Talk to me about brake pads - Page 4 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Diseasel300 · #46 01-21-2018, 01:09 PM

I'll follow up with the dust production on these pads. I expect a bit of dust as the pads seat and wear in, but I'm hoping once they're seated the dust will be tolerable. The Textar's were ridiculous on all 4 wheels. Within 2-3 days of washing the car, they were black again.

I suspect this car had a full brake service shortly before it was parked and left. All 4 wheels had new (at the time) pads, the rubber hoses are all in good condition, the wear sensors appear to be new, the pistons all moved easily, and the brake fluid is still clear. When I got the car, one of the first things that happened was a full brake line flush with new fluid. It was clear then, and still clear now.

vwnate1 · #47 01-21-2018, 01:19 PM

Good deal then .

I tried the Dealers $72.00 (gasp) brake pads, they didn't stop any better and didn't last any longer, they also sooted/dusted as badly as any cheapo pad I've ever tried .

My rotors all have 423,000 + miles on them and are looking a bit peaked so I'm soon to buy new ones, I hope to discern what typ / brand of pads to try next .

I've always been skittish about ceramic pads as they chewed up the rotors on every Customer's car I installed them on back in the 1960's and 1970's .

Lastly , You're one of those who learns and teaches too . keep it up please .

DeliveryValve · #48 01-21-2018, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmitry at Pelican Parts

If anyone is looking for a new set of brake pads for their 300SDL or for other W126s, take a look at the link below. Please let us know if you have any questions on brands or are looking for suggestions!

1986 Mercedes-Benz 300SDL Base Sedan - Brake Pads & Rotors - Page 1

If anyone cares, I have had good success with OP ceramic brake pads as shown in the link. I have experience with both Akebono and OP ceramic and I think the OP ceramics act very close to the Akebono's. Seems like the same braking, rotor wear and dust.

DeliveryValve · #49 01-21-2018, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwnate1

..

I've always been skittish about ceramic pads as they chewed up the rotors on every Customer's car I installed them on back in the 1960's and 1970's .
..

Well.... Technology changes.... Today's Ceramics give great wear on rotors.
You can drive for tens of thousands of normal driving miles and wear would be minimal on the rotors.

.

Diseasel300 · #50 01-21-2018, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeliveryValve

Well.... Technology changes.... Today's Ceramics give great wear on rotors.
You can drive for tens of thousands of normal driving miles and wear would be minimal on the rotors.

.

My biggest concern about the ceramics is the reduced stopping power. That's their biggest complaint and not one I was willing to deal with. Too many hills, turns, deer, and old people to worry about and I want that tank to STOP. The higher cost of the ceramics made it a gamble I decided not to take. Very much a personal preference thing.

vwnate1 · #51 01-21-2018, 08:14 PM

I certainly care and listen closely to everyone's comments and ideas .

I wasn't aware Ceramic pads offer _less_ stopping power, that means : forget 'em to me as I use my brakes hard and a lot .

torsionbar · #52 01-21-2018, 09:46 PM

I think ceramics are always the way to go. Modern ceramic pads perform great and produce so much less dust than other types. I use ceramics exclusively (ATE brand) on all my cars, and I'm not a slow driver. We're not talking race cars here that do repeated threshold-braking from triple-digit speeds, where the slightest difference in pad formulation can really be felt. We're talking old slow diesels that folks commute to work in or putter to the grocery store. If I had you drive the same car back-to-back with organic or semi-metallic pads vs. modern ceramic pads, you would never notice the difference, even if there was a difference.

Think about the way you apply the brake pedal - you naturally, almost instinctively, press however hard you need to, to decelerate the car at the desired rate. You don't think to yourself Oh, I'm using Brand X of pads, so I need to apply Y amount of force. No, you simply press with your foot until your senses tell you it's enough. This is why many folks drive to the shop for an oil change, and don't even realize that their pads are down to the backing plates, their brake fluid is 10 years old and black, and the rotors are deeply scored and rusting apart. They don't notice that the brakes are performing at only a fraction of where they should be because they've slowly degraded over a period of many years, and they have not even perceived it.

party · #53 01-22-2018, 01:35 AM

I recently installed Centric Premium Ceramics on the front of my W201. After break in I haven't noticed less bite or more fade than the semi-metallics and there is A LOT less dust. Have a set of the same pads to put on the rear. Need to get around to that - just amassing more jobs to tackle at the same time.

Mxfrank · #54 01-22-2018, 07:24 AM

Centric has useful comparison charts for their pads:

BRAKE FRICTION - Centricparts

I have also been using Premium Ceramics on my 201, they are fine.

sixto · #55 01-22-2018, 11:41 AM

This goes off topic but another avenue to improving brake performance is lighter wheels.

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon

Maxbumpo · #56 01-22-2018, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBeige

If you are going with Akebono, they will not bite well unless they are bedded in properly with the rotors. The rotors will have the previous material on the surface so won't help the ceramic pads bite.

Source? I too was under the impression that one needed a special bedding in procedure for Akebono Euro ceramic pads, but I have not found anything definite on that.

Maxbumpo · #57 01-22-2018, 12:21 PM

I'm still very happy with Akebono Euro ceramic pads, and I must say that I haven't seen any difference in rotor wear, and I think they stop as goods as if not better than OEM pads. I stand by my observation that when cold they seem to grab faster / better than the OEM pads. On our Infiniti I30 they were a HUGE upgrade over the cheapo pads that were on the car, both in stopping power, noise, and dust.

I don't like the idea of the Kleen-Wheel inserts, as I'm concerned that is trading off an increased risk of brake fade for cleaner wheels, I'd rather have the Akebono pads to resolve the dust issue without the brake fade risk.

vwnate1 · #58 01-23-2018, 12:04 AM

Thanx guys ! .

I need to order some parts from Pelican so I guess I'll add some ATE ceramic brake pads too and see how they go .

Diseasel300 · #59 01-23-2018, 07:28 PM

As of this afternoon, I've got a bit over 200 miles on the car since replacing the brake pads. Mostly city driving and county roads and so far I'm impressed with the dust reduction. The brakes have a good feel and plenty of stopping power, but the dust reduction is amazing. Photo attached of the right front wheel this evening (don't judge my wheels, they're a bit rough!). Usually the fronts were the worst in the dust department, easily darkening by 150 miles of use, and typically blackened by 500 miles or so.

vwnate1 · #60 01-23-2018, 08:42 PM

Nice ! .

Thank you for the photo .

I have Bundt wheels and they may collect dust worse (it seems that way) , either way I'll give the ceramics a go ere long .