bumpersignal

I recently changed brake pads and rotors on all 4 corners using quality Akebono and OEM rotors. It's been over a few hundred miles and I'm still hearing a lot of brake drag and it's not getting quieter. Any suggestions before I take it to a pro?

Yidney

You have an R350 or clk350? Your profile says R. This is a CLK forum. I can tell you that I and others do not like Akebono pads. I just put a set on my wife's Volvo XC90 to prevent dust, but they feel terrible - like I installed pillows at all four wheels. Some guy on here tore them off his CLK, presumably for the same reason.

bumpersignal

I have a 2005 CLK320. That's a bummer about the Akebono's, do you think they're the reason for the brake drag?

Yidney

Hard to say about the drag without seeing or hearing it. Just the fact they are Akebono pads would not cause it. Could be anything from a caliper binding, to one of the reatainer clips not being installed correctly, and probably other things.

Louie D

Where the brakes bled correctly ?

bumpersignal

I didn't bleed the brakes because the system was never open other than the reservoir cap.

bheng

id still bleed every two years or so.

btw. i like having akenbonos on the car. I have them in the front and will put them in the rear once new pads are needed. Unless I find something else that I'd like that are ceramic.

Rudeney

If anyone wants a slightly used set of Akebono pads for a CLK550, I'll send you the ones I pulled off after 6 months. They were crap! I took them off and put on Porterfields and I could not be happier!

Yidney

Rodney, did you not like them for the same reason I didn't like them after putting them on my wife's car - they make the pedal feel too soft?

Rudeney

Yes - the Akebono pads were way too soft, and while I didn't actually test the stopping distance, they just seemed to feel like they didn't stop as short as OEMs. Also, they would squeal when rolling at very low speeds, such as backing out of the garage. I assumed it was because I did not change the rotors (they are still just in spec) and the OEM pads were narrower (radially), leaving a raised lip that the wider Akebono pads would contact. I even took them off and ground down the edges, but they would still squeak. The Porterfield pads have great feel - just like OWM, and are dead silent. I haven't paid much attention to dust yet. The Akebono pads had zero visible dust, and my understanding from other's reports, the Porterfield pads should be the same.

bheng

hmmm. i will add swap to porterfields for my next set to try out.

lol trial and error right?

do you guys happen to know which model?

Rudeney

My advice on the Porterfield s- order from Jerry at formymercedes.com. You won't find a lower price (actually, I never found any lower prices on Porterfield pads - everyone seems to sell at the same retail price). The site asks for your car's info and then you get the correct pads, plus the silencer kit.