Harder brake pads

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grenachenoir

Active Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2002
Messages
67
Location
North Yorkshire, UK
Car
W124 300CE
Not so long ago, all brake pads were made with Asbestos. Not the friendliest substance but they didn't throw nearly so much dust and also lasted longer. I was wondering if anyone knows where these old type of pads can still be purchased? Obviously they must be banned in the EU, but maybe there is a country where they are still available? Any ideas? (Not very P.C. I know but I am fed up cleaning dust off wheels&#33<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

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Abestos was banned for a really good reason, it's Cancerous. you can still get these pads but I am not going to tell you where from because I value childrens future and the environment.

there are ways around the brake dust problem,

*EBC brake pads produce less dust.

*Wheel clean discs = 0 dust on your wheels quite cheap and you keep your MB oem pads.


*Wax your wheels so they require less maint..


hope this helps.
 
Hmmm interesting remarks Koolvin but I am not convinced by this line of thought.

I once had a lecturer whose 'real job' was specialist removal of asbestos from buildings.... I will try my best to explain his thoughts on the matter.

Ok, some asbestos (I think it was Blue) was really dangerous stuff - A real killer and it is this that has caused everyone to develop asbestos fever if you like.

The white asbestos is reasonably safe, and years of use has shown it to be apretty inert substance presenting no real threat. It is this kind of asbestos that was commonly used in brake pads.

The new asbestos free pads use materials similar in molecular structure to asbestos. The particles are still 'barbed' like asbestos so breathing the dust into your lungs will still mean that they stay there. However, with this new stuff, it hasn't really been around long enough for anyone to know what effects prolongued exposure will produce. It may well be safe (like white asbestos) but on the other hand it might be fifty times worse (like blue asbestos) but no-one knows for sure. We will only know in 20 years or so.

The really bad thing however is unlike the old asbestos pads, nowadays you dont get any warning notice advising you to take precautions.

Lets just say that this &quot;expert&quot; took far more precautions with the new pads than he ever did with the old asbestos ones.

Dont say I didn't warn ya'll
 
Looks like some interesting opinions! Koolvin, what are EBC pads and where can I get some?

Adam
 
Hi Adam,

EBC is a trade name for &quot;European Braks Corporation&quot; (if remembered correctly), they are a very big manfacture of all things brakes.

You should'nt have any problems getting them from good motor factors, but nearly all performance car parts adverts in mags like &quot;Max Power&quot; ect sell them. <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>
 
Brake pads are made up of a friction material mounted on a backing plate. The friction material is made up of metal components, iron, copper etc to cause friction and also to disperse heat. Brake pads also contain lubricants! These friction materials are mixed with a binder or bulking agent, it is this binder that makes up most of the pad. A harder pad will not improve braking efficiency or reduce dust.

Brake dust is not simply dust, it is a complex cocktail of chemical oxides formed under intense heat and temperature that bond to the wheels. As Koolvin has said, it makes sense to wax your wheels to prevent the dust sticking and make removal easier.

Hard pads will cause premature disc wear, excessive noise and heat that can damage calipers. Discs are much more expensive to replace than pads. When a manufacturer such as MB designs and builds a cars braking system, they have to make a compromise between efficiency, performance and economy, in MB's case they usually get it pretty good.

My advice would be to stick to the OE or aftermarket OE standard brake pads and discs. Parts from a reputable aftermarket manufacturer of brakes should be as good if not better than OE.

EBC pads are regarded as pretty good but they are designed for fast road/track use and are not as suitable for everyday use. They do several grades, greenstuff for fast road, redstuff for fast road/track and yellow stuff for track only.

Hope this helps. <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>
 
Personally I will not touch EBC brake pads.

I learnt from using them on many motorcycles that they are the quickest way to wear out your disks bar none.

On one bike, the pads outlasted the disks. The pads were £12 each and the disks were £275 each....guess which one I would have preferred to wear out first.

The dealer on the other hand, (a Honda main dealer) only sold EBC disks and genuine oem ones. He promoted the EBC ones vigorously. The synical amongst us would no doubt suspect that this was due to the extra volume of disks he would be able to sell as a result.
 

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