CL500 C215 Brake Discs and Pads Recommendations

[Meatfeast]

Hi All.

I'm looking at some Brake Maintenance for my beloved CL500.

The front discs are starting to show signs of wear and so I thought I'd buy some new ones.

Are there any discs that are better than others and also what brake pads are recommended?

I have used an upgraded 'Performance' brake pad on my previous cars and wondered if anyone had any experience on the CL500 with them. I'm familiar with the EBC 'Stuff' range and also Ferodo DS2500 pads too.

I have bought a set of braided brake lines for the car too, so if I can enhance the braking performance further that would be great.

Any suggestions?

Cheers all.

 

[Blobcat]

MB, they’ll fit and work.
Call MB Grangemouth and ask for forum discount

 

[Craiglxviii]

Yep exactly this. The 215 is over-braked already due to the weight of the M113 engine up front. Standard braking performance is excellent, you won’t gain anything by using “performance” brake parts.

 

[JBell]

Just had OEM disks and pads on the rear of my car and they were cheaper than ECP Brembo with a discount code!!!!

 

[JBell]

Yep exactly this. The 215 is over-braked already due to the weight of the M113 engine up front. Standard braking performance is excellent, you won’t gain anything by using “performance” brake parts.

Probably lose using anything from EBC!!!!

 

[brandwooddixon]

I've used Pagid disks from Eurocarparts with MB pads.

 

[Meatfeast]

I've used Pagid disks from Eurocarparts with MB pads.

I’m a big fan of Pagid - are they drilled?

 

[Madtutle3]

I've used EBC red stuff on my Jag XF. Good performance and a lot less dust than OEM.

 

[Meatfeast]

I've used EBC red stuff on my Jag XF. Good performance and a lot less dust than OEM.

I used Red Stuff on my 500bhp Saab 9-5 - never had an issue with them, I have considered them for my CL.

 

[Craiglxviii]

I used Red Stuff on my 500bhp Saab 9-5 - never had an issue with them, I have considered them for my CL.

Don’t. EBC have horrendous quality control. Ask me how I know (or just search this forum!)

 

[Craiglxviii]

I’m a big fan of Pagid - are they drilled?

They shouldn’t be drilled; that process will induce cracking over time. The discs should be cast with holes in place.

 

[Meatfeast]

They shouldn’t be drilled; that process will induce cracking over time. The discs should be cast with holes in place.

Thats what I meant when I said drilled bud.

 

[DSK]

Another vote to also avoid EBC.

I have used Ferodo DS2500 on my Volvos for about 13 years and that’s for seriously fast road and track use. They worked well with standard spec discs every time as well as with ATE power disc and Brembo Maxx. I’ve recently shod my C70 with Goodridge lines too despite the original stock lines being perfect and it does make a tangible difference if the rubber originally used is crap quality or, just getting lick on.

I’d say get OEM or ATE discs if your sticking to standard. Too many good fakes about even slipping through so called reputable distributors. Also I’d only buy drilled discs if they are genuine OEM and not after market (with the exception of serious brake upgrade kits such as AP racing etc) due to the issues mentioned in other posts.


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[Gazwould]

Pagid are to be avoided , ECP bought them out and cheaped out .

Warp rust and dust.....

 

[Gazwould]

Just had OEM disks and pads on the rear of my car and they were cheaper than ECP Brembo with a discount code!!!!

But they will rust unless you painted them before fitting .

 

[AMGeed]

Unless you like lots of brake dust I'd avoid OEM and Pagid pads and look for low dust ceramic pads.
Ferodo as you have noted, and TRW both supply low dust pads for a CL500.

I can also recommend Power Stop Z17 Ceramic pads ( 17847)from Rock Auto in the USA. Extremely quick delivery and the price you see is what you pay. No added customs taxes.

2004 MERCEDES-BENZ CL500 5.0L V8 Brake Pad | RockAuto

RockAuto ships auto parts and body parts from over 300 manufacturers to customers' doors worldwide, all at warehouse prices. Easy to use parts catalog.

www.rockauto.com

As for front discs, plenty to choose from.
As above, OEM are fine but you'll need to give them a coat of Hammerite Smooth silver before mounting or they will rust. Brembo front drilled discs come pre painted.

 

[Craiglxviii]

The 215 in its stock form with OEM pads doesn’t suffer from excess brake dust, and is overbraked pretty much by design. Having endu… err owned one for a few years I can confirm the OE pads are just fine.

 

[AMGeed]

The 215 in its stock form with OEM pads doesn’t suffer from excess brake dust, and is overbraked pretty much by design. Having endu… err owned one for a few years I can confirm the OE pads are just fine.

Fair enough opinion from an owner.
I am going on all the previous Mercs I have owned with OE pads. Every one suffered lots of brake dust.
Is the 215 an exception?

The 204 I have now has dreadful brake dust accumulation on the alloys within very few miles!
Unfortunately they look like new pads, so got to put up with the dust.

 

[Gazwould]

You don't !

Same boat when I got mine 4 years ago , the dust was unreal and unbearable , so off came OE pads with 10 and 9mm of material left on them .

 

[Craiglxviii]

Fair enough opinion from an owner.
I am going on all the previous Mercs I have owned with OE pads. Every one suffered lots of brake dust.
Is the 215 an exception?

The 204 I have now has dreadful brake dust accumulation on the alloys within very few miles!
Unfortunately they look like new pads, so got to put up with the dust.

I don’t know as to whether it’s an exception; none of my cars have suffered from excessive brake dust buildup (except the Golf, that was bad for it).

I suppose it depends what one perceives as “brake dust” and “excessive”; the only time I noticed the 215 with visible brake dust on the front wheels was after a 3600 mile round trip to Perugia. Certainly nothing in normal driving would become apparent inbetween my typical car wash cycles (4-5 weeks, dependent).