E430 Front Brake pads and disks

[mrfiepro]

About two months ago I was told that the front brake pads would only last another 2-4K and if they were going to be done the disks need changing as well. ( I have had a look and they are right )

The car is a 1998 W210.

Can anyone help me with the following:-

1. Is this a sort of Job a DIYer could do...i.e. how easy is it?
2. Are any special tools required?
3. If I am changing the disk has anyone used any aftermarket, crossdrilled disks.
4. If they have where did they get the disks from?

Regards

P

 

[guydewdney]

pad and disc repalcement is easy.

its the same for any car really - but the 43 has the s class ones iirc

wheel off
caliper off (two bolts behind caliper)
pop pads out
clean with wire brush
copperslip the sliding faces of new pads
push cylinders back (just use a G clamp?)
shove new pads in
undo small screw on disc (phillips or allen)
pop off disc - might need a tap with a hammer
pop new disc on (clean it first - it will be greasy - use proper brake disc cleaner)
do screw up
slide caliper on
do bolts up TIGHT (new bolts)
pump brake pedal to take up slack
wheel on
drive off


pretty much the same for any car - look in your haynes manual for an escort - its pretty much the same - except the discs might be a tiny bit bigger

 

[mrfiepro]

Thanks for the advice.

Do you have a view on crossdrilled disks? I once fitted a set to a Cavalier Turbo and the results were very impressive.

I don't even know if they are available.

Regards

P

 

[guydewdney]

most indipendants reckon stick to oe / mb pads and discs...

further to this i have no view. do you go racing???

 

[mrfiepro]

Good point well made

I'll stick to OEM then

 

[guydewdney]

i also own a cav V6 front brake setup - on an astramax van (sooon to have the V6 lobbed in) - its only fgot the 180 bhp 20XE lump in there at the mo'

OE stuff is usually quite good - the replacement stuff is poor from haflods etc when compared on high performance cars - your std 1.1 escort isnt going to notice, a 4.3 litre merc weighing just under two tonnes might well notice..

cross drilled increases pad and disc cooling area to reduce brake fade, but as there is less pad area reduces actual force possible. (ditto grooves) - so - theres is a trade off - from loss of fade on LONG braking at high speed repetitivly (like on a race track) - to actual force required for 'normal' braking.

drilled /grooved also increases pad wear.

personally I cant see the pint in a car like this. if i had a super 7 & or a elise/exige then yes. not an E class...