benzojatt

I have the brake pad sensor light displayed on my 03 C230. I ONLY have 27K on it and find it interestig that the brakes are already gone. From the different shops I have talked to, I hear I HAVE to change the rotor as well as the pads! Rotors already...thats crazy. Is this true or another money making scheme, because I have quotes starting at $400!!
When I tell a shop I ONLY want pads, they say they wont work on it!
Please advise!!!!
Also, I di not hear nay sqweaks or anything of the sort from the brakes so am baffled as to why this light came on. Can I turn it off myself because it is always on?

amdeutsch

Go and STFF on the W203 forum. This question has come up numerous times.

BTW

Welcome to the forum

benzojatt

A NEWBIE question for you...what does STFF mean

lkchris

25 K is a very reasonable figure for brake pads.

Today's rotors are thinner for lots of good technical reasons and 25K may indeed be their lifetime.

You can "search."

Phin

STFF = use the search feature.... to be nice

That's pretty good mileage for needing brakes imo.I changed my fronts at around 16k the first time and I'm about ready for fronts again at 34k.I do like spirited driving.

benzojatt

did u change your rotors each time as well?

vettdvr

What I found on the E500 is the rotor thickness wears about .025 for every set of pads. Starting at a nominal 1.100 thickness pads changed about 30,000 miles will give an easy 100000 miles on a set of rotors. My factory origional rotors have 75,000 miles and now on the 3rd set of pads with roughly 50% of the wear surface before hitting the MERCEDES minimun thickness for rotor wear. So it really isn't necessary to change rotors everytime you change pads. I get replacement pads and sensors for about $85.00 and change them myself in about 2 hrs given wheel removal time. People who automatically want to change rotors or not do the brake job for you are giving you good advice. Go else where for the work. Too many times people use the CYA maneuver to replace rotors or turn them when replacement is not needed and turning is not recommended.

So next time ask someone to measure the current thickness of the rotor, then look at the minimum allowed to determine replacement,, not just <we always do it this way>. Best of luck,, my guess is you have another 20,000 safe miles in the pads and at least 50,000 more on the rotors, but your measurements will give you the best data.

benzojatt

Thank you very much for the info vettdvr! Another question: Shops have also told me that if I do NOT change the rotors, I am GUARNTEED to have vibrations when I brake if I oNLY get pads. Any vaildity to this?

Untertürkheim

No. Pads are rotors are seperate components meant to be replaced as they are needed. If your rotors are in good condition, there is no reason to change them, and there will not be vibration if the brakes are replaced correctly with OEM parts.

vettdvr

This is correct!

whoover

New pads need to be bedded in. You should try to avoid hard braking for about 500 miles. This is true whenever you replace pads. If you're using new pads and old rotors, the pads might tend to make some noise as the circular ridges that are normal on used rotors bed into corresponding grooves on the new pads. This is also normal and will disappear in a few hundred miles. There is no reason to replace rotors that are within their thickness spec.

I've never gotten more than 30,000 miles from front rotors on an S-class. They're heavier of course, but 75,000 miles for front rotors on any Mercedes would be very unusual. Of course, driving style will make a big difference but MB rotors do tend to wear fairly quickly. If you trust your mechanic and he tells you the rotors mike out of spec you should let him replace them. Never machine a Mercedes rotor.

vettdvr

I currently have 75000 miles on the front E500 rotors with 50 % of the wear limit left at 70,000 mile pad installation. My guess is next pad change will be 25% remaining and I already have 2 new front MB rotors in the box ready to install.

whoover

Yes, that's what I was responding to. It's very different than my 25 years' experience with 7 MBs. I'm not doubting your experience, but giving another data point. Driving style and model will have a big effect.

vettdvr

I agree style does. I drive my corvette on the track and went 75,000 miles before changing pads. Just have to learn how to drive the car,, not the brakes to make them last. My wife drives the 500. nuff said.

lars

So true. The service A check on my car last week, at 40K miles, said the original front pads were at 60% and the rears at 55%. I should get 70K from them, one of the benefits of a standard transmission on a C-class. On my other hand is a Lotus Europa that I also bought new. This car, which weighs just under 1500 lbs, at 70K miles is on at least its third set of front pads.

I've routinely changed pads without touching the rotors with no ill effects but these days you HAVE to check the rotor thickness to see if it's still within the wear limit.