ordered some from advance auto online got them today will report on them soon also got a oil filter and its so small got the pads for 98 and the filter around 15 got 30% off instant savings and free shiping now i just got to put them on

 

Togaman, check that oil filter after you receive it and most likely it has a paper/celluose filter element suitable for shorter oil change intervals 3K-5K, and not really the filter recommended for long oil change 10K intervals or and not best recommendation for synthetic oil spec'd for the ML.

The Mann flecce filter (OE) is like $16 from other online sources, most same sources have free shipping policy over $50 order etc.

 

The filters from Advance that I know are fleece are the Purolator and K&N.
Both are repackaged Mann filters.

Saw a Fram a couple of years ago and it was paper. Horrible quality, the glue to to seal
the pleats was not even completed 360º around the top and bottom.

 

akebono



Not good. Clean your wheels regularly.

 

It would be helpful if you told us which Akebono pads you didn't like and what was wrong with them.

I would be interested in hearing about the AKEBONO Euros pads.

DelJ

Not good. Clean your wheels regularly.

 

Got mine from TireRack a couple years back for the fronts of my E430. Love them. They stop great and no dust.

Now, for the ML and the rear of the E (brakes were done last summer), I purposefully stayed with the newer "improved" OEM pads which are almost as clean as the Akebonos.

 

Purolator has both a paper and a fleece, the under $20 filters for sure are paper - however, I asked togoaman to check his package after he receives it so he knows exactly what he got before he puts it in.

 

My OEM pads are squeeling like stuck pigs. Applied liberal amounts of silicon grease a few weeks back, which helped until it got cold around here.
I'm done with that. Time to kill the shrill.

Front and rear Akebono pads are ordered, and will be here early next week.

 

I won't use Mercedes branded pads again, either. Lots of squealing and lots of black dust. I think that my latest Mercedes pads were just cheap Mintex pads at triple the price. In the past, the Mercedes pads used to be better.

I plan on buying PosiQuiet semi-metallics next.

DelJ


ps Everyone: Please indicate the type/model as well as the pad manufacturer. For example, Akebono Euro versus Akebono ProAct.

 

With ML-V8's, and a good habit to get into, is the MB brake goo, which is a high temperature silocon (a bit more thick than a grease) - that will stop squealing do a forum search for the specific posts.

 

Depends on the pad. When I had my current set of Mercedes branded pads installed on my ML430, I watched the mechanic apply a liberal amount of goo. It did not stop the pads from squealing, even though they re-installed the pads a second time. The goo will not necessarily cure the squealing problems of bad pads.

DelJ

 

Akebonos

I put a set all of Euro EUR847s and EUR874s on my '00 ML55 along with some Zimmerman Rotors, 15,000 miles ago.

Very clean. Very easy on the rotors. Wearing exceptionally well. They squeal a bit on reverse when cold even with proper preparation and installation.

Wear sensor probe holes didn't match up and I called them. They sent me another set and told me I could just drill (carefully) holes that would allow the sensors to mount correctly.

I would highly recommend.

 

I put a set all of Euro EUR847s and EUR874s on my '00 ML55 along with some Zimmerman Rotors, 15,000 miles ago.

They are the model numbers I'm putting on this week. Did you use the uber special M Series brake grease when you installed them?


FWIW, Advance Auto has these models at $79 Front and $65 Rear until December 18 via their web site.

 

I have run OE, Hawk and Wagner pads and recently installed Akebono Euro (from Tirerack). Fitment was perfect and the kit included a wear sensor.

The ceramic Akebonos produce the least dust by far. Pedal feel and stopping power are good

 

Here's the goo

Here is the MB pdf, it's a counterintuitive procedure applying to the sides of the pads. I add a schemar on the backplate if bare metal, but that's me.

A lifetime supply in MB tube is like $16, they also have the chinzy 1-application packs.

 

Very descriptive name: "Brake Paste M Class"
Subtext: "How did we manage to totally over-engineer this vehicle and still have brakes that squeal like a banshee?" Recall? Nah, give 'em some goo to try at home.

I used the tube of lube they came with, looks like it has some graphite in it. I figure they would know what works with their pads.

Thanks Trashman. I'm with you on that.

 

Thank you all for your response.

Sorry I didn't specify the pad #, I had it done by a shop, didn't see the package. But I was told they have different grades, the one I need for stopping the dust is a ceramic pad from their higher grade pad.

So, MB came out with a newer improved pad that's clean?

 

..
So, MB came out with a newer improved pad that's clean?

Yes, it seems like they now have something better - about 2yrs ago there was a new P/N for the pads. Like I said earlier, the Akebonos are up front on my E, MB OEMs in rear and MB OEMs on both ends of my ML. The dust accumulation is almost as good as the Akebonos' - Akebonos still less dusty though. The squeal on the ML's brakes is gone, even in 30F temperatures. The Akebonos were installed on my driveway, but the OEMs (E & ML) were done at the dealer.

 

Thank you all for your response.

Sorry I didn't specify the pad #, I had it done by a shop, didn't see the package. But I was told they have different grades, the one I need for stopping the dust is a ceramic pad from their higher grade pad.

So, MB came out with a newer improved pad that's clean?

