hpilot

Has anyone installed dust-free aftermarket brake pads? Did they squeal, and did you notice any difference in braking? Did you have to disable the computer brake pad monitoring, and did you get a fault indication?

Thanks.

t-bone

I tried the EBC green stuff on my E430.

The only difference I noticed was that they squealed like crazy. So loud that I would get a headache from the high pitched squeal.

I tolerated this for about 1000 miles thinking it would go away, but nope it never did.

I also did not notice any less dust.

So in the end I went back to the factory brake pads.

hpilot

Thanks. I guess I will stick with stock! (Hate that mess)

SoCal240/6

There are a lot of others that you can get.

I've used Repco/Axxis Deluxe and Metalmasters pads in many Euro cars over the past 15 years. They don't tend to squeal, are easy on the rotors (I've gotten 100,000+ miles on rotors) and make about 5% of the dust.

Those dusty OEM pads just are not necessary.

mischief

portified RS-4 brake pads are suspose to be very good. They are dustless and still accommodate the brake pad wear sensors. you can buy them at www.myroadster.net. many people have installed them and are very happy with them.

hpilot

Thanks mischief. I'll give them a try.

JamE55

hpilot

Let me know once you use the porterfield RS-4 brake pads to see if it says what it says.

thanks!

t-bone

I'm not sure if the Porterfields will be any better than the EBC Green Stuff in terms of squealing. This is what Mach430 once wrote about Porterfields for his CLK:

I think the squealing prompted him to get his Brembo Big Brake kit sooner though.

Wadster

Ordered a set of fronts for my '93 300E and installed them 2/2/2002. Within the first 20 miles, there was slight squealing and some dusting. Since then, there's been absolutely no squealing and the brake dust reduction is as advertised: 90% or better.


Question: What exactly are OEM pads made of? 100% organic?

JamE55

I guess there's also a break in period on these Porterfield brake pads?

Wadster

In researching the Porterfields, I didn't see anything that explicitly mentioned a break-in period. The one thing I did see cautioned against using new Porterfields with brand new rotors. New rotors with used pads or new pads with used rotors was okay though.

Wadster

After four months of use and a few thousand miles, my Porterfields still perform as advertised. Very little brake dust and no squealing.

MARK CUMMINS

I Have PORTERFIELDs on Both My 210 Wagon and my Wifes C COUPE (with new Cross Drilled rotors) With No Squeak or noise
I Used Mercedes Benz Factory anti squeak and Cleaned the edges @45 with a file ...So Far So Good!!

I have Used PORTERFIELDs on several cars with NO PROBLEMS

mischief

A couple of weeks ago, I put on a set of cross drilled rotors and poterfield pads on the rear of my 1999 ML320. So far I have had no squeal and much less dust. Performance also seems to be a bit better as well.

DO NOT use EBC brake pads with OEM rotors. A few people have reported warped rotors using this combination.

e420i_in_NC

I use Kleen Wheels, and they work great. I drive pretty easy, so I haven't noticed any change in the performance of the brakes. They do a great job of keeping the dust totally off the wheel... wheels stay dust free for weeks on end. Road grime, now that's a different story.

MikeyE430

Have used Repco/Axxis MetalMaster pads on several cars including my old E420 with absolutely no problems. No dust, no squeal, great stopping power. Did not hurt the rotors.

M Brabus

I've used Mintex with very good results. Very cheap, less dust, good braking, no noise. Cannot accomodate for brake wear sensor.

MikeyE430

I have heard that Rotex Kevlar or Graphite pads are nice units. Anyone used them?

AJChenMPH

If you're not a highly aggressive driver, Mintex Red Box are a pretty good standard -- stopping power should be about the same as OEM, but dust should be a lot less. Wear should be about the same as OEM as well. You should also be able to get it with wear sensors.

sbarsap

Mark can you please elaborate, is this necessary for all aftermarket brake pads?

Also what is the best anti-squeel paste to use?

E320Star

Do not install dust free pad's. Not the right thing to do. they do not perform as good the OEM parts and they do not last as long as the OEM. Waste of money for sure,

stemags

Ive been using Porterfields since the car had 15K on it.No Dust,no squeak,plenty of pedal,,,very very good pads.In fact,I changed rotors to Brembo,non drilled ,non slotted,,and replaced the R4s pads,,and didnt have to ,,they had 30K miles on them by that time,,,and could have gone another 20K easily.Trick is to use the paste they supply,,on the backing of each pad set,,and Voila,,,no squeaky.BTW Mikey 430,,i finally got around to painting the calipers yellow,,looks real nice.

JKA

I've used Axxis Deluxe with better performance and longer lasting wear than the OEM. I have them in the front and rear and could not be happier with the results. Dust is so low that even if I go a month without washing the car, you can't see any dust on them.

Also, "pads" don't squeal, the back of the pad as the piston(s) presses on them is what squeals.

The first time I installed a set of pads I used poor quality, and not enough brake paste. After a few days the squealing started. I removed them, used a better quality paste and made sure I used enough of it and in the right areas (not all over the back of the pads, only the part that makes contact.)

After that, no more squealing.

Nellie B

Do they have a 'hole' for the brake pad wear sensors? I have an '01 E430 and I'm thinking of getting a set but wuold like to know if they have the correct fitting for the sensor.

Thanks,

- Nellie

sbarsap

The Axxis Deluxe pads do have the holes for the sensor.