300 CE Brake Pad Replacement
 

I have a 1992 300 CE with about 104K on it. Just before I bought the car the previous owner had all new brake pads, calipurs and rotors replaced at 91K by MB dealership in Gainesville FL. At 104 K the brake sensor light came on. It seems to me that I should be gettting more than 14K out of a set of pads. Also are the sensors only on the front wheels? If 14 K is average what are the best pads to get to replace the worn ones, OEM or Aftermarket.

Your help is greatly ppreciated.

Cheap stuff was installed.Aftermarket wise Textar is good for pads; calipers, rotors ATE.

It's going to be somewhat dependent on your driving habits, obviously, but on my 86 300E I'm also getting only about 15k mi. out of the front pads.

The brake wear indicators are only on the front pads. Because of weight transfer the rears experience very little wear. I wouldn't be surprised if you got 60k mi. or more on them before having to replace them.


I was thinking that it might be that the old original caliper seals had gotten hard with age and weren't retracting the pads completely from the rotor, but if you've got new calipers and still getting that mileage it might just be that the pads have a very soft composition. I've bought pads direct from the dealer as well as Textar, Jurid and Pagid from aftermarket suppliers with pretty much the same results.

I noticed that now FastLane has a set of Pro-ACT Ceramic pads, complete with backing shims for about $86.00. You might do a search and see what users think of them and what kind of mileage they seem to be getting.

When I finish my current suspension upgrade (Sportline kit) I'm planning to try the Porterfield R4-S pads. I've used them on a pevious car and was very impressed with them. Great braking, no fade, very low dust, no noise and I got about 32k mi. out of the front pads, with pretty hard driving. They're quite pricey at about $120/set for the fronts, but people who have used them seem very enthusiastic about them.

Gary

at least the sensors did what they were supposed to do--- prevent you from scarring the rotors.

That said, you should get 30k out of the fronts in my opinion.

Here's what little history I have.

1991 300CE

Dealer changed front pads/rotors and rear pads 94k
Dealer changed front pads 104k
DIY changed front pads/rotors 120k
DIY changed rear pads/rotors 132k

My car has sensors only on the front brakes.


glenmore
1991 300CE
1990 LS400
2000 C280

Moohampshire, front brake pads on my wife's 1992 300CE last only 15,000 miles or so ... depends on your driving style and highway or city driving. This car has ASR and there are wear sensors on one of the rear brake pads on each rear wheel, whereas there is a wear sensor on each front brake pad. I'd stay with the MB brake pads or Textar if you insist on aftermarket brake pads. Harder pads that produce less brake dust also don't have the same braking performance.