Oboingo

Hi everyone! Just bought a 2014 CPO w/ 15K miles and brakes squeal under gentle pressure (approaching light). Dealer (in NJ) isn't helping and CPO offered me $250 "goodwill" but that won't cover the complete OEM front pad and rotor replacement the local (TX) MB service department is recommending ($1,125). I am going to do a serious setting procedure (hard stops) this weekend, but am not optimistic and am looking into aftermarket brakes. I want to get rid of the squeal and reduce the dust. I read a bunch of posts. Here are my questions:

1. Is the Racing Brakes brand the best option? (https://www.racingbrake.com/SearchRe...nsive_Search=Y)
2. Can I keep my original rotors (Indy wants to replace them. They are like new.)

Thanks for any advice!

rmorin49

My CPO car got new pads as part of the certification process. They are quiet but I'm tired of the dust so I've ordered a set of Power Stop carbon ceramic pads. I'll post an update after I've had them for a while.

Rockinrob

Oboingo: I think that the 2 best options are the Power Stops and Racing Brake. You can find the Racing Brake Thread from about 6 months ago in this R231 site and the powerstops in a more recent thread.
I believe that Streamliner stated that the Power Stops reduced about 80 to 90% of the dust. He ultimately went to ceramic rotors.
Rmorin49 can eventually give you an update on his experience if you have a little time to spare. We all hate the dust with factory pads. My factory pads dust up in 2 days of normal driving...my 2 cents worth...

Streamliner

I highly recommend the ceramic pads from Porterfield Racing Brakes in Costa Mesa, CA. Zero noise & very low dust, with great brake feel.

1sweetSL

OK, been looking for new brake pads for my '14 SL with the AMG sport braking package. Don't really care for a 'race" pad since this is a street car only but do want factory or better braking performance. Mostly changing the pads due to excessive brake dust. A common complaint of most all of us. The dirty wheels drive me crazy.

I just Googled both the Porterfield Racing Brakes and the Power Stop Brakes and viewed the available brakes for my particular application, today Oct 16th.

Power Stop Z16 Evolution clean ride ceramic pads 16-1688 fronts $40 available through Jegs/Summit/Amazon & 16-1689 rears $32. Yes, $72.00 for both sets. Possible shipping but I think Amazon & Summit offered free shipping.

Power Stop Z23 Evolution Sport carbon fiber infused ceramic pads Z23-1688 fronts $ $58 , rears Z23-1689 $37. That's $95 for both sets.

Porterfield Racing Brakes R4-S, AP1688 fronts $170 & AP1689 rears $130. That's $300 for both sets. Didn't add them to cart so I don't know if they charge shipping or not.

Pad costs only so I know I'll need wear sensors + install. Thinking of DIY for the install as this would not be out of the ordinary for me to do. Local independent shop quoted around $230 to do the pad swap. Not too bad.

Found it very interesting that both Power Stop and Porterfield had basically the same part numbers for their respective pads!! Possibly the same pads???? Anybody else recently purchase these pads & what did you pay? The Power Stop prices seem really inexpensive so I question if they are a quality pad. Any experience with these? I'm not a cheapskate but at $72 or $95 , that's a pretty good price.

Streamliner

I paid $323.14 for the Porterfield pads, including CA sales tax. The OEM wear sensors fit right into them. Installation at a local Indy shop took 20 minutes. I went with Porterfield, because they are located close to my home and I was able to go there and actually speak to them face to face.

Here is a photo showing the part numbers for front & rear.

rmorin49

I plan to install my Power Stop Z23 Carbon Ceramic pads next week. I'll update this thread after I've driven with them for a week or so.

Oboingo

Sounds like no one is replacing rotors? My brakes are squealing, but rotors only have 15K miles on them and I'm guessing maybe they could just turn them and put the new pads on and I'd be good?

rmorin49

If your rotors are smooth there is no reason to "turn' them. Modern cars have relatively thin rotors to save weight and are not designed to be turned.
We just installed new front pads on my wife's 10 year old Lexus and did not replace the rotors. Brakes are fine. Also I have found it's not necessary to "bed" new pads as some recommend. Just drive conservatively for a couple hundred miles and the new pads will bed themselves as long as the rotors are smooth and clean. YMMV

steve sl550

Why difference between Streamliners PNs (F 1670) and 1Sweet66's (F 1688) #s where rear #'s are the same?

rmorin49

1688 is the correct number for the front pads with the AMG Sport Package. 1689 is the correct number for the rear pads. These are the Power Stop part numbers.

steve sl550

Hi rmorin49 and Streamliner,

So....Streamliner was using the wrong front pads if he was using 1670s as he states and shows the box in his post above.

