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Getting ready to do Pads and Rotors soon. I hate how much dust the OEM pads throw off. The rims are loaded after a short drive, and I am not aggressive on them.
How many miles did you get on the current set of pads?
I cannot answer that since I purchased the car used. The rotors are starting to get a good lip on the edges. The Drilled slots on the inside of the Rotors are caked with brake dust, and some of the outside holes as well. It is stuck in there like cement. From the best I can tell is that the dust is so heavy, any moisture just makes it into paste that over time fills the drilled vent holes.
I'm a bit OCD and enjoy working on the car with items I am comfortable doing. The rotors and pads are pretty easy if you have done brakes before. The local dealer wants close to $200- for an oil change.... nuts I say. Nothing special about this car to do an oil change other than removing the bottom plastic "shield"..... Since the car was CPO, I assume they were replaced before I picked up the car. So as best as I can say, at least 10K. But I do not know about the prior owner.
It's a technical point, the limiting factor are your tires not the brake setup so you won't stop faster with ceramics even though ceramics might have more stopping power - both stock and ceramics can get your wheels to lock
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Brake dust has been an issue with MB cars for decades. In the 70's & 80's, I used dust shields, but I came to think of them as a "Mickey Mouse" cure and I stopped using them. When I drove Lexus LS sedans as my daily drivers, I was thrilled that the brakes on those cars did not produce anywhere near the amount of dust and always wondered why MB couldn't use the same type of set up, but try telling that to the Germans!
Anyway, the ceramic pads sound great, as per the guy in the video, but what will they do to the rotors? I can just hear the SA at the dealer telling me that I need all new rotors and that they will not be covered under warranty because I was using non-MB pads. There is always a Catch 22 with things like this, so I'll probably just live with the factory set up and have the car washed more often.
All German cars have this issue. I've owned an Audi A7, 3 x Porsche 911's and many different BMW's. They all have the exact same issue in regards to brake dust. The Audi A7 was the worst of the bunch! I'd drive that sucker around the block and the rims would be covered in brake dust.
Brake dust has been an issue with MB cars for decades. In the 70's & 80's, I used dust shields, but I came to think of them as a "Mickey Mouse" cure and I stopped using them. When I drove Lexus LS sedans as my daily drivers, I was thrilled that the brakes on those cars did not produce anywhere near the amount of dust and always wondered why MB couldn't use the same type of set up, but try telling that to the Germans!
Over in Germany they have this system of roadways without <gasp> speed limits! German cars are engineered to stop several times without fade from the maximum velocity of the vehicle (150MPH+) since there are some places where one actually can legally find the top speed of the vehicle. I do not think Lexii are similarly designed and equipped.
Over of the Ferrari, Corvette, Viper, and other car enthusiast forums, it is well known that you have two choices in brake pads--pads that do not dust, and pads that work multiple times at speed.
In my Ferrari I actually had a brake pad fade 'event' where the car had not choice but to leave the paved surface, and this was with 600ºF brake fluid that was put in the day before (not a fluid boiling incident). After doing some research, I chose a set of pads that has proven to be perfectly serviceable in 103ºF Texas summer heat, bringing the car down multiple times from 162MPH (Turn 1 at TWS for example) and remain fade free for 72 minutes (1 whole tank of gas) in those conditions.
So, given the choice between pads that dust and pads that work, I find it easier to not look at the wheels and thereby not worry about it. The other choice is to give up stopping power in the rare case that you find yourself at "license revocation' velocities and need to stop more than once.
Lots of clients wanting a solution to the Brake Dust madness....
Will post photos of Pads when they arrive, and let you know my findings once installed if anyone is interested.
Thanks, because my nice looking AMG wheels always look like they have been painted with extra dark gun metal paint and look dingy.
I too am not heavy on the brakes but if I don't run it through the car wash at least 2 times a week, it is "down on my knees" time to clean them with a brush , soap, and rinse. I've had 7 Mercedes and this car is far worse than the others.
You know, if you have that much OCD, you should start calling it CDO:: CDO is OCD that is so acute that you even have to put the letters in alphabetical order.....
You know, if you have that much OCD, you should start calling it CDO:: CDO is OCD that is so acute that you even have to put the letters in alphabetical order.....
Update to all who are interested. Received the Ceramic Pads. I thought I would post some photos. I will post some additional when I do the install with a Side-by-Side comparison as well as my unbiased opinion of the pads and brake performance.
It was nice to see it came with New Hardware "Pins and Clips" for front.
04-24-2017, 02:53 AM
