rizwan

Hey guys,

I just had the brakes on my 2000 ML430 replaced over the weekend with OEM rotors from germanStar and porterfield R4-S pads... and all I can say is WOW!

So amazed at there is *still* no brake dust accumulation, and no squeal whatsover. I've been trying to beds the pads in slowly, so i haven't done any hard driving with them yet. The brake pedal feel is more responsive in my opinion, although there is slightly more pedal effort. I can't believe how great this combo worked out, and i'm never going back to the OEM pagid pads!

I would definitely recommend this combination (or better - get some cross drilled rotors) for those of you considering non-OEM brake parts.

riz

m500

rizwan,
Does the brake sensor still works?

rizwan

hi m500,

yeah the brake sensors also work. The shop where I had it done put them in, and he put them in all 4 wheels.

Still going great! I can't tell you how great it is to see no brake dust on my car. The wheels almost look like plastic because they're so bright!

riz

Madd_Scientist

I installed the same style Porterfield pads on my SLK320 when I had it, and the reduction of dust was awesome, but just after a couple thousand miles they started squealing.... and it was so annoying that I ended up putting them in the trash and installing the genuine MB pads. I'd rather keep cleaning the dust off then to have that noisy embarrasing squeal that makes the car sound cheap.

Perhaps the pads perform differently on the ML?

Kar don

nope, my friend's 2000 ML430 went thru 2 sets of porterfields. His sounded like the morning commuter rail train rolling into the station, it was awful. Porterfield sent him a new set of pads and still had issues. Tried the MB anti-squeal goop, etc and nothing fixed it. I am sticking with genuine MB parts.

Madd_Scientist

Yeah, I had put on all the "goo", used the brake silencer kit Jerry from formymercedes.com provided, sanded the rotors and used the spray, all that crap.... and they STILL squealed. Like I said, in the trash they went!

LVDell

Anyone try the Mintex pads?

Madd_Scientist

I bought a used '99 ML430 recently, and the brakes were squealing on it too. While disassembling everything, I found there was NO goo, and so I put some on. I noticed that whoever did the brakes put on Mintex instead of Genuine MB pads.... they have good stopping power, brake dust doesn't seem to be AS bad as MB pads, but still makes a lot. They're finally quiet now though (used the MB brake paste).

00ML430 Bulldog

Yes I recently installed a set of Mintex pads in the rear and they are working out very nicely... no brake dust..... Goood stopping power and no squeeking because I used anti squeek compound, and for some reason i think they are going to last longer than the MB pads.

saturnstyl

In my shop's experience, the rear brakes are incredibly prone to squeal if the rotors are not replaced when the pads are replaced. We don't even have a brake lathe, we just replace them. There was a problem with ML brake squeal a year or two ago, MB made a new brake pad compound and they have been silent since.