jimbo1mcm

Checked my pads at 8000 miles, with a lot of highway and smooth, light brake applications. Front pads looked very good, but the back pads showed about double the wear of the fronts. I guess that is why Benz put a 50% wear sensor in the front left rotor. When you get to that point, the backs are probably done.

cyclerider

How much of your 8,000 miles were spent with the windshield wipers on? I recall hearing that the rear brakes (or maybe all four) are designed to slightly drag to keep the pads dry during wet weather. This certainly could cause premature wear. If this is the case, then cars from Arizona should have longer lasting rear brakes than those from wetter areas.

konigstiger

The variable power distribution of the SBC applies additional force on the rear than a conventional system. This causes increased and uneven levels of wear on the rear pads.

Flash Gordon

Is MB planning to get rid of the SBC? To me, it offers no benefits at all! I just feel it is a marketing ploy that offers no benefits, and on the contrary, SBC wears brake pads prematurely. Any other makes that offer something similar to SBC?

saffrontiger

Flash, I do believe you need to do some research re SBC issue. The technology is fantastic and has saved my "tail" in many scary events. I don't believe it is gimicky at all and given time, MB and it's customers will reflect on how great SBC really is. I will be sad to see it go regardless of the supposed artificial break pedal feedback.

LeslieRushforth

I Changed all four corners myself by unpluging the SBC pump.... see...( DIY BRAKE JOB) on this forum.
My car was 2 years old with 24,000 miles and noticed THAT ALL FRONT AND REAR PADS were worn very even......with about 30% left to go.
I would expect to see an average of 30,000 miles between replacing pads UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS.........50% freeway...50% rural.
We get our share of rain here also in the U.K.

Les.....Chesterfield. U.K.

BudC

khaug

I've found that it's very easy to overestimate the amount of rear pad wear because of the tapering of the friction material on the pad.

If you checked pad wear by simply peering through the wheels, I'd suggest you try pulling a wheel and looking carefully. When I did that, I found the front and rear pad wear rates were actually very similar. At 13K miles, our CDI has lots of pad remaining and front and rear wear rates appear to be pretty equal.

jimbo1mcm

I did check the pad wear by pulling the wheels off, when I was putting my snow tires on. There is tapering in the rear pads, but it certainly does seem to be wearing faster than the fronts. Still think that is why Benz put the 50% wear indicator in the front. There are a lot of other reports of the backs wearing out faster with SBC. I am ordering some brake pads to have on hand and when the time comes, I'll make a report.

BudC

I read sometime back that Mercedes have changed to a harder pad for the rear brakes and told their dealers to use it.

konigstiger

Back in JUL04 they switched to revised rear pads: A004 420 44 20.

Barry45RPM

My rears needed replacing about 1500 miles before my fronts. (Built 11/03)

Flash Gordon

It is not speculation when I said that I don't see any benefits at all with the SBC. The comment is from comparison with my daily drive, 2004 G35X. The G has normal hydraulic brake system like most cars, but it out brakes my 211 by a large margin. It stops much shorter, easier to modulate, just plain better than the 211 in braking. And when I change the pads on the G, I don't have to worry about the SBC break off my fingers! What can I say?

SAguirre

Do you have specs on this? 60 to 0 MPH and 70 to 0 MPH along with repeated braking? I find this statement a bit hard to believe. But it might be true.

Steve

jimbo1mcm

Ordered Brake Pads for the 05 E320 CDI from Importec. Here is what they cost me: LF Sensor $6.74
RF Sensor 5.50
RR Sensor 5.50
Front Pads( Pagid ) 78.42
Rear Pads(Benz OEM)61.23

Total $ 157.39 free shipping

I'll invest a few hours to change the pads myself. Better than a $600 plus bill from the dealer.

Flash Gordon

You should be able to find it in C&D, Motor Trend or similar magazines.

Flash Gordon

I presume you do know the procedure of disconnecting the SBC before working on it? If not, there is a thread that covers that procedure extensively. I plan to do it myself when the time comes and I have already stock the required parts also.

jimbo1mcm

Thanks for the info. I have a WIS program on my computer and I printed out the procedure, but will modify it to disconnect the SBC at the pump. There are helpful threads in this forum under DIY Brake Job.

SAguirre

Here is all I could find: http://motortrend.com/roadtests/seda...irst_infiniti/

If you go to the end of the article you will see that this car is said to stop from 60 MPH to 0 in a fine 118 feet. When Motorweek tested the E320 CDI it performed at 119 feet on the Motorweek test track.

One foot difference can not be considered to be better in this case since the G35 is a car comparable to the C class and NOT the E class. So if you now see that the E class that almost weighs 1000 lbs more than the Infinity and only takes one more foot to stop, which system performs better?

Obviously, the SBC is doing a fine job, not to mention that some of the SBC features will still outperform the other systems since they will engage stronger and faster in emergencies.

I could not find specifics on the E class stopping distances, but I do remember that it was about 119 feet. I also could not find the specs for an AWD Infinity or MB, this would certainly add a few feet to the stopping distance

Steve

jimbo1mcm

See my previous post on pad purchase from Importec. They shipped the rear pad from a MB OEM source, using the new pad, as stated by Konig... in this thread. Part # A004 420 44 20.

Also, there is a Benz retailer that offers considerable discounts on OEM parts. As much as 20-25% off Benz counter price. I am getting ready to order some other stuff from him: lewis_westchesteroh@mbretailer.com

BudC

On the west coast, you can order parts from Caliber Motors at 1-800-252-6877. They also give steep discounts on MB parts. Ask for Al Trevino in Parts. Make sure you ask for ground shipping unless you want them faster.

Of course there are the two old reliable MB Internet parts sources which I've used many times. Rusty is in Atlanta but the last batch of parts I ordered were shipped from a Mercedes dealer in California.

http://www.buymbparts.com/
http://catalog.mercedesshop.com/

marcos

I gotta agree with Steve, the stopping power on my car is fantastic, mind you I've got the 4-pot calipers up front so I'm not sure about the standard brakes fitted to the E320.

KYBENZ

For reference my price on the 004 420 44 20 would have been $50.00 + shipping.