Recommended Brake Pad
 

Searched the forum on the topic and, surprisingly, not a lot of threads...only a couple on the SL, and those are dated.

Needing new pads on the rear of the 500SL (107) and curious if folks have a recommendation. FastLane offers the Textar, Pagid and PBR. There is also a ceramic pad offered by PBR. Not a penny difference in the price of any of them...$26.46.

I know Textar is a 'dusty' pad. Some folks in the threads are highly complimentary of the PBR, because of less dust. Ceramic pads also get high marks for less dust, but I saw several folks said the ceramics were harder on rotors than OE pads.

I'm curious if there are recent users of the PBR pads, either ceramic or non-ceramic, and what the recommendations might be.

Thanks,

i am trying
 

the ceramics on my sdl. the ronal wheels i am running particularly show brake dust. i like them so far. about 3k on them. i suppose they will wear the rotors faster but i am willing to change the rotors for less dust. the rotors dont cost much more than the pads.

tom w

I use Textar, fair amount of dust but good performance.

by the way
 

if you change from organic to ceramic or to metallic it is best to change front and back. otherwise one end may lock up prematurely due to different coofecients of friction.

tom w

I use Textar on my SDL because they "dust" far less than the other OEM pads , last longer, and stop well. Am using with Balo rotors. Plan to replace my ML brake pads with the Textars. They do dust some, but MUCH less than Pagids, etc. And, I don't plan to experiment with non OEM pads.

You've got to be kidding. Explain that to me, please.

I think he's referring to threshold braking....not normal stopping. I guess if pads have different "bite" characteristics and you're threshold braking on a race track, it's possible that your brake bias could be slightly affected. For normal street use, I doubt you could tell any difference...even if you tried.

I found the dust of the OEM variety intolerable. Switched to PBR Deluxe with no complaints, except a bit of squeal occasionally when backing.

I appreciate the comments of all. Looks like there is no real consensus. I'll probably wind up going with one of the PBR pads.

I've been driving Mercedes of one type or another for about 20 years now. If not accustomed to the dust by now, then I ought to be before long!

Thanks again,