Just want to clarify.

rmorin49

Maybe not. The Porterfield numbers may be different or maybe his car is without AMG sport package.

Streamliner

My car is a 2019 SL450 with the Premium Pkg, which I believe included the upgraded brakes, with drilled rotors, etc. Anyway, I never paid any attention to part numbers, I just went to the counter at Porterfield, told them what car I had and they sold me the pads. They were installed the next dat and worked perfectly. That said, as many here know, I only used them for a few hundred miles, before changing over the entire braking system to the AMG carbon ceramic brakes.

1sweetSL

The Power Stop brake pads I searched for were for my '14 SL w/the AMG sport brake package. I think that there was a design change by MB for the '19 brakes ( at least the front) and that's why Streamliner's part number was different.
Streamliner- I too would feel really good about talking face to face with the supplier like you did with Porterfield. Just don't have that option here in NC.

When I reviewed the applications for the Power Stop pads it looked like the '13 to '18 with the sport brakes all took the same pads. Still seemed odd that the 2 different suppliers would have basically the same part numbers. Makes you wonder who or where they originally came from or who they were originally manufactured by. Both seem t be reputable companies and hopefully have a quality product.

Will be looking for rmorin49's review in the next week or so. If you have time let us know a day 1 experience and then follow up a week or so later on brake feel and dust production. Would be much appreciated!

rmorin49

Will do. My friend with a lift will be back next week. Hope to get the pads on then.

1sweetSL

Awesome, Thanks! I'm sure there will be a lot of us wanting to know how this goes. Sounds like you are DIYing them? Would like to know how that goes too, experiences/tips/special tools..... I'm in the process of replacing the rear calipers & bleeding the fluid on my '71 Vette ( these are know for leaky calipers) and once that's done I'll move onto the SL. Hey, next time I'm through Hagerstown I'll buy you lunch at Schmankerl Stube!

rmorin49

You're on. I'll buy you a good German Bier.

eddieo45

Normally I would quote several comments above and respond to them individually; I'm just too tired for that, so....

Porterfields, just like Streamliner shows; $290.90 includes US shipping. I paid no tax shipped to MA.
All shops want to do rotors as well; mine said they'll squeal if I don't change them. They don't. Your rotors are fine.
Everone refers to the "AMG sport package" when checking for the pad part number but the only option that would impact brake parts is actually called "Sport Wheel Package" which includes drilled rear rotors, painted front rotors stenciled "Mercedes Benz", silver paddle shifters and the AMG 5-spoke wheels. You likely don't have that package but a glance at your rear rotors will confirm.
Lastly, you should see if Streamliner still has his Porterfields and buy them from him for the Power Stop price (lol).

rmorin49

Pads and wear sensors arrived today. Sensors are made in Germany.

Streamliner

That train has already left the station, as I did sell them to another member here.

1sweetSL

Yes, correct. I'm at fault of this. I was thinking that it was 2 different options but for my model year, 2014, the Sport Wheel Package option included both the 19" AMG wheels and the drilled rotors & associated items. Come to think about it, I have never seen the 19" AMG's without the drilled rotors. I think I have seen the drilled rotors with other optional wheels though ( at least factory options ).
Surprised that MB didn't take the opportunity to list them separately and charge for both options!

SLGALSC

Rockinrob: Can you recommend a service provider to do the pad replacements in the Charleston area? My pads drive me crazy!

eddieo45

You shouldn't need those sensors if your "visit workshop" light isn't lit; I didn't. Of course I did have to fight the shop when I had my wife's rear pads and rotors Changed before the light came on. They charged me for two sensors, and tried to tell me that "sometimes they break when removed." I told them maybe so, but show me a sensor on each rear pad and of course they couldn't; it's one per axle, so they refunded one. $12 back to me, WOO-HOO!!