JayB63

My 2011 ML350 needs breaks.....seem reasonable....it has 75K kms on it.


However.....a few oddities......although I am far from an expert. Hoping some knowledgeable folks can help me out.


The MB dealer told me pads and rotors $2K +..... Needing rotors seem odd to me but have read some differing opinions on whether they need to be replaced or just machined.


Anyway, I check my last MB service bill which was at 63K kms and my pads were 6mm all around. No mention of the brakes needing attention soon.


So......I visually inspect the rotors and note a noticeable difference between the front and back.


Fronts rotors are very smooth (visually and to the touch) and look great (I can't measure the thickness.....so don't know about that key variable).


Now the backs.....they are a mess. Visually, and to the touch.....wavy..... I can also tell that the back pads are more worn than the fronts.


Is this normal??? I bought the truck new.....have had all service done thru the MB dealer....the truck has been babied.....


Could their be something else going on here?

N_Jay

If you brake gently the back often wear faster.


MB Dealers charge and arm and a leg for brakes.

sheepdog8

My rear rotors also look like yours. I have 84 k mi. On mine, think 1st owner must have had brakes done. When I need new ones. I'll just do it myself using rotors from Rockauto & some good ceramic or Hawk pads. I know it's blasphemous to some hardcore MBers but I've had very good luck over the years on all my vehicles using quality rotors (diff. Brands) with a high quality ceramic or Hawk pad set. And I don't end up burning through the soft German rotors.

sheepdog8

& yes it's way cheaper. Depending on the pads I buy, sometimes I get noticeably better braking than stock. I would not use the dealer for brakes, if u want full oem parts go to an Indy shop or do yourself.

JayB63

Thanks guys.....


I will definitely take it to an Indy....they are at $1400 using MB parts....so a bit better $ anyway.


But wondering if I should be taking it back to the dealer. Is the wavy rear rotors a sign of a malfunction of some sort.......


Don't want to pay and Indy to do a full brake job to find out later that the dealer would have replaced them under warranty?

N_Jay

You can ask the dealer if there are warranty issues, but wavy rotor surface is not unusual, so as long as the brakes are where evenly (side to side and inner to outer pad) then all is probably normal.


Don't get your rotors cut, you can get new ones for about $60 to $100 per rotor, and $35 to $75 per set of pads (Without going crazy)
That puts parts are a top end of $550 and at 1 hour per corner the whole job should be in the $1050 range (Assuming $125 per hour)
If it is much more, I would ask what they are doing. (Even 1.5 hours per corner only takes it to $1300)

JayB63

Good counsel on replacement vs cut.....


Assuming you are talking about aftermarket parts, bought in the US. MB pads alone in Canada are $450+ and rotors are $150 each.

N_Jay

Yes, quality aftermarket parts.
Even the MB parts from Pelican only add up to about $650
Yes, I was calculating it based on "real" money.

Don't you guys have Amazon up there?

sheepdog8

Jayb63, all the German cars I've had came with soft steel rotors. They say they do this for safety. So yes, with worn brakes & oem type rotors, they do get ridged, wavy looking on the surface. I've always replaced with a normal hardness high quality steel rotor & better than oem pad with great results. Plus rotors last 2-3x as long & don't get wavy looking.

JayB63

Any suggestions on good aftermarket stuff.

N_Jay

I like Centric mid line stuff.
Posi Quiet Ceramic Pads
Centric High Carbon 125 Series Rotor

Bake parts are a bit like an oil discussion.
Everyone has their favorites,
all others are horrible,
. . . . .
and most really work fine.

sheepdog8

I just checked Rockauto. I usually go with Centric premium rotors. For pads I'd go with the Powerstop Evolution Ceramic. These pads are great for the money, used them on at least 3 vehicles. No fitments for my 2 favorite high performance pads ( Hawk, Stoptech street). Rockauto lists the evolution ceramic as high performance, but my experience is same as oem, just cleaner. Whereas a Hawk or Stoptech pad would feel like you upgraded your whole brake system.

sheepdog8

Sorry, Stoptech (Centric) does offer their performance street pads for your ML. Rockauto lists at $99, for the fronts only, their most expensive pad. They stop very well though, but make a good amount of dust.

JayB63

A good local Indy here recommends Akebono pads and Zimmerman rotors (his supplier doesn't supply Centric stuff here in Canada).

Any issues with this gear?

Really appreciate all the help guys......thank you......

BTW..... I had better start fact finding on my C63 ...... it has 25K kms - something tells me it won't make it to 75K kms before it needs brakes.....and I am guess it will be a tad more $$$ for its gear..... lol

sheepdog8

Akebono pads are also good, but I believe Zimmerman rotors are the soft oem type. Your decision.

chikoo

I have been using Akebono on all my vehicles since 2003. Great pads.