Brakes on a 2004 Mercedes

[Chris Meutsch]

My landlord asked me about his new car's brakes, a 2004 MB ML 350. It needs pads/rotors, and he wanted to know if the pad sensors needed any kind of programming/turning off programming ahead of him doing the job. He's going to get the pads with the sensors already embedded/attached.

Thanks in advance, I don't know bubkus about German car maintenance, other than "yes, you'll be maintaining it."

 

[nthach]

I don't think you need a scan tool or STAR-Diagnosis to clear the brake sensor codes if you replace the pads before the low brake pad thickness warning message turns on. In some cases, simply installing new pads and wear sensors will clear that message since the wear sensors are a simple device that completes the brake pad warning circuit when it wears down.

The ML has a standard braking system - no fussy Sensotronic to worry about unlike the E-Class of that generation.

 

[The Critic]

Nothing special, but the rotors will probably require replacement.

 

[Wolf359]

I would just get them from FcpEuro. They have a lifetime warranty on all the parts they sell. They're not too expensive on there. I've gotten Zimmerman rotors and Akebono pads from them. Akebono are good for no brake dust. The brake pad sensor looks to be the same in all their other cars. All it is is a bit of metal that wears away. When it wears away, you get a notice that the brakes are bad. If he's not getting the warning now, you can just reuse the sensor, but a new set of pads normally comes with the sensor.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted by Wolf359
I would just get them from FcpEuro. They have a lifetime warranty on all the parts they sell. They're not too expensive on there. I've gotten Zimmerman rotors and Akebono pads from them. Akebono are good for no brake dust. The brake pad sensor looks to be the same in all their other cars. All it is is a bit of metal that wears away. When it wears away, you get a notice that the brakes are bad. If he's not getting the warning now, you can just reuse the sensor, but a new set of pads normally comes with the sensor.

Unless the driver is complaining about brake dust, the Akebono's are usually a poor choice due to the different in brake pedal feel.

 

[Wolf359]

Originally Posted by The Critic
Originally Posted by Wolf359
I would just get them from FcpEuro. They have a lifetime warranty on all the parts they sell. They're not too expensive on there. I've gotten Zimmerman rotors and Akebono pads from them. Akebono are good for no brake dust. The brake pad sensor looks to be the same in all their other cars. All it is is a bit of metal that wears away. When it wears away, you get a notice that the brakes are bad. If he's not getting the warning now, you can just reuse the sensor, but a new set of pads normally comes with the sensor.

Unless the driver is complaining about brake dust, the Akebono's are usually a poor choice due to the different in brake pedal feel.


True. They're slightly worse than OEM. But I don't feel it's a big difference and I don't even notice it anymore. Basically you have to press a little bit more than before to get the same amount of braking. But I felt with the oem that it slowed down too much with just a light tap. MB is notorious for brake dust though, mine would be black after 2-3 weeks. Glad I changed them, just wish I had done them earlier but waited a couple years as they had just been done when I bought the car.

 

[Donald]

I agree with pads & rotors. Spend money on pads and just get "good" rotors. I assume no salt on roads so coated are not needed. Even cheap rotors are better than old rotors.

 

[DallasTexas]

If the ML is equipped with SBC (Sensotronic Brake Control) the system needs to be unplugged before you get your hands on!!!

 

[Chris Meutsch]

What about the packaged options from PowerStop on Rockauto? He always buys from RA.

 

[Wolf359]

Originally Posted by Chris Meutsch
What about the packaged options from PowerStop on Rockauto? He always buys from RA.


How long does he plan on keeping it? I do mine every 2-3 years so I figured it'd be worth it to pay slightly extra for a lifetime warranty. You can't get a lifetime warranty on Akebono pads, only comes with a 30 day warranty.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted by Donald
I agree with pads & rotors. Spend money on pads and just get "good" rotors. I assume no salt on roads so coated are not needed. Even cheap rotors are better than old rotors.

Euro cars, especially the older ones, cannot be approached with this philosophy. They use somewhat aggressive pads that are paired with rotors containing damped iron (sometimes called high carbon rotors) to deliver the great braking performance they are known for. If you install OE type pads with standard G3000 steel rotors, the brakes will not have the same feel (and performance).

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted by Chris Meutsch
What about the packaged options from PowerStop on Rockauto? He always buys from RA.

From RA, probably the Pagid pads or the Beck Arnley 089-xxxx pads with Centric 125 rotors.

He should really look outside of rockauto. RA is not a good place for buying quality parts for Euro cars.

 

[nthach]

Originally Posted by Chris Meutsch
What about the packaged options from PowerStop on Rockauto? He always buys from RA.

www.peachparts.com - which is the Mercedes arm of PelicanParts.

Get some Zimmermann or ATE rotors with either Textar/Pagid/ATE pads or PBR/Axxis Metal Masters if he's cheap. I wouldn't put parts store pads or Chinese rotors. Wagner's "Euro" line in the QuickStop/parts house line is an aftermarket Ferodo formula made in the UK. German cars use high-carbon rotors and low-metallic pads traditionally.

Although, the trend with newer Euro cars is Akebono-sourced ceramic. NBK, who is one of the brake friction suppliers for Toyota/Nissan/Honda bought out TMD Friction in Germany anticipating EU/California/Washington restrictions on copper and other things in brakes.

 

[BiffCIW]

Originally Posted by The Critic
Originally Posted by Chris Meutsch
What about the packaged options from PowerStop on Rockauto? He always buys from RA.

From RA, probably the Pagid pads or the Beck Arnley 089-xxxx pads with Centric 125 rotors.

He should really look outside of rockauto. RA is not a good place for buying quality parts for Euro cars.



Completely disagree! Rockauto sells the same parts/quality as everyone else. You just have to know what to look for. I have several euro cars in my fleet and they are running (and stopping) just fine with RA parts.

My favorite combination are Centric High Carbon rotors and Akebono pads. I have had better results/feel with those then stock Brembo parts. Powerstop has "Euro" kits, but I have not tried those yet.

 

[Wolf359]

Originally Posted by The Critic
Originally Posted by Chris Meutsch
What about the packaged options from PowerStop on Rockauto? He always buys from RA.

From RA, probably the Pagid pads or the Beck Arnley 089-xxxx pads with Centric 125 rotors.

He should really look outside of rockauto. RA is not a good place for buying quality parts for Euro cars.


Rockauto carries some of the same stuff that FCPeuro does. They're also slightly cheaper but for me, FCPeuro is actually just one state over so whenever I order from them I get it in one or two days which is way better than rockauto. That alone is worth paying a little bit more plus I usually keep cars long enough that eventually I might be able to cash in on the lifetime warranty.