Recommendations for discs and pads

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DSM10000

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My 2003 C320 has worn front discs, they have about 1mm to go before being at the point of needing to be changed and the pads are well under half the original thickness.

My MB specialist recommends Mintex but I would be happy to hear from anyone with experience (good or bad) of other brands.

I am also unsure of the front disc size as I have seen various sizes listed on websites from 288 to 300mm, is there a chassis code somewhere that will tell me or is it a case of measuring them?

I have changed discs and pads before and am happy to do so, are there any things to watch out for and any special tools required? A "how to" guide would be very much appreciated is one exisits.

Thanks
 
My MB specialist recommends Mintex but I would be happy to hear from anyone with experience (good or bad) of other brands.

Thanks

I've just got 25% off original MB pads from my local stealer by just asking.
 
ATE are OEM for Mercedes and you won't go wrong with their products usually available from ECP or GSF. Best to measure your disc dimensions your self. Buy them from Merc with your chassis no and you will get the correct sizes of course.

there's this DIY on changing the front brakes on a W203 with the sports pack brakes [ fixed caliper] Changing brakes on C200 Kompressor - (W203) - Mercedes-Benz Owners' Forums

whereas yours may be the floating type. :dk:
 
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I am tempted by the Pagid discs and pads from ECP especially with the 25% discount!

A few questions.

Pagid are OE suppliers to many prestige manufacturers (and BMW apparently!:D) so has anyone here have experience good or bad of using this brand on Mercedes?

Does anyone have a definitive list of tools required to change the discs and pads on a W203 320? I think it is the single piston caliper but am unsure.

Can the piston be gently pushed back with a G clamp and a piece of wood or is a special tool required?

Do I need 1 or 2 wear sensors?

I have seen fitting kits sold alongside the pads, do I need them?
 
Used Pagid pads in front and Bosch pads (Bosch packing, think the pad was stamped ATE) with Brembo discs from GSF..felt no different.
 
Also worth contacting a chap called ACID, (you will find his contact details on the forum) he gets up to 40% on genuine merc parts, superfast delivery, did my CLK front brakes.
 
Acid has just supplied me front disc's, pads, sensors all genuine Merc parts.

Super price and paid Friday delivered Monday.. First Class Service.

Regards.
 
Hi all, new to this forum but thought i'd post here first!! My 2002 SL500 is due new front discs and pads as well, are their any other alternatives than buying from main dealer. Ive looked on euro car parts but cannot find any drilled discs (these are what are on there at the mo).

Thanks
Chris
 
Sounds like he is the chap to use!!!

Edit: have tried searching for Acid but cannot find his contact details. any help gratefully received!!
 
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I have been using Ferodo Premier Pads along with Brembo Discs, Works well with very very little brake fade coming off the motorway, I drove from Blackpool to Kinross in Scotland last month without a stop and never even felt any fade at all!
 
I have been using Ferodo Premier Pads along with Brembo Discs, Works well with very very little brake fade coming off the motorway, I drove from Blackpool to Kinross in Scotland last month without a stop and never even felt any fade at all!

Not surprised there was no fade if you did not have to stop:D
 
Anyone used Yellow Stuff from EBC?

I was thinking about just the front (saving cash and they are only one month old) to start with.

Having looked at the options there is also 'red' as well though I get the feeling the yellow give the best bite. (E320 estate so probably the same weight as a police car if you google the site)
 
Anyone used Yellow Stuff from EBC?

I was thinking about just the front (saving cash and they are only one month old) to start with.

Having looked at the options there is also 'red' as well though I get the feeling the yellow give the best bite. (E320 estate so probably the same weight as a police car if you google the site)

I've tried them all Green, Yellow and Red. Red is by far the best but none of them are up to the performance of their competitors Ferodo DS 2000 etc, Pagid Race pads are also good but difficult to get hold of. Brembo and Mintex good but IMHO don't represent value for money.

I'm currently running Pagid Race pads in the CLK and Audi and Pagid Normal in the Volvo and Fiat. All give excellent performance but the race pads are outstanding much better than MB original or EBC sharper performance and less dust

Hope that helps
 
Im ordering some genuine disks and redstuff for my E55, yellow stuff is a bit of an overkill for the road i think

Yellow are disc eaters


Anyone used Yellow Stuff from EBC?

I was thinking about just the front (saving cash and they are only one month old) to start with.

Having looked at the options there is also 'red' as well though I get the feeling the yellow give the best bite. (E320 estate so probably the same weight as a police car if you google the site)
 
Hi all, new to this forum but thought i'd post here first!! My 2002 SL500 is due new front discs and pads as well, are their any other alternatives than buying from main dealer. Ive looked on euro car parts but cannot find any drilled discs (these are what are on there at the mo).

Thanks
Chris

Think you will find the SL drilled discs may be made by Zimmerman Basic break disks
Your local motor factor should be able to source them for you.
 
Alps, you say they are disc eaters, I thought that something had to give to get performance. The car is mainly used for motorway driving and then of course A roads as necessary. I was thinking that with this type of use that disc wear would be reduced?

Just think the car could stop a little quicker even if it is a hefty weight. The brakes are firm so it is not a need to bleed them, more so the fact that they are bosch and not designed for any hard driving.
 
Alps, you say they are disc eaters, I thought that something had to give to get performance. The car is mainly used for motorway driving and then of course A roads as necessary. I was thinking that with this type of use that disc wear would be reduced?

Just think the car could stop a little quicker even if it is a hefty weight. The brakes are firm so it is not a need to bleed them, more so the fact that they are bosch and not designed for any hard driving.

something always has to give , the MB pads are very good (hence the price!) but very dusty, this is the only reason im putting reds in.

the yellows are made for track use so will take more time to warm up, if i were you id go red and if your not happy, next pad change go yellow.
 
I have been using ATE discs and pads on all my Mercs over the last 35 or so years .

Just latterly , I put a set of Pagid front pads into my 500 as it was all the Glasgow branch of ECP had in stock .

With maybe 1000 miles on them , these Pagid pads now squeal , something the ATE ones never did , so I will be replacing them in the not too distant future .
 
Nothing wrong with Pagid, we use them day in day out here at work,... no problems.
 

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