Can someone advise which brake pads are the best value?

-front-
1. ATE (TEVES) $48.91

2. TEXTAR $43.37

3. JAPAN (ceramic) $69.64

4. PBR (master) $43.56

5. PBR $37.68

6. PADGID $49.47

7. JURID $41.46

8. AFTERMARKET $40.96


These will be for my 87 300DT... I do not have a clew!

Rear pads are slightly cheaper.

I have had Textar on my fronts and rears for about 2k miles, they are extremly quit, and seem to bite nicely. They do throw a lot of brake dust.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I don't know what brand to tell you, but I can't tell you how pleased I have been with ceramic brake pads on my '97 F-150. I've had metalic, I've had the 'turn your wheel black in 1 week' pads also. The ceramic have been great, and they were cheaper than the metalic.

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

The PBR metal masters are very good pads, but so are the Textar, but the PBR's make less noise...

Don't get the metal master PBRs the rotors are not meant for metal pads. Get the regular PBR pads, they stop great, they are long lasting, and minimize dust unlike the OEM pads.

I've used both ATE and Pagid. I think that at least for some models both of these are OEM. I prefer the Pagid, but the both stop the car quickly and create lots of dust. I also get an occasional squeal until the pads wear a bit. I have ceramics on my ricemobile, and they work well there with zero noise.

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Tjohn

82 300 SD
77 450 SL (gone)

None of the above... the "best", IMO, are Porterfield R4-S. Fantastic feel, fade resistance, carbon-kevlar construction, and very low dust. I hope you're sitting down for the price though:

$110/set front (part # AP-423)
$69/set rear (part # AP-335b)



I have them on my car and REALLY like them. Don't know about longevity, but so far I think I have over 15kmi on them and they still look new? I know someone who needed new Textar (yellow box) pads at 12kmi... suddenly the R4-S doesn't look as expensive!

http://www.porterfield-brakes.com

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Dave
Boise, ID
Check out my website photos, documents, and movies!

I'll second the Porterfield recommendation. Have not had them on my Benz (yet) but had them on another car and all I can say is that they really are extraordinary. The price is worth it. Besides, why skimp on brake pads?

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'81 300TD turbo <<sold 12/05 to another diesel nut

I have been extremely happy with Pro Act Ceramic pads at $57 (http://www.sasponline.com)
I was a long time fan of PBR deluxe pads but won't go back now that I have ceramics on my '87 300D. Ceramics leave hardly any dust, they stop smooth and show no tendency towards fading under hard braking. They do not have to broken in like some soft pads. It's too bad they don't make any for the W123's.
BTW I recommend using ATE Power Discs ($45 per) for the front braking system along with the ceramics for top notch brakes.
DDH

Where is "Smitty's Auto Service & Parts" there prices are more than $10 cheaper for the same ceramics?

I like trying new things and although the pads that GSXR mentioned I have no doubt that they are exceptional, ceramic pads are getting good reviews here on this post.

Several years ago, I bought a pair of cheap ALBANY pads for my former Volvo 240DL at AutoZone, and the rears sqealed so badly it drove me nuts! Also, I'd never seen so much dust created! I put a set of expensive Volvo pads on and it squealed no more!

Thanks everyone for their opinion, I might try ceramics. I'll post a report after I've had them on for a while.

Check out the Porterfield website. I believe their R4-S pads ARE a ceramic material -- blended with graphite and other compounds. Brake pad science has come a LONG way since our cars were built.

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'81 300TD turbo <<sold 12/05 to another diesel nut

I thought this would be the most appropriate thread to post today's experience. Winter is about over and spring is almost here. Inner city alleys still have sporadic ice patches.

In an inner city, out of an alley (hidden by parked cars, vans & SUVs) comes a youngster on his bike.

How fast can you make your Benz stop?

As the story goes, ceramic pads produce less dust than traditional pads, but need to be warmed up before producing their superior braking effectiveness.

I've never had ceramic pads, but I think I'll deal with cleaning my wheels more often.

Bob
PS I was probably going about 20 mph and fortunatly stopped within 3" of him. Another reason for keeping the ABS working well. It definitely worked!

I get the cheap ones, there softer, dont last as long but IMO thats better than the hard ones that last longer but ware out your rotters faster.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

ProStop - 100% asbestos-free, very silent, excellent feel and only $13.99...
They are known to wear a little faster than the more expensive ones, but I second what Steve said, they are easier on the rotors and really an excellent value overall, IMHO...

But then, again, what do I know?

Rino

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1979 240D, W123, 105K miles, stick, white w/ tan interior.

I bought Bendix pads for the front and rear at advanced discount auto.. 65$ for lifetime pads... suckers..

Stopping is good, dust is marginal ( I didn't wash my car for 3 weeks and the front wheels were covered in a moderate amount of dust)..No squeels..

I need to check how much they have work in the last 1500 miles.. But Im good they are lifetime pads (suckers)