Parking brake pads

[Ron in SC]

What is the minimum allowable thickness for the rear parking brake pads? What is the thickness for the new ones?

I ask because I just changed out my rear rotors and the parking brake pads had a thickness of 3 mm which seemed fine for parking brakes. But on the other hand I really don't know what's acceptable for those pads.

[ML320guy]

Are there separate pads on the rear for "Parking", or does the foot brake simply operate the rear pads?
thanks.

[Ron in SC]

There are two separate pads for each side. Just like the old drum brakes. In this case the inside of each rear rotor is the drum. When you take off the rotors the parking brake pads are exposed.

I checked with my local Mercedes dealer and the service advisor said he checked with the shop foreman about minumum thickness. According to the shop foreman there is no minumun thickness specification.

I am still curious to know what the original thickness was of the pads, but I guess it doesn't matter since the pads have material on them and they real don't do much I would think they would not really wear unless I used them to try to stop the vehicle as opposed to using them for there intended purpose of holdiing the vehicle when it's parked.

[Q]

Seems like they should last forever unless they became contaminated.

[Gilly]

Those are "shoes", not pads, I've never heard or seen a min spec on them either. Usually if they need replacing, you know it. Many times they start chipping or breaking off pieces, or they are cracking due to heat. If you had 3mm with no cracks i wouldn't sweat it. The only real wear they receive if from inadvertantly leaving them applied when driving off, or maybe someone resting their foot on the parking brake pedal or something. Other than that they should barely be dragging on the inner drum.

Gilly

[Ron in SC]

Originally Posted by Gilly

Many times they start chipping or breaking off pieces, Gilly

Actually one of the shoes did have a small area at the top where some material had broken off. The area what no more than 6mm x 6mm, but considering the large surface area of the shoe the area that was chipped off seemed rather small.