wife: 2022 GLC Coupe; daughter: 2017 GLC SUV
I have stock pads on my E350 and they grab like glue, stop on a dime, and make a *****-mess of my wheels in a day and half. Akebonos and R1 rotors on the CLK and not a speck of dust and minimal rotor wear, but they don't stop as well. Oh, and I rear-ended an X5 with my C230K cuz I couldn't stop in time (yet still bought Akebonos again, but not for my wife's E)
Trending Topics
MBworld Guru
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,782
Likes: 1,011
NO LONGER ACTIVE
A lot of people scoff at Centric rotors as they are made in China, but I put a complete set of Centric D+S rotors and their matching "Posi-Quiet" ceramic pads on the C240 for about $300. They've been great! They stop better than OEM and are dust free. They roar a bit on hard stops because of the slots, but otherwise, they've been on there about 18 months and no complaints.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 380
Likes: 28
From: via Mulholland
2024 GLE63s
Then you don't want the Akebonos then. I did all four wheels about a month ago. There is almost zero dust but the initial grab and pull down feels about 20% weaker than stock. And they squeak whenever I back up. I'm going to try a set of EBC RedStuff ceramics. I had them on my R32 and they were pretty good.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,748
Likes: 0
From: A Canadian in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
'05 C200K SS, '05 Kleemann CLK500K, '08 Hummer H3 & '92 Z34 5sp (track car in Canada)
Then you don't want the Akebonos then. I did all four wheels about a month ago. There is almost zero dust but the initial grab and pull down feels about 20% weaker than stock. And they squeak whenever I back up. I'm going to try a set of EBC RedStuff ceramics. I had them on my R32 and they were pretty good.
I ran EBC reds back home and really liked them, also a very clean pad and not much of a bite reduction.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 655
Likes: 1
I drive the racism out of BadDebt. ;)
Texstar has come out with a new line of pads....Low dust; no squeek, but with OEM gripping capabilities...
I find them way better than my Hawk Ceramics and Akebono Ceramics...
I find them way better than my Hawk Ceramics and Akebono Ceramics...
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: Delaware Ohio
'06 CLK500 '10 C63
Don't mess with the junk. I have been racing cars in SCCA club racing for years. I've used pads from every racing pad manufacturer and I found that the company I have been buying from for years has pads that don't dust and flat out work. I got them from Porterfield. Google them and while not cheap the R-4 line will hold up to track use and stop your car on the street without the dust of factory. Those on a budget need not apply. It was about $180 for a set of front pads. Thank me later. I have no affiliation with porterfield and frankly I prefer Hawk for my current competition car, but have used the endurance porterfield compounds in long distance races with good results. These are not racing pads I'm using on my CLK.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
Likes: 192
From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
MBworld Guru
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,782
Likes: 1,011
NO LONGER ACTIVE
On the Porterfields, I have not used them myself, but I have heard nothing but good things about them. I ran Rotex Gold Kevlar pads on my ML and they were superb, but also expensive. I don't think they make them for the CLK, though.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 10
2004 CLK320
I am confused with the part numbers.
Last time the dealership changed my brakes, these are the part no:
Front pads:. 003-420-60-20
Rear pads: 003-420-28-20
I just went to Autohasaz and found these part no. for my car (2004 CLK320):
Front pads:. 003-420-26-20
Rear pads:. 003-420-52-20 and 003-420-28-20 (why 2 different items)
Also, I could not find OE rotors there.
Last time the dealership changed my brakes, these are the part no:
Front pads:. 003-420-60-20
Rear pads: 003-420-28-20
I just went to Autohasaz and found these part no. for my car (2004 CLK320):
Front pads:. 003-420-26-20
Rear pads:. 003-420-52-20 and 003-420-28-20 (why 2 different items)
Also, I could not find OE rotors there.
MBworld Guru
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,782
Likes: 1,011
NO LONGER ACTIVE
A 003 420 60 20 is the correct updated part number for the front brakes. A 003 420 26 20 is an older part number, but Autohaus often lists them since that may be what customers are searching for.
A 003 420 52 20 is the rear brake pad set for vehicles with the sport package. A 003 420 28 20 is the rear brake pad set for cars without the sport package (i..e with the luxury or elegance package).
A 003 420 52 20 is the rear brake pad set for vehicles with the sport package. A 003 420 28 20 is the rear brake pad set for cars without the sport package (i..e with the luxury or elegance package).
MBworld Guru
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,782
Likes: 1,011
NO LONGER ACTIVE
While the OE pads do generate a lot of dust, it washed off easily. I had a BMW X3 and it was terrible. Not only did the brakes generate a ton of black dust, it stuck to and pitted the rims. I tried every cleaning solution and nothing helped. I even clayed and waxed the rims and that didn't help, either. It was terrible! The only redeeming quality was that the X3 stopped on a dime - it stopped faster than most everything on the street, except for a few Porsches and some supercars.
Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 81
Likes: 1
From: Montana, USA
2004 CLK500
The Porterfield R4s sound interesting. Can anyone comment on if they squeak at all? Looking at pairing these with the R1 premium drilled/slotted.
Also, are the OEM rotors on the 55AMG larger? Will those work on the CLK500 with the stock 4pot calipers?
Also, are the OEM rotors on the 55AMG larger? Will those work on the CLK500 with the stock 4pot calipers?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,748
Likes: 0
From: A Canadian in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
'05 C200K SS, '05 Kleemann CLK500K, '08 Hummer H3 & '92 Z34 5sp (track car in Canada)
Don't mess with the junk. I have been racing cars in SCCA club racing for years. I've used pads from every racing pad manufacturer and I found that the company I have been buying from for years has pads that don't dust and flat out work. I got them from Porterfield. Google them and while not cheap the R-4 line will hold up to track use and stop your car on the street without the dust of factory. Those on a budget need not apply. It was about $180 for a set of front pads. Thank me later. I have no affiliation with porterfield and frankly I prefer Hawk for my current competition car, but have used the endurance porterfield compounds in long distance races with good results. These are not racing pads I'm using on my CLK.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
Likes: 192
From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
One should also remember that the stock Brembo rotors from Benz are fine & well priced.
Porterfield pads are great!
Porterfield pads are great!
MBworld Guru
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,782
Likes: 1,011
NO LONGER ACTIVE
As for brake squeal, I've only once found a pad I couldn't keep from squealing - and it was the Rotex on my ML. 99% of the time, brake squeal isn't coming from the pad to rotor contact, but from the pad to caliper (or piston) contact. The pad vibrates and causes the squeal. Some pads come with backing material that dampens the squeal. If not, you need to use anti-squeal compound that basically creates a soft layer of cushion between the back of the pad and the caliper/piston surface.
Oh, and on the Rotex pads, they squealed because they had too much metal in the. The solution was to sand them down occasionally (along with a rotor knock-down sanding), but it would seem to come back every month or two. I just lived with it because of their incredible stopping and dustless output.
Oh, and on the Rotex pads, they squealed because they had too much metal in the. The solution was to sand them down occasionally (along with a rotor knock-down sanding), but it would seem to come back every month or two. I just lived with it because of their incredible stopping and dustless output.
