Brake Job Question
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 39
Likes: 5
From: Edmonton, AB
2012 GLK 350
Brake Job Question
I need to change my front brake pads soon. Can i only upgrade front pads to ceramic and keep the OEM metallic pads in the rear? Are those NAPA pads good enough? Thanks!
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 671
Likes: 18
From: Tucson, Az
10 GLK350/ 15 Accord/ 94 Supra Turbo
yes you can, I have done it before on other cars. Napa is the retailer, it depends on the brand of the pads that is offered
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 343
2013 glk 350
I'm no brake pro, but it makes no sense to me to have unequal braking front to rear. The proportioning valve and brake size is precisely designed to balance brakes for long live and Saftey! Now you want to put on front pads that have more stopping power than the rear, you going to over work the front breaks, and put more wear on front end components. And also lock up the front first. Just from a saftey standpoint it sounds like a dumb idea .
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 343
2013 glk 350
You have antilock brakes , and traction control should compensate. But if you mix tires, say an old pair with a new pair, the better tires always go on the rear or you will fishtail easier in a corner. Wont stronger front brakes negatively affect braking in corners in poor weather, I think it would because they would grab harder. I'd say do all 4 the same.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 861
Likes: 38
From: Philly area
350 GLK, C280
Probably depends on what you mean by upgrade. Ceramics will probably have less stopping power but be cleaner. I have not heard of anyone having problems after just changing the front brakes. You may want to look at the disc also, as MB's have been know to have soft disc's.
As far as tires, I would much rather put good tires on the front. By good, I mean better tread depth. A blow out on the rear is nothing like a blow out on a front. Of course this is from my days when we use to use a soldering iron to mark tread on the tire because we didn't have the funds to buy the retreads.
As far as tires, I would much rather put good tires on the front. By good, I mean better tread depth. A blow out on the rear is nothing like a blow out on a front. Of course this is from my days when we use to use a soldering iron to mark tread on the tire because we didn't have the funds to buy the retreads.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 343
2013 glk 350
I thought the same as you with tires, I had a car where the tires had about 30000 miles and the fronts were more worn. So why not put on a new set of Michelin in front and keep the old Michelin rears, the rears looked like they were good for 30000 more. I left the tire shop with new front tires and it snowed earlier, I went around a long turn and fish tailed off the road. Next day I went back and got two new rear tires. I complained and the boss said his employee shouldn't have sold me fronts, that as a saftey issue new tires go on the rear.
