E240 Evolution 1999 Saloon - Brake Pad / Disc Replacement

[Gordon Stewart]

At my recent 40,000 mile service had a call from the MB garage that they needed to replace all pads / discs on all 4 wheels - lots of £££££

Understand pads are softer now with no asbestos, but surprised at having to replace disks so early - thought they lasted a lifetime ( well more than 40,000 )

Is the current brake technology such that the pads and discs need to replaced more ofter or is this just the garage making a quick buck etc..

Any info appreciated

GS

 

[A Class]

The disks on my A class lasted tell 24000! (I had had the car for 10000 miles and I am not a fast driver or a heavy braker)

However I do do a lot of local travel with only limited motorway driving, so that may have some affect as to how long they last. With the new brake materials (I think without the asbestos it is harder) disks don't seem to last the lifetime of the car.

 

[kerryaston]

Can I asked you told you that you needed new discs? Was it a MB Dealer / Specialist or a fast fit outfit?

 

[A Class]

Mine was my local MB dealer, at the first service after I had brought the car from them.

 

[kerryaston]

Seems very short.

Surely the discs must wear proportionally to the pads??

Anyone here qualified to comment?

 

[Andy]

Hi all,

I would say its very possible for the front brake discs to require replacement. The rear seems a little bit fanciful at this millage. Unless they are rusting causing a viabration. I have noticed the rear pads wearing out quicker with the vehicles now fit with traction control as standard. Whereby the rear brakes are applied to aid the traction control. But 40k seems or is a little too early another 20k at least. Did they measure the disc thickness before condeming them?


Regards


Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[Richard W]

I had my front wheels off the other day to check the pads/discs and found the discs seem to have wear indicators.... Semi-circular indents on the outer rim, when the discs are worn beyond the limit the edge will get worn off the indicator.

Andy - have you seen these?

Question - Is it worth the savings on a C-Class to go for the pattern parts from Euro Car Parts or German & Swedish or should I buy the MB parts from my dealer? (I've herad stories of warping and vibrations using cheaper parts)

R

 

[Andy]

Hi Richard

I think I know the part you are thinking of. Trouble is the discs do not wear uniformaly so the indicator does not give an accurate guide.

I would ALWAYS fit genuine front discs. It up to you about the rear. The front non vented from MB are £26each & £38each plus vat for vented. Once fitted no problems whatsoever.

I know there is going to be loads of you I have never had problems. Well I have on more than one ocasion. I WILL NOT touch them with a barge pole. Asking the customer to collect them him\herself so I don't have to warranty them.

Pop into your dealer he should give you at least 10% off. Unless you are down south. Where I hear they are misearable!!!!

(Must be caravaners!?!?!?)


Regards

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com

PS. Just joking Dave E, not all southerners are miserable!!!!!!!! :lol:

 

[PeterKK]

i was doing a bit of browsing the the newgroups, and found a posting of someone who took their A class to have the front brake pads changed at 15K

Even with the increased wear on modern car, this seems very early to replace pads? It is interesting that the garage (fastfit) had advised that the front disc was "lipped" and should be changed.

To change the front pads AND discs seems excessive for any car. Is it even possible to wear out pads and discs in 15K no matter how you drive?

The orig post quotes costs for the work (to install Mintex?? pads, rather than MB)

For front pads, they charged £49 including labour (pads cost £28), but wanted £160 to fit new discs and pads (discs cost £28 again) i.e £83 labour to fit the discs, whilst the wheels were already off for the pads?

Is it possible for the work to be needed in the first place? Even if the work wasnt needed, does the price quote seem reasonable?

 

[A Class]

My A class front disks and pads cost £228 + Vat this was at a dealership, so that quote sounds fine. As to doing them at 15000, my car had done 24000 when it had to be done, so it seems possible that they could need doing at 15000 although in my view I was very disappointed that they only lasted 24000.

The dealers comment when I queried the short life of the disks is that if they get past the first service then they count replacement as fair wear and tear.

Oh and if you know any a class owners or have assyst on your car post here http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=1864 it seems an intresting topic.

 

[Andy]

Hi All

Personally I think 15k is way too early. Either the cars been clocked and obviously done more miles than its currently showing. Or the fast fit is ripping the customer off. I rather think the latter. The discs would have to be on their last legs before I would change them at 24k. Personally you should get at least close to 30k before they require changing. They should be measured and not just go off what they look like. Unless they are completely worn out with a massive wear lip on them and looking thin. My opinion, that in 15k that these discs under normal driving and normal driving I mean a wide range of driving styles. That there could not of been anything wrong which with out compromising safety and longevity of the brake pads could of not waited another 9or10k.

As for mintex pads. Good make. But they are not better than the MB own product. Usually people fit these as a cost alternative. The long term wisdom I am not convinced of. As in my experience the stopping power and feel of the brakes are compromised with non genuine parts even OEM manufacturers as there are different brake pad grades. There are usually numbers on the pad back plate or if you know what you are looking for you can check by the comparrison of the composition of the pad material. But you have to know what you are looking for.


About price.

If you taking your vehicle into anywhere beside the stealership. You expect a price difference in your favour. If the labour rate is cheaper. Or if they are not using genuine parts then the you would expect that the parts are retailed to the customer at a more competitive price. More and more I am finding that this is NOT the case with most of the fast fits. You pay more for the privilige non genuine parts, higher labour rate. But I suppose they are closer. Then you are never sure whether the parts they say require replacment actually do. As numerous television programs have highlighted. The practice still continues.

So you pays your money you take your choice. But it wouldn't hurt to make a few phone calls to the local stealership, specialist & the fast fits. It would be intersting to find the difference between us all. But make sure you are acertaining what make they are actually fitting. If genuine they will have part numbers on and if in boxes as the pads are. They will have the hologram seal on the box.


Contentious subject. But between us we will find the best deal for us all.


Regards

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[simon]

Andy taught me a lesson when I first came into this forum.
I was convinced OEM parts obtainable from the three nationwide mail order suppliers were cost effective for DIY users but after some very unsuccessful experiences ending in Trading Standards support, I realised that I was wrong.In these days of instant litigation I am not naming names.
It is notable that M-B grind their own brake discs.
Brake squeal is an associated problem, it is both irritating & often time consuming to rectify.Many MB dealers recommend disc renewal as instant diagnosis & many are renewed unnecessarily.
When the non asbestos brake pads/Vented discs became standard. the iron ferrites/abrasive constituents resulted in accelerated wear both in
pads & discs together with dramatic braking improvement.
Autobox, left foot brakers can accelerate wear by (even gently) resting their foot on the pedal.Pedal travel/brake application is extremely small on a good MB system.

Ernest Sidesman.

 

[Richard W]

Thanks Andy & Ernest, I'll go for the discount at the dealer and do it myself!

R