I just changed my calipers and pads on the front of my 300SD and drove it from Shreveport to Kansas City. I had the car all cleaned up and after driving for a couple days my front wheels are practically black! Is this just from the new pads or is there anything I can do to make it go away?

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1963 Ford F100 - Cummins Swap?
1985 Mercedes 300SD - 210K
1992 Ford Festiva - 92K
2001 Ninja 250 - 8K

Could be both. If it doesn't reduce after 1000 miles, then it's the pads you chose.

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Sharing my partner's 2012 Forte 5dr SX til I find my next 123 or 126..
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Do I miss being a service advisor ???

Pad composition makes all the difference in the world.

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

What pads produce the least dust?

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

The "PBR Organic Deluxe" pads make almost no dust, and the dust they do make is a very light color so you can't even tell its there. Fastlane has them. OEM MB pads make a TON of dust.

I put on a set of "Duralast" pads from Autozone for $19 a set, they have great stopping power, have the hole in them for the wear sensors, and make a lot less dust (almost none). They are not ceramic, and are made in USA. They're not as thick as the OEM pads either, so they are easier to install (not such a tight fit). For $19 can't go wrong, even if they last half as long!

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

If your pads were dragging a bit there would be a lot more dust.

You might check to see if they're getting hot.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

That's my experience as well. Supposedly, any OE German pad has a certain minimum graphite content due to TUV regulations, thus causing the blackest dust around. I'm running the Axxis/PBR Deluxe on my 300td.

I have had good luck with the PBR Deluxe pads as well, but am presently using Akebono Ceramic Euro pads. They make even less dust. I usually use original MB rotors or sometimes Zimmermans if I want to go with a cross-drilled rotor.

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02 S500
92 500SL
92 400E (Sold)
87 300E (Sold)
83 300D Turbo (Sold)
75 300D (Sold)
74 240D (Sold after 20 years)

That must be it. I got my pads from the parts counter at my local dealership. I figured they wouldn't though, I mean, they're supposed to go on a Mercedes Benz...

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1963 Ford F100 - Cummins Swap?
1985 Mercedes 300SD - 210K
1992 Ford Festiva - 92K
2001 Ninja 250 - 8K

Haven't you ever noticed that the cars with the blackest front wheels are almost always MBs? Seriously -- just about any MB that isn't washed regularly in a thorough manner will have blacker wheels than just about anything else, and I'm including all sorts of neglected econocars and trucks in the mix.

I run Wagner pads on my stuff.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Are those expensive? Do they stop better, worse, or about the same as OEM pads do?

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Bendix pads from discount auto make some dust(they are ceramic) but not a lot as long as you wash the car often enough so it doesnt build up

I didnt wash my car for a month and I only had a slight brown tinge to my wheels.

I've seen plenty of BMW's with black wheels also.

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

91 W124 300D Turbo replaced, Pressure W/G actuator installed. 210K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

The Akebono pads are about the same as purchasing MB pads from the dealer at retail. As far as I can tell the stopping qualities are like OEM. My independent mechanic ALWAYS uses MB parts, but admitted he was trying the Akebonos on his ML and was very pleased...

I would rather pay more for pads if it means I don't have to refinish the wheels every few years...

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02 S500
92 500SL
92 400E (Sold)
87 300E (Sold)
83 300D Turbo (Sold)
75 300D (Sold)
74 240D (Sold after 20 years)