Could S63 brakes be swapped onto s550s? (Caliper/Rotors/Pads)




If S550 owners wanted to put S63 AMG brakes on our cars and we bought rotors and pads. Would it be relatively straight forward and can be done?
was just a random thought I had today and I’m curious
thanks everyone.
1) Are any changes needed to the hydraulic system/master cylinder, etc.
2) Is there enough clearance under your wheels for the S63 calipers
Porsche cars share most of the brake components across the model lineup (or used to ;-) My 928 GTS for example has the same brakes as a 993 twin turbo. In the Porsche world it's mostly a question of what type adapters are required to place the calipers in the correct orientation to the rotor.
Last edited by Tom in Austin; May 31, 2023 at 07:25 PM.








$2200 plus brake fluid, labor possible new mounts etc and with my mechanic friend $2600? I bet I could save a couple hundred if I looked harder for a deal on the calipers and rotors.
im going to be doing the S63 conversion to my W222 early July (in transit) I already bought the OEM 2020 S560 headlights. And with my tune of 600HP .. I’m considering upgrading the front calipers atleast and possibly seeing if my mechanic could swap the S550 4 pistons from the front when swapping to S63 and putting them on the rear.






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That’s a great backup plan if I don’t want to get the CCB’s. I definitely want to keep this car a long time as I think the w222 is a top 10 merc ever made. Only reason I see myself selling it is if I can’t resist the urge to upgrade to s63/65. I scoured Autotrader etc for months trying to find the right spec with Burmester 3D and the interior I wanted with flowing lines trim. I was looking for a low mile facelift car that was not silver or grey which severely lessens the pool available. The only things I’m not totally in love with are the dune silver (champagne) paint and its lacking MBC. Dune silver has actually grown on me though. Do you know of any solid aftermarket rotor options that would have a little better stopping power/heat dispersion? I have a feeling the car is so heavy that it’s tough to get a measurable improvement without blowing a bag on Stoptechs or CCB.




If your rears are warping, the first question I'd ask is if you're using LKA. The LKA system uses the rear brakes to help guide the car to center it in the lane. Contrast that to Distronic Plus, which uses the steering wheel to go around curves in the road, and LKA system works in combination with Distronic plus to keep the car centered when navigating curves in the road. The problem is that LKA chews through pads very agressively. That might be a contributing factor to your pads and rotors wearing out. And 30K miles is just about right for these cars, unless you go with ceramic.
I didn't change fron rotors sincey they were less than a year old. I changed rear rotors to Zimmerman rotors. I changed front pads to Powerstop Z26, and rears to Z23, both caron infused pads. They reduced brake dust by 95% all the way around. The difference between OEM pads and the Powerstops is so drastic it cannot be accurately described. The jury is still out on whether I'd recommend the Zimmerman rotors. I think mine slightly warped because one of the rear pads was worn enevenly across the face. I got replacement pads and rotors and just installed the pads. 90% of the vibration is gone, I only expected it to reduced by 50%. After Christmas I'll have time to swap the rotors and properly clean and lube all the hardware. Then I'll send the warped rotors back to FCP.




That’s a great backup plan if I don’t want to get the CCB’s. I definitely want to keep this car a long time as I think the w222 is a top 10 merc ever made. Only reason I see myself selling it is if I can’t resist the urge to upgrade to s63/65. I scoured Autotrader etc for months trying to find the right spec with Burmester 3D and the interior I wanted with flowing lines trim. I was looking for a low mile facelift car that was not silver or grey which severely lessens the pool available. The only things I’m not totally in love with are the dune silver (champagne) paint and its lacking MBC. Dune silver has actually grown on me though. Do you know of any solid aftermarket rotor options that would have a little better stopping power/heat dispersion? I have a feeling the car is so heavy that it’s tough to get a measurable improvement without blowing a bag on Stoptechs or CCB.



