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I was using Porterfield R4-S on my ATSV, way less dust than stock. I never tracked them, but have a feeling they wouldn’t have held up to hard use like the stock ones did, but were PLENTY on the street for sure
1988 BMW M5, 1989 BMW M3, 1979 Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9, 2006 SL55 AMG w/ P30 Performance Pack
I use Akebono ceramic pads. I don't track my car and I have not felt any loss of braking performance with them Akebono is world renowned for F1 racing. Best part is I only have to wash my wheels once a month tops! Zero (visible) brake dust guaranteed.
These are my front and rear wheels today. Last time I washed them was March 1st. I daily my SL55 too.
[QUOTE=m5zealot;8536381]I use Akebono ceramic pads. I don't track my car and I have not felt any loss of braking performance with them Akebono is world renowned for F1 racing. Best part is I only have to wash my wheels once a month tops! Zero (visible) brake dust guaranteed.
These are my front and rear wheels today. Last time I washed them was March 1st. I daily my SL55 too.
1988 BMW M5, 1989 BMW M3, 1979 Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9, 2006 SL55 AMG w/ P30 Performance Pack
[QUOTE=NHSl550;8536551]
Originally Posted by m5zealot
I use Akebono ceramic pads. I don't track my car and I have not felt any loss of braking performance with them Akebono is world renowned for F1 racing. Best part is I only have to wash my wheels once a month tops! Zero (visible) brake dust guaranteed.
These are my front and rear wheels today. Last time I washed them was March 1st. I daily my SL55 too.
Cant find those pads for a sl65. Have looked all over.. Looking at yellow stuff pads now. What wheels are those on your sl55?
Hello,
My SL has the P30 Performance Package so I have the exact same front calipers/rotors for an SL65. (390mm composite rotors w/8 piston calipers.) So you would just need to order SL55 or SL55 w/ P30 front pads (if you can't find them listed online) but the rears are definitely different from an SL65. My current set up is a full Renntech system which is a completely different animal. I think you and your rotors will love them. They are less harsh on the rotors hence, less dust. Many in here use them but you will also find some who will not put aftermarket pads on their car no matter what. Also, older versions of the rear pads have the hole for the wear sensor misaligned so you may need to modify them a little with a drill. Easy Peasy. I believe Akebono has rectified that issue now.
My wheels are a custom order TSW Interlagos wheels - no longer in production. They were blanks (19x9 20mm 19x11 25mm offset) and drilled 5x112 to fit my car perfectly filling out the fenders with zero clearance issues. I have to be careful not to damage them now. I have my old OZ Racing Legerras on standby. I picked these because they were similar in style to the CLK Black Series wheels - albeit less expensive and wider!
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Last edited by m5zealot; Mar 28, 2022 at 12:25 PM.
Reason: spelling
Hello,
My SL has the P30 Performance Package so I have the exact same front calipers/rotors for an SL65. (390mm composite rotors w/8 piston calipers.) So you would just need to order SL55 or SL55 w/ P30 front pads (if you can't find them listed online) but the rears are definitely different from an SL65. My current set up is a full Renntech system which is a completely different animal. I think you and your rotors will love them. They are less harsh on the rotors hence, less dust. Many in here use them but you will also find some who will not put aftermarket pads on their car no matter what. Also, older versions of the rear pads have the hole for the wear sensor misaligned so you may need to modify them a little with a drill. Easy Peasy. I believe Akebono has rectified that issue now.
My wheels are a custom order TSW Interlagos wheels - no longer in production. They were blanks (19x9 20mm 19x11 25mm offset) and drilled 5x112 to fit my car perfectly filling out the fenders with zero clearance issues. I have to be careful not to damage them now. I have my old OZ Racing Legerras on standby. I picked these because they were similar in style to the CLK Black Series wheels - albeit less expensive and wider!
I got the pads yesterday. Wrong front. Apparently the fronts are different on the 07 compared to the 06 and earlier. The 07 has a 6 piston brembo caliper. Same size 390mm rotor. had to order the brembo pads. Hopefully they work and dust is minimal. Rear were the same. Easiest pads I've ever done in 50 years.
