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How all, I am looking to see if anyone has used and validate any other reliable prake pads for AMG GLS 63.
Rear
A-007-420-86-20 - OEM pads. Expensive, short life, dusty. OK bite.
Brembo P50101 - using now. Better than OEM pads for dust and slightly longer life (12k miles vs. 10k miles). Minor squeal until hot.
EBC DP42137R - Yellowstuff 4000 Series — just ordered a set from Summit Racing. Will post when I have some experience with them.
Front
A-008-420-00-20 - OEM pads. Expensive, short life, dusty. OK bite. EBC DP31939C - Redstuff — using now, very happy with them. Good wear (just checked at 18k miles and still have 6mm of the original 10mm), quiet, low dust, and good bite.
One questions though. Why are you using p/n 008-420-00-20 instead of p/n 008-420-20-20 on 63 for the front pads?
Thanks, @threeMBs.
008-420-00-22 seems to show up as compatible with the 2017 GLS63 in various online parts finders. 008-420-20-22 may also work, but I'm not 100% sure.
In any case, I'm happier with the EBC Redstuff pads and don't think the OEM pads are as good from either a price or a performance (bite, dust, lifetime) perspective.
008-420-00-22 seems to show up as compatible with the 2017 GLS63 in various online parts finders. 008-420-20-22 may also work, but I'm not 100% sure.
Ah Ok. Because if you look at actual pads, they are physically totally different and not interchangeable. For the US market, all W166 GL/GLS/ML/GLE 63/63S are equipped with 6 piston calipers (referred to as Sport Brake System, Code U29), usually red (except for ML63 without PP and GLE 63, which are silver). All are requiring 008-420-20-20 pads for 390mm/15.4" front rotors.
I believe for some other markets (non-US) W166 63AMGs were equipped with only 14.8" front rotors (standard for the US ML550/GLE43/GL550/GLS550) with totally different Code P31 calipers which in turn are fitted with 008-420-00-20 pads. I have both GLE43 and ML63PP, former requiring 008-420-00-20 pads (no brake dust, but not a great IMO bite) and the later 008-420-20-20 pads (lots of brake dust, but excellent IMO bite). So for the US GLS63, 20-20 pad is required.
Ah Ok. Because if you look at actual pads, they are physically totally different and not interchangeable. For the US market, all W166 GL/GLS/ML/GLE 63/63S are equipped with 6 piston calipers (referred to as Sport Brake System, Code U29), usually red (except for ML63 without PP and GLE 63, which are silver). All are requiring 008-420-20-20 pads for 390mm/15.4" front rotors.
I believe for some other markets (non-US) W166 63AMGs were equipped with only 14.8" front rotors (standard for the US ML550/GLE43/GL550/GLS550) with totally different Code P31 calipers which in turn are fitted with 008-420-00-20 pads. I have both GLE43 and ML63PP, former requiring 008-420-00-20 pads (no brake dust, but not a great IMO bite) and the later 008-420-20-20 pads (lots of brake dust, but excellent IMO bite). So for the US GLS63, 20-20 pad is required.
@threeMBs — thanks for the detailed explanation. I am running 390mm front rotors on my 2017 GLS63. BTW, Pelican Parts agrees with you that the correct part number is 008-420-20-20. All of the online MB parts vendors (e.g., mbpartssource, mbonlineparts) are ambiguous. The EBC DP31939C Redstuff pads are great and they avoid this vexing problem of the 008-420-00-20 vs 008-420-20-20 OEM pads!
Do you have a recommendation for the rear pads? I’ve been running Brembo P50101 rear pads and they are better than OEM, but not as good as the EBC pads I’m using on the front. I just ordered a set the compatible EBC Yellowstuff rear pads and will try them instead of the Brembo and OEM pads upon next replacement.
Unfortunately do not have recommendation on pads. While I do not like excessive brake dust producing by the stock pads, am still sticking with them because I value ability of 63AMGs to stop on a dime above all else. Initially was inclined to try Z23 Power Stop carbon ceramic pads with many members having positive experience (mostly evolving around very low brake dust production). However, a couple of posters mentioned that Power Stop ceramics do not provide initial bite of the stock pads especially when pads are still cold, hence Power Stop pads were no longer considered.
Like you, for the rotors I use both Zimmermann (currently on rear installed 3K miles ago with OEM rear pads) and Brembo (already have parts to be installed on the front soon with an other set of OEM front pads).
Unfortunately do not have recommendation on pads. While I do not like excessive brake dust producing by the stock pads, am still sticking with them because I value ability of 63AMGs to stop on a dime above all else. Initially was inclined to try Z23 Power Stop carbon ceramic pads with many members having positive experience (mostly evolving around very low brake dust production). However, a couple of posters mentioned that Power Stop ceramics do not provide initial bite of the stock pads especially when pads are still cold, hence Power Stop pads were no longer considered.
