Replace rotors or not when replacing pads
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: chicago
2003 E500
Replace rotors or not when replacing pads
Had my tire guy (Nortown Automotive Chicago) check the brake pads when he was replacing the tires last week. He said there was some pad left but not a lot. He recommended replacing the rotors when replacing the pads and he does not think it worthwhile to attempt machining them. He would charge about $900 for both axles.
Talked to my service advisor - who is also the service manager - today while the car was in for a D+ service and he said they would just replace the pads. He said it was about $650 for the pads on both axles.
Anybody have any thoughts on this? I searched and did not find anything on point. Of course, no guarantees from either if a brake maintenance will stop the squealing. I hate to shell out any extra money on this car if I don't have to as I will keep it less than another twelve months.
Talked to my service advisor - who is also the service manager - today while the car was in for a D+ service and he said they would just replace the pads. He said it was about $650 for the pads on both axles.
Anybody have any thoughts on this? I searched and did not find anything on point. Of course, no guarantees from either if a brake maintenance will stop the squealing. I hate to shell out any extra money on this car if I don't have to as I will keep it less than another twelve months.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,794
Likes: 3
From: Valley of the Sun, Arizona
2011 E550, 2013 GLK
You don't turn Mercedes rotors. For one thing, it's so easy to change the rotors that you might as well go ahead and replace them.
On older Mercedes, rotors could last up to 90,000 miles or close to it. Now that Mercedes are using the SBC braking system, rotors may wear our more quickly.
Front brake pad sets for the current E320/E500 cost about $93.00 if purchased over the Internet. Rear pad sets cost about $62.
The two sensors cost about $12.
The only thing that's unusual about changing pads on the current E-Class is that the SBC controller has to be disconnected before you can work on the brakes. Once you've done that, changing pads are easy.
Taking the worst case scenario assume that it takes a dealer two hours at $100/hour plus about $175 for parts. That's less than $400. If a dealer can't change the pads in two hours with a hoist and impact wrench then something is wrong.
Don't change the rotors unless they've worn below the minimum acceptable thickness according to Mercedes.
Try searching this forum to find Info from people who have done the work themselves.
On older Mercedes, rotors could last up to 90,000 miles or close to it. Now that Mercedes are using the SBC braking system, rotors may wear our more quickly.
Front brake pad sets for the current E320/E500 cost about $93.00 if purchased over the Internet. Rear pad sets cost about $62.
The two sensors cost about $12.
The only thing that's unusual about changing pads on the current E-Class is that the SBC controller has to be disconnected before you can work on the brakes. Once you've done that, changing pads are easy.
Taking the worst case scenario assume that it takes a dealer two hours at $100/hour plus about $175 for parts. That's less than $400. If a dealer can't change the pads in two hours with a hoist and impact wrench then something is wrong.
Don't change the rotors unless they've worn below the minimum acceptable thickness according to Mercedes.
Try searching this forum to find Info from people who have done the work themselves.
Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Mission Viejo, CA
03 E500, 2010 E350, 2006 550i
Brakes
Guys, watching these threads and wondering, doesnt Mercedes include the brakes in their free service plan? I have an 03 E500 and going in for a few things tomorrow. One being brake squeak, so are not the pads and potentially rotors covered?
BMW covered this so I assumed Mercedes does too!
Thanks
BMW covered this so I assumed Mercedes does too!
Thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,794
Likes: 3
From: Valley of the Sun, Arizona
2011 E550, 2013 GLK
Originally Posted by pkancel
Guys, watching these threads and wondering, doesnt Mercedes include the brakes in their free service plan? I have an 03 E500 and going in for a few things tomorrow. One being brake squeak, so are not the pads and potentially rotors covered?
BMW covered this so I assumed Mercedes does too!
Thanks
BMW covered this so I assumed Mercedes does too!
Thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,439
Likes: 1
From: THE NAPA VALLEY, CA
Build date 2-04 E500
Why go against the word of your SA and change the rotors at your exspense??? If your SA says the rotors are fine then leave them alone. Just make sure that he knows for sure that the new pads will out last the "old" rotors and have them note it on the service agreement.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 462
Likes: 0
From: CT and FL
SL500 E320 ML350
I just had brakes done on my '03 E500. Sounds familiar - my tire guy said the front pads looked low so I had the dealer check them out. Fronts (at 26,400 miles) were down to 30% and he said the rotors were fine. I had front and rear pads done and they charged $442. Seems fair to me. 
Trending Topics
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 693
Likes: 1
From: Mansfield, TX
11 ML350W2 / 17 GLC300
It sure seems like the tire places have a lot of price competition for tires and thus have somewhat low prices for the tires. They then seem to "find" things to fix or replace at very high prices. Since they aren't building a long term relationship with the customer, they don't seem to care that they are overcharging for some services. I have heard similar stories where the tire / battery / etc. place charged more than the dealer for a service that may not have even used OEM parts. I personally check with the dealer for an estimated cost before allowing someone else to service my vehicle. On another note, watching some of the tire places lift the car can be very unnerving. There are places to jack the car and when the jack points of the lift aren't placed correctly, the car may be damaged. There is one place that I will not allow to lift my car unless they let me adjust the lift.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Dubai Tuner Gives the Mercedes G-Class An Entirely New Look
Verdad Gallardo
Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
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
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,061
Likes: 326
From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
Various
Originally Posted by pkancel
Guys, watching these threads and wondering, doesnt Mercedes include the brakes in their free service plan? I have an 03 E500 and going in for a few things tomorrow. One being brake squeak, so are not the pads and potentially rotors covered?
BMW covered this so I assumed Mercedes does too!
Thanks
BMW covered this so I assumed Mercedes does too!
Thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,440
Likes: 541
From: Philadelphia, PA (USA)
2025 E53 Hybrid
Deactivating/Activating SBC
How complicated is it to deactivate and then re-enable SBC when doing brake maintenance? Can this be easily done by a DIY mechanic?
Originally Posted by BudC
The only thing that's unusual about changing pads on the current E-Class is that the SBC controller has to be disconnected before you can work on the brakes. Once you've done that, changing pads are easy.
