When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
2018 S450 4Matic, 2021 Toyota Tundra, 2010 GL350 (sold)
Rotors
I think when I replace my brake pads I’m going to replace my rotors too. Probably go with Bosch OEM and this will be mostly highway miles. Put on new tires today and took some photos rotors while the wheels were off and I’m interested in any opinions. Trying to learn from those that have more experience.
Those Rotors look done. I would swap with the Powerstop kit from Rock Auto. Should be able to do all 4 corners for around 600.00 with fluid. Includes new Rotors and Ceramic Pads that will eliminate the brake dust you are probably seeing now with no degradation in performance.
Look for a lip on the outer edge, if it's 1 mm - or approaching that - then I'd replace them.
You could take a precise thickness measurement with calipers in several places (usually 2 mm below original thickness is the minimum), but the size of the lip is a fairly reliable indication.
2018 S450 4Matic, 2021 Toyota Tundra, 2010 GL350 (sold)
Originally Posted by streborx
When the scoring is so severe it shows in photos, they're toast. These rotors and pads were OE?
I’m not sure but my guess is that these are original. This car has 32k miles on it and it’s been well taken care of in every respect I can determine. The people who have looked it over have said it’s near perfect save for the brakes and tires. Tires are done so I just have this left. I’m going to do fluids as well just so I know what’s in it and when it was put in.
I showed these to BenzNinja and he said to replace them as well. Now I’m back to figuring out what to go with for pads and rotors. I’m leaning towards Bosch as I’ve heard mixed reviews on the PowerStop. This will be driven by my wife who drives like an old lady (when she doesn’t take my truck) and by me on longer drives to Houston which is five hours of highway. Otherwise it will be going to church a couple of times a week. Yeah - we are kinda boring I guess. 😂
Looking at FCPEuro I see kits for the front but not for the back. I don’t think I even see rotors for the back for my car - 2018 S450 4Matic.
I’m not sure but my guess is that these are original. This car has 32k miles on it and it’s been well taken care of in every respect I can determine. The people who have looked it over have said it’s near perfect save for the brakes and tires. Tires are done so I just have this left. I’m going to do fluids as well just so I know what’s in it and when it was put in.
I showed these to BenzNinja and he said to replace them as well. Now I’m back to figuring out what to go with for pads and rotors. I’m leaning towards Bosch as I’ve heard mixed reviews on the PowerStop. This will be driven by my wife who drives like an old lady (when she doesn’t take my truck) and by me on longer drives to Houston which is five hours of highway. Otherwise it will be going to church a couple of times a week. Yeah - we are kinda boring I guess. 😂
Looking at FCPEuro I see kits for the front but not for the back. I don’t think I even see rotors for the back for my car - 2018 S450 4Matic.
I've read several posts on the forum from owners that buy replacement brake components from FCPEuro, and they're all favorable. I don't recall if there is preferred brand. Others who have done brake jobs with FCPEuro parts might want to comment here.
Brake parts are one thing I made sure to buy from FCP for the lifetime warranty. Sure you get store credit back but better than nothing. I bought Zimmerman rotors just because they were less than genuine Mercedes, which now they are a few dollars more than Mercedes. I like them, they seem to be wearing well. I went with OE labeled pads, Ferodo semi-metallic front and ATE semi-metallic rears. They did look just like the genuine Mercedes parts i removed from the car. I never had ceramic pads so cant compare but the semi-metallic stop great so I wouldnt want to change. The rims do get filthy but I just go out with my bucket of car wash soap and clean them off with a sponge. I dont let the rims get so dirty that a harsh cleaner is even needed.
So, my .02 cents for what is worth. I have PowerStop pads and rotors on my Infiniti Q70 5.6 sport package and they are absolutely amazing. You can find the whole set for your S Class on Amazon at around $850, they are for the S560 you may need to check if they are also the same for your car.
Good luck !
On the other hand it is nice to seek advice from other people on the forum but I would only trust folks those that, at least, they have the same car that you have !
I always used OEM pads, but I do hate hate hate dirty wheels. I was willing to throw a rock out the window with a rope to not use the brakes.
