Brake Discs 1.5mm under minimum - is that bad?
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Earth
99 E55
Brake Discs 1.5mm under minimum - is that bad?
i took my car in for routine oil change and had my mechanic take a look at my brake pads because i started to hear some squealing when braking (indicator doesn't light up).
mechanic said my front discs were 1.5mm under minimum thickness while the pads look fairly new. the rears are fine. is this a cause for concern - can i continue to run with the discs and pads until the pads wear out. i ask this because he said the AMG brake discs are $270 a pop and $190 for the pad set
thanks!
mechanic said my front discs were 1.5mm under minimum thickness while the pads look fairly new. the rears are fine. is this a cause for concern - can i continue to run with the discs and pads until the pads wear out. i ask this because he said the AMG brake discs are $270 a pop and $190 for the pad set
thanks!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,143
Likes: 1
From: South Orange County, CA
4 wheels
I would get new rotors immediately. They might crack if they get too thin, which might lead to more problems. Order some better pads from www.tirerack.com with the link through the MB world page. They will be far superior to any OEM brake product from Mercedes.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 28,933
Likes: 12
Originally Posted by MB Fanatic
I would get new rotors immediately. They might crack if they get too thin, which might lead to more problems. Order some better pads from www.tirerack.com with the link through the MB world page. They will be far superior to any OEM brake product from Mercedes.
http://www.tirerack.com/affiliates/l...sp?AFFCODE=AL2
The link is right there
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Earth
99 E55
thanks for tips guys. is it typical to have to replace the rotors at ~50K miles?
the mechanic says since the pads looked fairly new, he suspected the previous owner of this car didnt want to to pay to get the rotors replaced so he just put on new pads.
which pads do you recommend - i am clueless about this stuff, they seem to be much cheaper then $190 quoted from the OEM too
http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/resul...s&autoModClar=
the mechanic says since the pads looked fairly new, he suspected the previous owner of this car didnt want to to pay to get the rotors replaced so he just put on new pads.
which pads do you recommend - i am clueless about this stuff, they seem to be much cheaper then $190 quoted from the OEM too
http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/resul...s&autoModClar=
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,143
Likes: 1
From: South Orange County, CA
4 wheels
OEM rotors will only last about 50K miles. Its best to replace them now.
I would get the Akebono Euro Ceramic pads. They will resist fade and stop the car faster than you could imagine with OEM pads. They also dust less. I would agree with your mechanic as the previous owner just cheaped out on the regular maintenance.
I would get the Akebono Euro Ceramic pads. They will resist fade and stop the car faster than you could imagine with OEM pads. They also dust less. I would agree with your mechanic as the previous owner just cheaped out on the regular maintenance.
Trending Topics
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Earth
99 E55
should i replace the rear pads with the Akebono too or can i just wait until those need replacing before putting on a new set. you saved me some $$$ - thanks!!!
Last edited by ImaginAsian; Sep 21, 2005 at 06:28 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,143
Likes: 1
From: South Orange County, CA
4 wheels
I would just go ahead and replace them now since I would think that its just cheap insurance. I would even change the rear disc while your at it. Might as well get a full brake job done you know.
If you are going through this much trouble anyways, go ahead and replace the brake fluid with OEM brake fluid. Make sure your mechanic drains the entire line to all 4 corners. You will notice better brake feel, increased stopping power, and quieter stops.
You can do all this for less than $600.
If you are going through this much trouble anyways, go ahead and replace the brake fluid with OEM brake fluid. Make sure your mechanic drains the entire line to all 4 corners. You will notice better brake feel, increased stopping power, and quieter stops.
You can do all this for less than $600.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 28,933
Likes: 12
Personally, I'd change out everything when you do it, saves money in labor.
It's not like your rears will be everlasting, they'll die out sooner or later, why not get it all swapped out when you have the car on the jacks and the wheels off ya know?
It's not like your rears will be everlasting, they'll die out sooner or later, why not get it all swapped out when you have the car on the jacks and the wheels off ya know?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,143
Likes: 1
From: South Orange County, CA
4 wheels
LMAO ricky. What can I say, there just arent any deals to push through at the office right now. NOt a single hotel catching the eye at this current moment. So I have some free time haha.
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Earth
99 E55
yeah makes sense you guys, im going to replace both front and rear brake pads with Akebono Euro Ceramics...front/rear combined costs less then the OEM front pads ($158 vs. $190) 
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,143
Likes: 1
From: South Orange County, CA
4 wheels
Originally Posted by ImaginAsian
yeah makes sense you guys, im going to replace both front and rear brake pads with Akebono Euro Ceramics...front/rear combined costs less then the OEM front pads ($158 vs. $190)
Dont forget to flush the brake fluid. Its just as important to do this as it is to replace the rotors and pads.
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Earth
99 E55
yep going with the OEM Discs for $270 each left/right front and $65 for the rears.
was also planning on doing a brake fluid flush for sure.
my order is done through that tire rack link above - thanks for all your help!
was also planning on doing a brake fluid flush for sure.
my order is done through that tire rack link above - thanks for all your help!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,143
Likes: 1
From: South Orange County, CA
4 wheels
The Akebono pads will do a far better job than any pad from AMG (except the true ceramic brakes they have for 030 performance or SLR). In fact the Akebono pads might wear the rotors slower than the OEM pads given that they are ceramic and the OEM pads are a composite material that is super soft for the E55 IMO.
The Akebono's will be quiet as long as your mechanic puts some high quality molykolote paste onto the shims and pads before he attached them to the calipers. This is a synthetic paste thats waterproof, and helps to quiet the brakes during all sorts of conditions. All in all you will find the brakes to work very nicely compared to what you have right now.
The Akebono's will be quiet as long as your mechanic puts some high quality molykolote paste onto the shims and pads before he attached them to the calipers. This is a synthetic paste thats waterproof, and helps to quiet the brakes during all sorts of conditions. All in all you will find the brakes to work very nicely compared to what you have right now.
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Earth
99 E55
speaking of the SLR - the mechanic says each rotor costs $10,000 to replace on that thing...crazy!
thanks for the tip about the paste, ill pass it along to my mechanic. the rear pads are being shipped to me today but the front pads are out of stock and they dont expect them to ship until 2 weeks from now. hope that wont be too much of a concern for the front rotors i have on now.
thanks for the tip about the paste, ill pass it along to my mechanic. the rear pads are being shipped to me today but the front pads are out of stock and they dont expect them to ship until 2 weeks from now. hope that wont be too much of a concern for the front rotors i have on now.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,143
Likes: 1
From: South Orange County, CA
4 wheels
Originally Posted by ImaginAsian
we are talking about the maclaren slr right - he was referring to the front rotors. perhaps the back are cheaper like around $5k each 
When are you going to get the rotors and pads put on man? I am cringing here to know how your upgrade turns out.
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Earth
99 E55
as i mentioned, earliest would be when the front pads ship in about two weeks 
"cringing"!? - that has a negative sound to it, hope you mean that in a positive way!! yeah im looking forward to new rotors and pads myself, i am beginning to feel some brake fade for sure and want that nice firm braking power i felt before with less brake dust this time!
"cringing"!? - that has a negative sound to it, hope you mean that in a positive way!! yeah im looking forward to new rotors and pads myself, i am beginning to feel some brake fade for sure and want that nice firm braking power i felt before with less brake dust this time!
