KingsoverQueens

Do the dustless pads work? Dealer is saying im due for new front pads and im wondering if i ahould supply the dustless or let my neighbor hood mechanic swap them out.

Question...do they really cut down dirty wheels?

This is for a 2013 s550.

superpop

I put Akebonos pads on my S550 2 years ago along with new rotors and I have no dust to speak of on my wheels. They do work.

KingsoverQueens

Thanks for the reply.

Do i need new rotars too? Currently has factory installed. Just had service b and dealer recommended new pads. Not looking to go crazy expense wise, which is an oxymoron when discussing an s550, right?

Hoping to just slap on these akemodos and call it a day.

dlafever

If your rotors meet the minimum thickness, then you should not need to replace them. From what I can tell looking at the Zimmerman online catalog (http://www.otto-zimmermann.de/en/katalog.html), the mininum thickness for the front rotors is 30mm.

I recently replaced my front rotors/pads with the Zimmerman Coat Z rotors and Akebono Euro pads. Braking feel is great, VERY low dust and the rear wheels now get dirty before the fronts. This is the 2nd Benz I've Akebono'd and very happy when them.

superpop

I would do the rotors at the same time. very simple to do and the cost is a few hundred bucks. for the pair at Rockauto. Good to do the pads and rotors as a set.

DaveW68

Low dust pads usually have less braking bite than the stock pads. It's not usually very noticeable during normal braking on dry roads. But you'll definitely have longer stopping distances when the brakes are wet compared to the stock pads. If you live in a dry climate, you probably won't notice much difference at all.

I'm pretty sure that the stock rotors cannot be cut, so beware of doing a pad slap on the used rotors. You'll definitely have longer stopping distances as it would be highly unlikely that the new pads would sit flush on the used rotors. You'll also likely have squealing. Going cheap on a brake swap by not doing the rotors is a bad idea on a big heavy car.

tx170754

I went with OEM front rotors and pads on my CL 600 and couldn't be happier, they are not expensive on line.

Jason B

The Akebono pads are unreal. I left the rotors and just put the new pads on. Car only had 21k miles on it when I put the new pads on, and no way rotors needed replaced. I can drive 3 weeks with NO DUST, whereas the factory pads, you had dust after 30 min of driving! DO IT!

alx

Dave is correct. The stock rotors are matched to stock pads for maximum braking power combined with balanced wear factor. Please do not experiment. I am sure that in the aftermarket world there is a better combo but unless you have access to various brands to mix and match and experiment the average customer is better off with oem set. I run oem sets on my benzes. And I can experiment. Yet I don't.

sixfour

i have been running akebonos for three years on my s550, and the dust problem is gone, and i can not notice any difference in braking, if anything they brake better than stock

DaveW68

Very highly doubtful.

Donnymac

I tried Akebono. Dust was eliminated but braking experience was exactly opposite of yours.

1bad540

I have the akebonos on my s550 for 2 years, they are great. I wouldnt hesitate to do it. My car actually stops better and rolls less at stop lights when you ease off the pedal a hair. Dust is gone and the wheels are always clean. Please only listen to people that have actually tried them. lOTS OF DIFFERENT STORIES AND THEY PERFORM DIFFERENT ON EVERY CAR. Just so you know I have a viper an m3 s550 a few 750's and various corvettes. Im more than familiar w cars, and ive done the brakes on all of them.

alexanderfoti

Any idea if they make them for AMG 221's? Cant find any on their site.

DaveW68

Here is a very low dust pad for your car that is every bit as good as Akebono:

https://centricparts.centriccatalog....&uid=ANR&sid=0

Just beware that these pads will not have the same bite as your stock Brembos, especially on wet roads. You will also encounter more brake fade under heavy braking (especially if you race your car at track events) as the Brembos will disburse the heat better than any low dust pad. Don't believe the hype about Akebonos or any other low dust pad being just as good or better at stopping than your stock brakes. It simply isn't true. Otherwise Benz would use them as OEM equipment.

But in every day regular driving, they are perfectly fine. You'll just have to get used to more brake pressure or longer stops when the roads are wet.

Donnymac

Bullseye.

superpop

Who's taking their S550 to the track. It's a lazy boy on wheels, not a 911.

DaveW68

Alexander was asking....and he has an S65....which is definitely a car that will hold up well at the track.

sixfour

the akebonos work very well on my car, but i am not running my car to a 150 mph and wanting it to stop on a dime, i drive my car the speed limit weather it is in the city or the highway, i enjoy the smooth ride, the comfort and the luxury of my car, if i had wanted a race car i would have purchased one

alexanderfoti

Thank you sir! I will check them out. The amount of dust from the MB oem stuff is just insane. A 3 mile trip to the shops will have the wheels covered.