I don't think I will ever need new pads or rotors. A brake job on my car is changing the brake fluid every other year.
To me they are very much worth the extra cost.
I think CCB are worth the cost just to not have dust anymore. Do we have a CCB option for the 2018 S560?
If your rears are warping, the first question I'd ask is if you're using LKA. The LKA system uses the rear brakes to help guide the car to center it in the lane. Contrast that to Distronic Plus, which uses the steering wheel to go around curves in the road, and LKA system works in combination with Distronic plus to keep the car centered when navigating curves in the road. The problem is that LKA chews through pads very agressively. That might be a contributing factor to your pads and rotors wearing out. And 30K miles is just about right for these cars, unless you go with ceramic.
I didn't change fron rotors sincey they were less than a year old. I changed rear rotors to Zimmerman rotors. I changed front pads to Powerstop Z26, and rears to Z23, both caron infused pads. They reduced brake dust by 95% all the way around. The difference between OEM pads and the Powerstops is so drastic it cannot be accurately described. The jury is still out on whether I'd recommend the Zimmerman rotors. I think mine slightly warped because one of the rear pads was worn enevenly across the face. I got replacement pads and rotors and just installed the pads. 90% of the vibration is gone, I only expected it to reduced by 50%. After Christmas I'll have time to swap the rotors and properly clean and lube all the hardware. Then I'll send the warped rotors back to FCP.
I don't think I will ever need new pads or rotors. A brake job on my car is changing the brake fluid every other year.
To me they are very much worth the extra cost.
I think CCB are worth the cost just to not have dust anymore. Do we have a CCB option for the 2018 S560?




Yes, carbon ceramic brakes can stop faster, especially under extreme, repeated hard braking on a track, because they resist brake fade better and maintain consistent performance, but for everyday street driving, traditional steel brakes might stop just as well or even slightly better initially due to the need for heat to activate CCBs. Their main advantages are reducing weight (improving handling) and extreme heat tolerance, not necessarily shorter cold-stop distances compared to good steel brakes, though they offer better sustained performance. [[url=https://www.carbonceramicbrakes.com/en/news/Pages/5-reasons-buying-car-carbon-ceramic-brake-discs.aspx]1, 2, 3, 4,]
When Carbon Ceramics Stop Faster (Track/Extreme Use)
- Heat Resistance: They handle extreme temperatures from repeated hard stops without fading, keeping braking force consistent, unlike steel which can fade.
- Shorter Distances (Sustained): In multi-stop tests, steel brakes fade, while CCBs maintain shorter distances, sometimes significantly (e.g., 100 feet shorter over multiple stops).
- Higher Friction (Under Heat): They generate strong friction and can reduce braking distance by several feet even from moderate speeds (e.g., 62 mph) in initial stops. [[url=https://www.carbonceramicbrakes.com/en/news/Pages/5-reasons-buying-car-carbon-ceramic-brake-discs.aspx]1, 3, 4,]
- Cold Performance: Carbon ceramics need to be hot to work optimally; steel brakes often perform better in cold, everyday driving conditions.
- Initial Bite: On the first few stops in cold weather, steel brakes can sometimes offer better initial bite or stopping power. [[url=https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/2uivv5/why_are_carbon_ceramic_brakes_such_a_big_deal/]2, 5, 7, 8]
For high-performance driving and track use, carbon ceramics provide superior, fade-free stopping power and reduced unsprung weight, leading to faster overall performance. For street cars, their benefits (less dust, lighter weight, longevity) often outweigh the marginal or sometimes absent benefit in short, cold stops, but they are a significant cost upgrade. [[url=https://www.carbonceramicbrakes.com/en/news/Pages/5-reasons-buying-car-carbon-ceramic-brake-discs.aspx]1, 2, 3, 4,]
AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] https://www.carbonceramicbrakes.com/...ake-discs.aspx
[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/commen...ch_a_big_deal/
[3] https://www.tech-9.co.uk/blog/carbon...kes-explained/
[4] https://www.molando-brake.com/blogs/...y-to-stop.html
[5] https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/commen...utilizes_them/
[6] https://www.quora.com/Are-carbon-cer...just-marketing
[7] https://gtimportsautorepair.com/carbon-ceramic-vs-steel-porsche-brakes/
Last edited by carlosinseattle; Dec 16, 2025 at 01:02 PM.



