Changing break pads- best place, price and brand?

[Codger49]

Good points Graeme.

Is it likely that differing pad materials are used front v rear? I thought the f/r characteristics were determined by pad size and piston size and pressures. I have never come across differing f/r pad materials on road cars, but would be very happy to be updated.

 

[grober]

No it seems unlikely. What I was getting at was that changing from standard factory pads to after market pads on the rear only while retaining standard factory pads in the front might compromise ESP system balance/ efficiency and if going for aftermarket pads it would be best to fit them all round front and rear. The message I was trying to get across was that with todays cars the rear brakes a) take far more punishment than in the past and b) its perhaps best to regard the entire braking system [ front and rear] as a single interdependant unit to a greater extent than we did in the past
Or putting it another way we would never dream of fitting brake pads of different frictional characteristics on the front calipers- maybe we should extend this to front and back also??

 

[Codger49]

Thoroughly agree.

 

[OneForTheRoad]

i used pagid 2 years ago , discs n pads still going strong. stay clear of eicher they are cheap for a reason, and you will find out as i did if you use them in a very short time. they should be illegal tbh .

 

[zenman63]

Euro car parts and put the discount code in.
Look for brembo pads.

 

[Mr Filipov]

I would think 90% worn pads would also mean worn disc's too. Have you checked the disc's?

General rule of thumb is discs every other change of pads.
At that age I would assume it is the first change of pads so discs should be well within spec.

 

[Emmell]

Useful tip from Zenman63 on Euro Parts and I see there is a store near me. Where do I find the discount code please?

 

[DSM10000]

Where do I find the discount code please?

ECP Website.

 

[OneForTheRoad]

Carparts4less maybe cheaper. Same company so they say?

 

[iliria]

My "local" MB place charge £170 + VAT an hour, if you facture in the price of MB pads, about £70+VAT, then add that little extra they always do for a professional service, price is approaching what was quoted.

£200 an hour sounds like an extortionate amount of money to charge. Especially considering that my local MB independent specialist (N Webster) charges half that price.

Graeme's explanation makes sense so I think I will stick to OE pads to avoid any potential issues in future.

 

[Codger49]

A cash outlay of 25% of the dealer price is a very good reason for diy, assuming sufficient competancy of course.

 

[paul73mt]

have you checked the thickness of the pads by looking at them yourself ??? My car had a service and was told that pads 80% worn when i measured them they were more like 50% just another way of getting more money out of you

 

[DSM10000]

have you checked the thickness of the pads by looking at them yourself ??? My car had a service and was told that pads 80% worn when i measured them they were more like 50% just another way of getting more money out of you

Do not forget that although new pads will be around 16mm plus thick an MOT fail is at or around the 1.5mm mark so 50% could be just over 7mm remaining, most garages would play safe and suggest changing with a greater pad thickness as a safety margin as you would with tyres.

 

[Parisien]

At two years old, keeping it within MBs network is important for most, however, at £300 they are taking the provebial, you can get online quotes, print off take in and ask them to match?

Personally, I'd buy OEMS pads, take them to a good indie, still have service book/maintenance book stamped up, done properly and still keeps it in the "well looked" after category.

AVOID the very cheapest discs/pads off GSF and Eurocarparts, pick one of their named brands, sign up to their websites, search for what you're looking for, but don't buy , then a few days later you'll get and email offering 20-50% off whatever you've searched for, result!


P

 

[Emmell]

AVOID the very cheapest discs/pads off GSF and Eurocarparts, pick one of their named brands, sign up to their websites, search for what you're looking for, but don't buy , then a few days later you'll get and email offering 20-50% off whatever you've searched for, result!

Thanks - another useful tip!

My local garage said my rear pads needed replacing, so I went and bought some new pads only to find plenty of meat still left on them when I stripped the brakes. I left them on and a month or so later it sailed through the MOT but with an advisory on yes, the rear pads! So I tend to agree with DSM10000.

 

[bob6600]

I haven't read the whole thread so apologies if repeating a post.

If you want genuine, try MB Grangemouth, Edingburgh or Newcastle (a few others too). They supply genuine parts at a competitive price compared to most dealers.

If you want aftermarket, use caparts4less or ECP but choose a decent brand (Brembo, Pagid etc)

AVOID the very cheapest discs/pads off GSF and Eurocarparts, pick one of their named brands, sign up to their websites, search for what you're looking for, but don't buy , then a few days later you'll get and email offering 20-50% off whatever you've searched for, result!

Yes but not always cheaper than the promotion they are running so do check. As you cannot stack codes, obviously choose the cheapest.

 

[iliria]

have you checked the thickness of the pads by looking at them yourself ??? My car had a service and was told that pads 80% worn when i measured them they were more like 50% just another way of getting more money out of you

I havent checked myself but I believe that an alert appears on the screen when they are worn to the extent they need changing? So when that happens I will buy the pads from my local MB and take to N Webster to change them. I assume NWebster will charge an hour labour for changing them.

 

[Emmell]

I'm not sure if it's the same over all models, but my rear pads don't have wear sensors on them. The fronts certainly do as they take most of the braking force. Maybe newer models do have them?

 

[iliria]

I'm not sure if it's the same over all models, but my rear pads don't have wear sensors on them. The fronts certainly do as they take most of the braking force. Maybe newer models do have them?

To be honest i am learning as I go along too. The MB technician during the service informed me about the state of the pads and offered to replace them. When I refused he said that the warning will come up soon to let me know that the breaks are worn. So I assume they have sensors? Maybe someone with more knowledge can shed some light on this?

 

[Silver CL55]

To be honest i am learning as I go along too. The MB technician during the service informed me about the state of the pads and offered to replace them. When I refused he said that the warning will come up soon to let me know that the breaks are worn. So I assume they have sensors? Maybe someone with more knowledge can shed some light on this?

BRAKES.