I have 98 MCDS 280c, 28k miles, never changed front or rear pads. How do I know if I need just pads replaced or pads and rotors?

What is a MCDS!???

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

What makes you think that you need either?

Good luck,

MerCeDeS?

You don't need to change rotors unless they are warped.
Pads last a while, do they squel?

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87' 300E champagne - Euro headlights and corners, 8-hole rims, 140,000miles/220,00km.

Check your owner's manual - you probably have a warning light on the dash for low front pads. If the warning light has not come on they are fine. But the real answer to your question is you measure them. You get a $5 tool, take off the wheels, at least one front and one rear, and measure the thickness of both the pads and the rotors. Then you find the specs for your car and see if you are in spec.

just thought since car has 28k mileage and i never changed pads that car was due.

pads last longer than 26k miles

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87' 300E champagne - Euro headlights and corners, 8-hole rims, 140,000miles/220,00km.

Depends on your driving habits. I got over 100,000 miles on BMW pads; the rotors warped before the pads expired. Note: this was 100% highway miles. Your mileage WILL vary.

You can check the thickness of the front and rear pads and then make a determination. Just take the wheels off and look through the slot in the caliper.
However as was previously mentioned, 28m miles is on the low side for that much wear unless you drive like a cowboy.

Rotors need to be changed when they fall below the min allowable thickness stamped onto them. On Mercedes, this will happen after 2 sets of pads, usually.

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Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record