My Brake Warning Sensor came on stating I need to visit the shop for service. I spoke with the MB service department this morning and told them I only wanted brake pads because my aftermarket Drilled, Slotted, and Vented rotors have only been on for less than a year and I know they are in fantastic shape. Then she proceeded to "sales pitch" me with "you need to replace the brake pads and rotors and you should just get all Mercedes parts."
I want to know is it absolutely necessary to replace the rotors and brake pads or can I just replace the pads, brake sensor etc. I also understand that brake pads make their own "grooves" so to speak on rotors when worn. Will introducing new pads cause a significant problem? (As you can see I'm whining again zam2000) LMAO
Mechanics make big profits on parts discount.
They will always try to talk you to replace whole set, instead of pads only.
Common opinion is that you suppose to replace the rotors when they develop grooves on them. That opinion never bothers me. On our old Volvo we drove 170,000 miles and never replaced the rotors.
Agree with Kajtek1,
I had Infinity I30 with 150,000 miles on it but never replaced rotor. Unless rotor thickness is out of specification, I would not change it.
There's an old saying that what dealerships give up on the sales floor they make up in the service bay.
This is one way they do that.
The only time you need to replace a rotor is if it is warped, damaged or worn too close to (or below) specification. Depending upon rotor composition, pad composition and driving style, you may be able to go through several sets of pads before the rotors are worn thin enough they need to be replaced.
Find a good indie, give him your business. He deserves it much more than your dealer.
Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg
__________________ If the only prayer you say in your life is thank you, that would suffice. Meister Eckhart
When you learn from your own mistakes, that's experience.
When you learn from the mistakes of others, that's wisdom.
When you fail to learn from any mistakes, that's government.
The only time you need to replace a rotor is if it is warped, damaged or worn too close to (or below) specification.
Greg's got it here. Keep in mind that a lot of dealer service writers (not just MB) will make recommendations on what you should replace without the results of an inspection. They do this based on the manufacturers time/mileage recommendations. So if you bring in a car of a certain age or mileage and they don't have service records indicating that certain services have been performed, they'll recommend them. They will also make recommendations based on the "well, we've got it all apart anyways, you should get it done" logic or the "these items should be replaced in tandem" logic.
My favourite scam is with the Honda/Acura recommendation that the water pump be replaced at the same time as the timing belt is done. Honda recommends a timing belt replacement at 96,000 kms. Dealers always suggest the water pump because we've got it all apart, its only another half hour of labour to re/re the pump, so you might as well do it. Lots of people fall for this logic and spend the money. In doing so, they throw out a perfectly good pump.
Your brakes will take longer to bed in on old rotors. If there are noticeable grooves, the pads won't be properly bed in for at least a few days. Most mechanics won't want to let you loose on the street with brakes that don't react like you expect.
If you're in a pinch, you can measure the rotors to see if they need to be replaced; but if I ran a shop and thought you needed rotors but you didn't want to replace them, I'd make sure that you signed a liability waiver.
Your brakes will take longer to bed in on old rotors. If there are noticeable grooves, the pads won't be properly bed in for at least a few days. Most mechanics won't want to let you loose on the street with brakes that don't react like you expect.
If you're in a pinch, you can measure the rotors to see if they need to be replaced; but if I ran a shop and thought you needed rotors but you didn't want to replace them, I'd make sure that you signed a liability waiver.
Yeah, I've said it in every other brake thread, may as well add it to this one as well.
If you don't replace rotors and are not using the same pads, you always have to prep the rotors. Lots of shops don't want to take the time to do this, if they don't it takes a while to bed in the new pads. If you have grooves on your rotors then that's damage, they should be replaced as MB does not spec resurfacing.
Must I replace Rotors & Pads? 
(As you can see I'm whining again zam2000) 
LMAO
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