Like you, for the rotors I use both Zimmermann (currently on rear installed 3K miles ago with OEM rear pads) and Brembo (already have parts to be installed on the front soon with an other set of OEM front pads).
OK, thanks. I’m fine with the Zimmerman or Brembo rotors — have not had any issues with warping on either, and they all seem to be made from the same material although the Zimmerman coating may be of interest to people in salty winter conditions (reducing the chances of the rotor sticking to the hub and making removal difficult).
I like the Stop Tech dust free pads off Amazon and Zimmerman/OEM rotors from FCP euro. Rotors from FCP euro have lifetime warranty and you can replace them for FREE when they are worn out.
The rear pads are the same as any other GL/GLS and are not unique to the GLS 63. I have the EBC Yellow ones on the rear and still on stock front pads at 22K.
Do you mean physically the same, right? Which would make sense since rear rotors are 345mm for all GL/GLS. Can they be functionally the same? Compound must be quite different, how else to explain difference in price?
The pads were physically and functionally the same. I can't say the material, construction, longevity, ETC, ETC, is the same on the factory part but for the aftermarket ceramic pads I'm using it is the same.
Probably the same but with a little AMG stamp and unobtanium sprinkled in so they can charge more money, Just the AMG part number will guarantee a higher cost even if everything else is identical. MB is in business to make money and that's an old trick to charge more for a brand with everything else being equal.
I switched to Hawk Performance Ceramics and I'm much happier with the brake dust. Performance is same as OEM with slightly less initial bite until they are warmed up which I feel is the same as any ceramic pad.
Rear
A-007-420-86-20 - OEM pads. Expensive, short life, dusty. OK bite.
Brembo P50101 - using now. Better than OEM pads for dust and slightly longer life (12k miles vs. 10k miles). Minor squeal until hot.
EBC DP42137R - Yellowstuff 4000 Series — just ordered a set from Summit Racing. Will post when I have some experience with them.
Front
A-008-420-00-20 - OEM pads. Expensive, short life, dusty. OK bite. EBC DP31939C - Redstuff — using now, very happy with them. Good wear (just checked at 18k miles and still have 6mm of the original 10mm), quiet, low dust, and good bite.
Rear
A-007-420-86-20 - OEM pads. Expensive, short life, dusty. OK bite.
Brembo P50101 - using now. Better than OEM pads for dust and slightly longer life (12k miles vs. 10k miles). Minor squeal until hot.
EBC DP42137R - Yellowstuff 4000 Series — just ordered a set from Summit Racing. Will post when I have some experience with them.
Front
A-008-420-00-20 - OEM pads. Expensive, short life, dusty. OK bite. EBC DP31939C - Redstuff — using now, very happy with them. Good wear (just checked at 18k miles and still have 6mm of the original 10mm), quiet, low dust, and good bite.
Depends on what is left on the original rotors. Should be a minimum thickness on the rotor. If it is within spec, yes, you can just swap pads. Very easy to do.
AMG rear pads are made by TEXTAR TRW. They have totally different specs than other GL/GLS!
There's a reason why the 007-420-86-20 pad kit costs $286. (they are high performance pads) The engineers choose them to hold up to the larger wheels/tires, higher temperatures, loads & stresses of an almost 3 ton SUV being thrown around by a 600HP twin-turbo............
I don't think I'm smarter than the MB AMG engineers who spec my brakes. I think putting in grocery-getter pads on your AMG is a bad idea.
If you want to stay on budget and still have OEM, you can get TEXTAR pad kit on eBay for 1/2 the price. (only difference is they don't have the little MB star). ebay.com/itm/351938528813
Below is the 000-420-66-04 stock photo. They have Brembo logo?
Yes Brembo stamp/logo on front pads is correct. Pads look identical to Brembo stamped 008-420-20-20.
Also, agree with your previous post regarding rear pads. AMG's compound has to be completely different hence the price. BTW, there's no "AMG" stamp on rear pads as was suggested earlier in the thread to justify the price. Just because GL/GLS non-63 rear pads fit (all GL/GLS use 345mm rear rotors, its the thickness of the rotors that is different), does not mean they should be used for GL/GLS 63.
If you want to stay on budget and still have OEM, you can get TEXTAR pad kit on eBay for 1/2 the price. (only difference is they don't have the little MB star). ebay.com/itm/351938528813
EDIT: A note on replacement Textar pads for AMGs. OEM rear Textar made pads are high performance T4354 GG. The "aftermarket" Textar p/n 2521505 I just received are T4018 GF (they are more than fine for non-AMG X166/W166, but IMO not for AMGs). I've seen images of Textar p/n 2521505 T4354 GG pads, so before purchasing make sure pads are T4354 GG and not T4018 GF.
Last edited by threeMBs; Dec 15, 2021 at 07:57 AM.
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