Brake Pads

[Matt32AMG]

Brake Pads will be required for my 32AMG shortly, reckon I’ll do it myself as it’s no big deal, however my question is this, do I fit OEM pads, which obviously stop the car OK but tend to generate a lot of brake dust, or, does anyone have any recommendations for alternative replacement pads? The chaps in the US seem to swear by Porterfield pads if memory serves, but I’m not sure they are available in the UK...

regards

 

[Iain]

EBC Greenstuff pads are what you need.

 

[kwakdonut]

Second that, improved braking and a lot less dust!

 

[Adam230K]

Obviously on a SLK32 amg u'd buy the redstuff, but i've heard on a few reviews of them squeeking. I prefer my OEM pads to be honest, yes the dust is irritating, but i dont mess with things when it comes to stopping.

 

[flango]

Would agree with some of the above, red stuff squeak like hell and are not good cold, Green stuff create less dust but not the best performers. I have gone for OMP pro series and their drilled and grooved discs as well.

http://www.ompracing.it/prodotti.html?categorycode=GPASTIGLIE&changelanguage=en

Cheaper than red or green stuff and better performance with no dust.

 

[Matt32AMG]

Obviously on a SLK32 amg u'd buy the redstuff, but i've heard on a few reviews of them squeeking. I prefer my OEM pads to be honest, yes the dust is irritating, but i dont mess with things when it comes to stopping.

Yes you have a point regarding the "Known safety aspects" of the OEM pads, and Stopping power isn't something I'd want to compromise on period. No aside from the brake dust issues, I'm curious as to the alternative solutions and whether people had good, bad, or indifferent results.

 

[franey]

I sell the Bilstein ones, never had any complaints, fitted them to mine too, work great.

 

[Matt32AMG]

Would agree with some of the above, red stuff squeak like hell and are not good cold, Green stuff create less dust but not the best performers. I have gone for OMP pro series and their drilled and grooved discs as well.

http://www.ompracing.it/prodotti.html?categorycode=GPASTIGLIE&changelanguage=en

Cheaper than red or green stuff and better performance with no dust.

I've done a search but they don't seem to cater for a SLK32AMG, only the SLK V6 320 normally aspirated car, which is quite a different animal to my car, both in stopping characteristics and performance. The other alternative they do is the SLK55AMG, but that’d be quite different, so I sent an enquiry to see what comes back out of interest.
Thanks anyway

 

[tudu]

For a car over 200bhp try EBC ceramic redstuff pads. I use the green on my C200K, and the redstuff on my C55 to date no complaints and certainly very little brake dust probs. It's your car so do some research on the internet as to the pads you most like that's what i did.

 

[stats007]

Wouldn't go near EBC again. The best pads I've ever had are Mintex C-Tech. Not sure if they have any for an SLK though.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I opt for OEM myself.

 

[C43AMG]

Olly fitted the Red Stuff to the C43 no squealing and a lot less brake dust.

You would need the Red not the Green.

 

[monstersheep]

SLK32 brakes

I have just replaced my brakes all around my SLK32. I didn't want to pay the dealer (£850 for the OE), Franey sorted everything out for me. He advised me to get ATE brakes (which was for pads and discs). These are a great improvement over the OE brakes.
But I don't know what they will be like with the OM discs.

A word of warning regarding the discs (when you need to change them), all the suppliers I spoke to (inc EBC, Brembo, and Black Diamond) stated various front disc sizes from 300 to 345 dia.
The size for my car (51 reg, 2002), the front disc is 330x32, and the rears are 300x25.

 

[Big_Jon]

Unless requested differently we always fit whatever is sent from our local unipart outlet and have never had any complaints at all.

I run the unipart pads on my 230K and I am very hard on brakes and have had no issue with squeal and dustiness.

 

[219]

I always fit ATE discs and pads ( which are OE ) , they do generate a bit of dust but no complaints about performance . I'll fit ATE Power Discs (grooved) at the front where available .

Just bought a full set of discs/pads/sensors for the W126 from Euro Car Parts with a little change out of £150 , always pretty reasonably priced . Although there was a part no for Power Discs , they are apparently no longer available for this model , so just got the standard ones ( got Power Discs on the 190 though ) .

 

[whitenemesis]

OEM every time. I don't suffer from excessive dust. I think MB have done their maths and got the right formula.

Specialised pads are ok for track days but normal driving never generates enough heat to get them optimised

 

[Matt32AMG]

Wouldn't go near EBC again. The best pads I've ever had are Mintex C-Tech. Not sure if they have any for an SLK though.

How come never EBC again?

 

[Matt32AMG]

I have just replaced my brakes all around my SLK32. I didn't want to pay the dealer (£850 for the OE), Franey sorted everything out for me. He advised me to get ATE brakes (which was for pads and discs). These are a great improvement over the OE brakes.
But I don't know what they will be like with the OM discs.

A word of warning regarding the discs (when you need to change them), all the suppliers I spoke to (inc EBC, Brembo, and Black Diamond) stated various front disc sizes from 300 to 345 dia.
The size for my car (51 reg, 2002), the front disc is 330x32, and the rears are 300x25.

Interesting stuff and thanks for the heads up. My car is same year as yours 2002 and has just come up 35000, (I've had mine from new)
Got a few questions if I may...
How many clicks has your car done? I'm interested purely on wear aspect in that 35000 miles seem reasonable for pads where you had discs done as well.
What particularly did you notice improvement wise?
And the 64K question how much did you pay?

Many thanks