Thugs Bunny

So after a week of driving my wheels have gone from gun metal gray to black compliments of brake dust. It's been a helluva week though I've been perusing the forum for thoughts on pads and rotors and thought it would be good to get updated opinions from everyone on their brake setup. So...

What pads and rotors are you using? (type, brand and model)
How much were they?
How do you like the stopping power compared to stock?
HOW BAD IS THE BRAKE DUST!?

Start listing and I'll edit to tally results up here as we go along.

my06clk

I ordered my pads from a local parts house Advance auto.. they are the bEndix premuim's front and back was about 100 bucks total.

I have drilled front rotors as you do, I got the fronts and rears from Autohaus AZ.. for about 350 shipped...

I don;t really have a brake dust issue anymore like before.. You won't either as soon as you loose those factory pads. They SUCK!!
No I get dus, but just like any other car and after a long long while , but I wash petty regularly, and its never Black like it used to be..

Skylaw

I bookmarked the following for when mine need replacement (still a while off) -

https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w220/146209-akebono-brake-pads.html

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w220...otors-use.html

And https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w220/169374-brake-job-instructions.html for"How-To."

~CL500~

I know what you mean. The stock pads make alot of dust. I use stock rotors with EBC RedStuff Ceramic pads for my CL500. The brake dust has gone down substantially and the difference is noticeable compared with my R350, which still has the stock pads. I wash both cars on the same day. After about 2 weeks, the R has black wheels while the CL will have light dust.

Thugs Bunny

So I talked to my independent yesterday about the Akebonos and he said that while they reduce dust, they have a tendency to overheat and warp the rotors. He said they have had experience where guys have changed rotors more often than pads! I'm thinking that could be a significant fly in this ointment. Anyone experienced this? Any other ideas? Carbon rotors?

kenstudios

I had Akebonos on my 00 and quickly disliked them. Yes they have less visible dust but you buy brakes mainly for the stopping power. Their stopping power was on the low rating and that to me did not cut it. Try stopping from 80 and see the length. As far as warped rotors, I think you need to bed in the brakes properly to avoid warped rotors. In my opinion, I would rather deal with brake dust and a high score on the stopping power than the opposite.

Tomard

It is all about opinions here ..... I just ordered a set of Akebono pads (front and back) from tirerack, and zimmerman slotted rotors (front and back) from autohausaz.

I hate the brake dust and have had good stopping power with ceramic pads in the past, so I can't wait to try them!

chriscobal

From my autohausaz order:

• 2204210812 Brake Disc/Brake Rotor; Front Left/Right; Vented; Cross-Drilled $94.95 2 $189.90
  
• 2204230212 Brake Disc/Brake Rotor; Rear Left/Right; Vented $61.27 2 $122.54
  
• 1634200620 Brake Pad Set; Front; OE Compound $90.95 1 $90.95
  
• 0034201920 Brake Pad Set; Rear; OE Improved Compound $66.95 1 $66.95
  
• 2204210171 Brake Set Screw, Front/Rear; Brake Disc to Hub $1.25 4 $5.00
  
• 0019899451 Brake Pad Paste $1.90 2 $3.80

Stopping power is exceptional but I don't have any real statistics to make any claims of improvement. Brake dust is normal IMO, but I don't drive much (6k miles a year). Good luck!

Tomard

I have same rotors (zimmerman) ordered for both front and rear from Autohausaz, as chriscobal. I choose to get my ceramic pads (Akebono) from Tirerack, instead of the oem pads, as they are supposidely quieter AND less dust!!!

Will get those all installed early next week and drive on them for a week and update my findings. The stock pads (or whatever were on car, are really bad with the dust, so I will try to see if there are any identifyable markings on them and report those as well.

Fraser

IngenereAMG

If you want good performance and reduced brake dust, go with Porterfield's R4S compound. I use them on all my cars and have always been impressed with the performance on the street, as well as the track....... and almost no brake dust!