@m5zealot Share what you use for wheel cleaner/polish please
Originally Posted by m5zealot
I use Akebono ceramic pads. I don't track my car and I have not felt any loss of braking performance with them Akebono is world renowned for F1 racing. Best part is I only have to wash my wheels once a month tops! Zero (visible) brake dust guaranteed.
These are my front and rear wheels today. Last time I washed them was March 1st. I daily my SL55 too.
I found ceramic brakes on eBay or Amazon by searching by my car type: 2003 SL500… (parts that fit your car). You can often get the part number there, then search by part number. Pelican Parts is another good site to determine part numbers. I bought Ctek and Centric ceramic pads using search methods above. I specified front or rear pads. I specified search by lowest price including shipping.
Since I practically never do performance driving, the inexpensive ceramic pads have produced excellent low dust, good braking, low noise results on several of my Porsches and Mercedes. With these ceramic pads, the light dust level is much easier to clean off of wheels and tires than the sticky factory model dust.
I just tried putting akebono front ceramic pads on from Amazon and they are too small. # EUR847. I never trust Amazon getting right part for cars bikes so I did search other sites, they all point to same #. My 09 SL550 appears to have larger pads? Any ideas??
1988 BMW M5, 1989 BMW M3, 1979 Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9, 2006 SL55 AMG w/ P30 Performance Pack
Originally Posted by CMG241
I just tried putting akebono front ceramic pads on from Amazon and they are too small. # EUR847. I never trust Amazon getting right part for cars bikes so I did search other sites, they all point to same #. My 09 SL550 appears to have larger pads? Any ideas??
I’m not at home right now but you should be buying these pads from a more automotive centric site. Amazon has great pricing but 90% of the time you will get the wrong item. Try Partsgeek or FCP Euro. I think I got my last set from Parksgeek. Here is a link for my particular application. I think have them for your car. Note: they may not have applications for 2007 or newer pads - yet. Good luck
1988 BMW M5, 1989 BMW M3, 1979 Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9, 2006 SL55 AMG w/ P30 Performance Pack
Originally Posted by CMG241
@m5zealot Share what you use for wheel cleaner/polish please
I have several I use from old standards like Klasse acrylic coating and newer ceramic type chemicals. Currently I have tried Adam’s Ceramic coating that applied myself after doing a paint correction. I then use Nexgen ceramic spray are a “topper” to keep the surface extra slick and shinny. There is no one product that does it it all IMO you have to experiment. Here is a little video from my last paint correction. Enjoy
U may have non-stock calipers. Since 2009 is a transition year, you may have calipers standard on 2008 or 2010. Do the old pads or the calipers have part numbers? Do the calipers have Mercedes lettering on them? If so, the dealer may be able to specify pad parts numbers related to the number on the calipers. The guys at Pelican Parts may be able to help. I search by part number on ebay, and look at interchange parts numbers. If you find your calipers fit a 2010, you can specify that car model on ebay to fit your car, and find alternative ceramic brake pads front. I found Centric C-tek Front ceramic pads for $16 that way. I did the same search for cheap ceramic pads on my SLK. They work perfectly on both cars.
Definitely go to FCP Euro. Lifetime replacement on all parts, including consumables like brake pads. This will be the last set you ever have to pay for.
U may have non-stock calipers. Since 2009 is a transition year, you may have calipers standard on 2008 or 2010. Do the old pads or the calipers have part numbers? Do the calipers have Mercedes lettering on them? ....rs.
You might be right. Car was manufactured 8-08, stock calipers. I'll cross reference the current pads to see what they fit 👍
2005 Mercedes Benz C55 AMG..1967 Lotus Europa..1987 Lotus Turbo Esprit HCI..2020 Mercedes Benz E350
Miami.....
I upgraded my '05 C55 AMG with CLK63 AMG rotors and calipers and installed Hawk Performance pads (front/rear) about 4 years ago. I'm very satisfied with their all-round performance and very much reduced wheel dust. Although I drive less than 4k miles per year and seldom, if ever, abuse my 149,000k head-turner.
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