caperss

I'm coming from a 2011 BMW750xi with very good brakes. The brakes in my 2010 4matic feel weak. I mean to say they work but I have to apply a lot more force to stop the car than I am use to. I noticed after a spirited drive the rotors look smudged and dark. Could the pads be contaminated or am I just spoiled by the great brakes on my BMW? I'm thinking of replacing the pads but I don't have any preference. I'm not looking for performance pads just good street pads. Does the group have a favorite pad manufacturer that works well in these cars?

SwineHund550

Yes I agree more pedal effort than my STS also. I had 50K on my 2010 4 Matic brakes. The front rotors were roasted. Had that smeared look and the chamfers on the drilled holes were gone. They eat up pads at that level so im told. I just redid them withn new rotors and ceramic pads for less brake dust... they are much better but im at only 500 miles.

alx

Dark and smudged disks- burnt brake dust caked on rotors. What has happened is the car must have sat for a while and rotors got really rusty. Then car was driven and rust caused pad material to deposit on rotors. Light rust usually rubs off without additional intervention. Heavy rust results in what you are describing and Pad on pad material is slippery.

You need either a good wire brush (on a drill) to remove cake from rotors or new rotors. Don't turn them as German rotors are really not made to be turned (too little material even when new).

Also I am sure that your car can use a brake fluid change.

Mercedes brakes are mushier than bmw brakes and do require a bit more effort- true. But they are just as powerful and I am sure yours can be made better.

SwineHund550

What mine looked like

SwineHund550

Fresh, and much better

Jason B

The s550 take 15 more feet to stop from 60-0 mph than the 750. But the s550 turning radius is (36.1 ft vs 41.7) which makes a difference.

1bad540

Takes a bit getting used to, I noticed it too

caperss

Wow! Sixty feet longer to stop??? That is going to take getting use to. Swinehund550 those pics you posted are spot on! That's just what they looked like. The car didn't sit long, maybe two weeks and I'm use to the rotors rusting up quick. All my German cars do that. So it looks like new rotors and pads may help a bit. Sixty feet longer... What was MB thinking when they designed the braking system? P.S. I'll flush the fluid too. Thank you everyone!

caperss

Read that wrong 15ft longer from 60MPH. OK, that's not so bad but its 15ft more than I am use to. I'll get use to it.

Wings of Divine

lol I think its Mercedes' air brake make you feel kinda different

Nickthegreek

Im going to be changing my brakes soon and will be putting ebc red brake pads in it. When i had an ML350 i put them on all 4 and i swear that thing stopped like it had the brakes of a dump truck compared to oem. Gonna get a set and tryem. Ill post how they work. Only thing that sucks is they need a couple of weeks to set in and they squeal for a few weeks then it goes away

Nickthegreek

Did you paint your calipers? Mine look a lot crappier and dont have the nice logo on them lol