I think the ceramic pads are fine for daily driving in the US. If I was able to do 255 mph on highway, I would go back to OEM.
Any good brand ceramic is probably fine. Brembo, PowerStop etc.....
As with pretty much all German cars, pad swaps are never recommended. If your car is due for new pads, then it's also due for new rotors. For my last brake change, I purchased OEM equipment online at a heavy discount and had paid an indy shop to do the labor. Saved me around $300 per axle.
So, my .02 cents for what is worth. I have PowerStop pads and rotors on my Infiniti Q70 5.6 sport package and they are absolutely amazing. You can find the whole set for your S Class on Amazon at around $850, they are for the S560 you may need to check if they are also the same for your car.
Good luck !
On the other hand it is nice to seek advice from other people on the forum but I would only trust folks those that, at least, they have the same car that you have !
Much respect on the Q ship. Many don't know about the M56/Q70 5.6. Amazing sleeper!
2018 S450 4Matic, 2021 Toyota Tundra, 2010 GL350 (sold)
Originally Posted by DaveW68
As with pretty much all German cars, pad swaps are never recommended. If your car is due for new pads, then it's also due for new rotors.
Ah ha! See this is something I would never have imagined coming from a Toyota Tundra mindset. That explains why every video I’ve seen on changing the pads they are also changing the rotors. Makes sense now. 👍 When I was a kid, we would only resurface the rotor if it was ugly and replace if it was warped. That’s when I would attempt at servicing my own cars as cheaply as possible. Now I’m wanting to do this the correct way.
I always used OEM pads, but I do hate hate hate dirty wheels. I was willing to throw a rock out the window with a rope to not use the brakes.
I think the ceramic pads are fine for daily driving in the US. If I was able to do 255 mph on highway, I would go back to OEM.
Any good brand ceramic is probably fine. Brembo, PowerStop etc.....
If you are a talented drifter, you could stop sideways, for all the traffic lights, not even touch the brakes until you finish the drift.
2018 S450 4Matic, 2021 Toyota Tundra, 2010 GL350 (sold)
Originally Posted by ChrisHimself
I will +1 on anything Powerstop. No more scored rotors, 60k+ lifespan, great stopping, clean wheels, no more noise.
I was 100% going to go with PowerStop, but I wonder if it’s luck as I’ve seen some people complain about them too. I wonder if fhey sometimes have a bad batch of those or
they had some history once of bad QC?
Do the PowerStops have any affect on any driver aids like ESP, Lane Keeping, etc? I may see if they have any information about that themselves while I’m thinking about it.
I have them on my Q70 , 5.6 with sport package, there is absolutely no interference with any of the driver aids ( similar to the ones on my S560 )
Just to let you know they're rust proof but I've put two coats of base and three coats of top VHT caliper paint ( silver colour )
They're on my car for more than 5 years with absolutely no rust !
Good luck !
The problem with Power Stop, along with almost every other after-market braking kit is that they are manufactured in China. And anyone who knows anything about Chinese steel and manufacturing processes knows they are not even close to the quality you get for parts manufactured in the US and Germany. I just wouldn't trust anything made in China to stop a nearly 5000 lb car over the long term.
2018 S450 4Matic, 2021 Toyota Tundra, 2010 GL350 (sold)
Originally Posted by DaveW68
The problem with Power Stop, along with almost every other after-market braking kit is that they are manufactured in China. And anyone who knows anything about Chinese steel and manufacturing processes knows they are not even close to the quality you get for parts manufactured in the US and Germany. I just wouldn't trust anything made in China to stop a nearly 5000 lb car over the long term.
Yup… I was looking for a few reviews and came across this. It’s anecdotal but leaving here in case anyone would like to see a review that isn’t glowing. I think they may have a good marketing team.
After watching the video, he likely got a defective set. Not good at all.
The Powerstops I installed do not feel spongy in any way, and they stop perfectly fine. I do come from a motorsports background, so I'm more sensitive than the average person to how a car responds to inputs, and the set on my car is not a problem. They've been on for more than a year (about 10k miles) and I'm satisfied.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
