Pad swap.

[Bay Leaf]

I have a 2013 SL 350 none AMG the rear callipers are of the sliding type. The inside pads on both sides are wearing down more than the outside ones due to the pistons being on that side. My question is can the pads be swapped around to achieve longer pad life.

 

[Snake Charmer]

Check that the caliper can slide freely with the pads out and the pistons can be pushed back and are not seized. The pads should wear evenly if everything is free. You may have plastic pistons that go out of round and stick.

@Uncle Benz

 

[Blobcat]

I have a 2013 SL 350 none AMG the rear callipers are of the sliding type. The inside pads on both sides are wearing down more than the outside ones due to the pistons being on that side. My question is can the pads be swapped around to achieve longer pad life.

Not a good idea as they will have worn to match the discs so braking will be impaired.
Best to take the calliper off and clean the sliding pins. Pads aren’t that expensive

 

[EmilysDad]

.... My question is can the pads be swapped around to achieve longer pad life.

I suppose you could do ... but you're curing the symptom rather than the cause ...as above, something is sticking, possibly the slider pins.
If you did, you'd be doing the job twice .... once to use the unworn pad & then again when you put new pads in.

 

[Bay Leaf]

Thanks for the replays. Every thing is moving freely as it should both sides are the same i.e. the pad on the piston side is worn a bit more than the other due to contacting the disc first then pulling the calliper over for the other pad to make contact if my understanding of the system is correct.

 

[Snake Charmer]

How much difference are you seeing between the pads?

 

[Bay Leaf]

A couple of mm

 

[Snake Charmer]

A couple of mm

The caliper floats on two pins and needs to slide really easily. (This is often overlooked at pad change along with corrosion on the pad carrier faces.) If the caliper is floating freely there will be an even clamping action on the disc when pressure is applied. The piston seal pulls the piston back slightly when pressure is released and that releases the pads from the disc faces.

If the piston side is wearing more and the caliper is floating freely, the piston is not pulling back sufficiently. Consequently if the outer pad is wearing then the caliper is not free to float.

 

[Bay Leaf]

Ok I'm going to fit a new set of pads as the ones that are in are ( I think the originals ) there MB branded and the car's covered 43k I'll work the pistons back and to a few times to make sure they are free moving although there is no binding issue and go from there. I've just done the fronts, they were 3/4 done and I replaced them with Pagid so I'll try and get the same for the rear's Incidently I got them from Halfords on line for a good price, unfortunately they don't have the rear's in stock so I'll have a shop around but there's no rush.

 

[Bay Leaf]

My braking system is Brembo I've been looking online and some pads are for the TRW system. Does anyone know what this is I thought it might be an abbreviation for ceramic brakes but not sure as some suppliers state ceramic pads. Also what are members views on Blueprint products.

 

[Larkone]

TRW are brake manufacturers https://www.trwaftermarket.com/en/

 

[onefortheroad]

My braking system is Brembo I've been looking online and some pads are for the TRW system. Does anyone know what this is I thought it might be an abbreviation for ceramic brakes but not sure as some suppliers state ceramic pads. Also what are members views on Blueprint products.

Trw are now the Zf group. Have been for several years . Same company also bought out Lemforder. Blueprint are the cheapest of cheap ,up there with eicher tbh .

 

[Bay Leaf]

Update. Looking online for the rear pads there seems to be different dimensions from one supplier to another. So today I removed the pads so I could measure them. Once out I could see they are wearing at the same rate and they are about half done and will last till next service (Iv'e done just over two and a half k this service year. So Iv'e got time to shop around. As mentioned previously I used Pagid from Halfords for the fronts but they don't do them for the rear,I contacted MB for a price but they are more or less double the price of good quality on line ones. I'm led to believe that MB use Pagid amongst others as OE.

 

[Bay Leaf]

Pagid pad kit and wear sensor bought the other day from local car spare shop £45.00 will be fitting them in the near future.