 

I have seen a lot of owners, and non-MB mechanics apply "goo" to the backplate (and actually I apply a schmear myself) - when counter-intuitively the MB pdf instruction is to apply to the SIDES of the pad.

I have no idea, but the MB method works for me, and since I bought a tube of goo (lifetime supply) I use the same procedure on all my MB's now.

Keep the beat !

 

My main concern was how well the cleaner pads perform in our vehicles, I tried the Akebono pads because I heard good things about them and they are super clean. I think I paid approx. only $20~50 less than factory pads. Not an issue.

Cleaning the wheels IS the biggest issue because our vehicles are mostly driving from garage to garage (or indoor parking), they don't really get dirty in L.A. Couldn't stand a clean car with dirty wheels.

 

From my experience with the E Class, the Akebonos are clean. With the Akebonos, I have not had the kinds of brake dust issues I used to have with the OEM pads.

 

DelJ is right. Consumables like pads are outsourced by MB and all other vehicle manufacturers, and there is every chance that the supplier will change from time to time. The fact that the pads have MB printed on them simply means that they are the pads MB are stocking at the time you bought them.

Pads specifications are determined in the main by the caliper vendor. MB does not make calipers, they buy them from an outside vendor. The pad specs are generic, and any pad manufacturer can make a given pad spec. These guys are selling friction material, and that's where the difference lies.

There's no question that you'll get good service from your dealer, but some of us are a bit more adventurous and take the indie or the DIY route. All are valid choices; some cost more than others.

 

Fitted the Akebonos a week ago. The quality and finish of the pads was impressive. All had brake sensor cutouts in the backing pads and appropriate holes in the friction material for the brake sensor pin.

One odd thing was that the rear pads included new sensors but the front pads did not. Odd. The sensors on my OEM pads transferred over nicely. There is a small package of silicone/graphite paste in each box, but its barely enough to do all four pads. Be careful to spread it around evenly over all four pads, or use some of the MB paste if you have that on hand.

The Akebonos have performed well. Nice pedal feel, plenty of torque, and NO SQUEELING on forward or reverse braking. We reverse down a long steep drive in the morning, and that was a nerve jangling experience with the OEM pads. My wife drives the ML, and she is finally happy to have the shreiking brakes from hell as a thing of the past. She's happy = I'm happy.

 

Which Akebono pads are you referring to? They sell several different types.

DelJ

Fitted the Akebonos a week ago. The quality and finish of the pads was impressive. All had brake sensor cutouts in the backing pads and appropriate holes in the friction material for the brake sensor pin.

...

 

in my experience low cost brake pads are usualy hard on the brake discs, if theres no dust generated then they are made of a hard material. on squeeling brakes, i have found if you remove them and sandpaper the faces up they will be ok, failing that a wee spot of coppergrease on the surface does the job!

 

Let me jump back to this thread, our ML's Akebono Euro pads have no visible brake dust on the wheels. I think we have at least 5000 miles on these pads now, I don't have to wash the wheels any more.

This is our raining days vehicle (AWD), the brake pad performed very well in wet condition, I think I'll change to Akebono pads on all our Mercedes.

 

Dust is low and lighter-colored than OE and Porterfield. Recommend you check Advance's price at some of the usual sources, but I'm doing that from memory--now running these on the front on 3 different European cars. I like them, but am not an Ake-zealot--there are many good pads that are "best" in slightly different ways. No experience with Centrics.
One imprecise data point--they braked well for my son in our Volvo 850 in a chain-reaction panic stop last Sunday. Unfortunately, the Mitsubishi behind him didn't do as well...

 

I learned about the Akebono Pad last year in Florida at a Advance Store. I had purchased an 08 Accord and was trying to replace the pads as I was getting terrible brake dust. I was told these were the best and did some research.

I am from Kentucky, south central to be exact and I learned that all the pads were made less than 30 miles from my hometown. No one there ever talked about the company or what they did or made. It was hard for me to believe what I was reading about the company, the developed the original ceramic pad and I have them on my Honda and I will never buy anything other than these.

I am putting on my C230 now as I am tired of the dust. Rock Auto is $50 less for a full set than Advance and that includes shipping.

 

Ceramics are great in warmer climates. I have compared them in the winter and the ceramic compound is just horrible at making any friction in low temps.
Granted I am very hard on brakes, but a good pad like the Stop Tech. Pagid, Jurid or EBC will stop these trucks in a much shorter distance than any fully ceramic brake pad compound.

 

I heard about Akebono in Florida after moving here from Kentucky two years ago. I was having really bad brake dust problems with my Honda (Mercedes as well) but went into an Advance Store and was told about them. I did some research and low and behold these are made in Kentucky only 30 miles from where I lived all my life. No one ever talked about the company or what they did or made but further research on their webpage indicates they are the original maker of ceramic pads so there you go. Put a set on the Accord and love them compared to OEM.

I have had them in some 30 degree temps and never noticed any difference in sound or stopping power.

I am putting on my C230 now and priced at Rock Auto $50 or more less than Advance. Anyone had problem with parts from Rock Auto....?

Akebono are the best pads I have ever had and made in USA-Kentucky