Which Discs and pads for my SL500

[Flying Scot]

Time to replace the pads and discs on the SL500 - the front discs are well worn 170K miles and the backs are well not as bad but might as well do the whole job - the pad warning light is coming on when i brake so the pads are well past their sell by date.

Both sets of discs are vented and the fronts are 320mm and the back 280mm measured with the wheels on using a square edge on the disc edge and to the centre of the pointy star in the hub cap so allow +-2mm for error

Was looking at EBC discs and pads BUT they dont have a vented rear disc. Euro Car Parts seem to have lost of nice and cheap discs but totally unable to work out which ones are which and if they would fit never mind are they good and wont warp etc.

I was just going to put on standard discs as i am very easy on the brakes - I like to keep the 2 ton SL rolling and not drive in a stop start manner.

SO which discs and pads? -

Pads STD from the stealer...EBC Std Green Red or Yellow pads - the EBC tech guy says go for the yellow - his wife has them on her SLK and it is a shopping run car

And which discs?

all comments advice and biased input appreciated

thanks in anticipation

 

[davidsl500]

Welcome back David !

What year is your SL ? The disks can be a nightmare on these as I found out on mine a few years back! There seem to be a few combinations that the independants don't list.

 

[Blobcat]

1995 r129 iirc

 

[Flying Scot]

Thanks Malcolm great to be back - the car is 1995/96

AND the drivers leccy window and door pocket issue is 'almost solved' must be 15/16 months now since i stated that little job - sadly i ran into a cowboy MB breaker

I have just ordered genuine MB parts from my 'friendly' MB spare parts person..............(distant family member) sub £400 for pads/discs and all the pins clips anti squeal shims and black MB brake grease - some parts have to come from Germany so will be a week or so before i get my hands dirty

Trying to find the correct rear discs from any OEM supplier was a nightmare and cost was going to be very close to the Genuine MB parts with of course my significant family discount making Genuine MB parts the obvious choice - not so sure about the pads though probably lots of 'nasty' brake dust to clean off the 19" Brabus Monblock VI wheels The wheels though are now needing a refurbish (i suspect that will be a total nightmare of a job seeing that they are quite intricate and multi coloured) so might put on the standard wheels for a while (they were refurbished locally and cant say i was happy with the quality of the job so for sure the 19" Brabus Monblock VI's cant go there.

OWELL aint cars fun

 

[television]

Hi David,, I use both the green and red ceramic pads, and the red are very good and no metal particles to eat into the wheel paint

 

[Flying Scot]

OKIDOKI FOLKS

After much investigation there was only one place to get the correct discs from - yes MB.

My car has 320mm vented disc on the front and 280mm vented discs on the rear

BUT the front discs are handed

No one could supply vented 280mm rears and no one handed fronts either

Front discs / pads are on today the discs come 'painted coated protected' with a mat grey film/coating. and according to MB "just fit them like that and drive away and they quickly will be silver".

No real problems as i got - new - pads - pins - anti rattle springs- anti squeal shims - MB pad grease and wear sensors - the calliper bolts were a bit of a PITA and needed a serious bit of leverage with my biggest master bar to get them loose and tightened The disc holding allen screw a few hard thumps with a 2lb hammer and a drift to shock the threads then they came out easily Sadly - i did not do a picture step by step repair - only thought about that tonight owell.

Might take a pic or two of the completed job tomorrow though.

Tried to fit the standard wheels as the Rain sports are getting close to needing replaced BUT discovered i don't have the correct bolts the ones in the Monoblocks are too short and have a cone taper not the radiused taper GRRRRRRRRRR fixing cars is fun NOT!!!! ebay here i come

 

[television]

Pleased its all done David, at least you will be ok for a few years

 

[Flying Scot]

well all done now the rear discs and pads were fine but having all the bits well changed them anyway

FOUR NEW tyres needed 2 x 255x35x19 and 2 x 285x30x19 OUCH

Got Conti Rainsports on ATM any good suggestions for what rubber to put on?

IF anyone in Scotland or nearby wants two SL500 280 mm rear discs in ok condition give me a shout - i will swap them for the new tyres

 

[television]

I went down one on the width to 245 and 275 and up one on the profile to 40 and 35 respectively, this gives a better ride and they were £100 cheaper each, the cheapest were the rossos by Pirelli

 

[Flying Scot]

Hi Malcolm seems to make little difference on MYTYRES web site

Fronts as above from £99 to £282

Rears as above from £117 to £294

245x40 fronts £96 to £277

275x35 rears from £113 to £294

 

[television]

If you do this you will loose your speedo error and it will read spot on,,do check that there is room for the slighly larger diameter, it is only a tiny amount larger, the ride is so much improved, and the narrower width will increase the tyre life

 

[Flying Scot]

Hi Malcolm i have been looking long and hard at the various combinations using this site for Rolling Radius calculations

http://www.club80-90syncro.co.uk/Syncro_website/TechnicalPages/TRC calculator.htm

 

[television]

What did it tell you David

 

[Flying Scot]

What did it tell you David

not really much difference vis a vis the std 225 55 16 tyre