Mercedes-Benz E-Class and E-Class AMG: Brake Pad Reviews
The available choices for brake pads are seemingly endless. How do you know which pad is right for your Mercedes-Benz E-Class? Look no further for a comprehensive brake pad review.
This article applies to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and E-Class AMG (2002-2009).
For those who like to run fast and stop short, the most critical decision is which brake pads to use, as there are seemingly endless brands of pads available. For nearly every Mercedes-Benz E-Class owner who loves one brand, there is another who has had a bad experience with that same brand. How do you know which to choose when there are so many options and an equal amount of contradicting opinions?
The first step is to consider your driving and relate that to the pad's characteristics. Are you a daily driver primarily on the highway or in the city, or do you strictly take your car to the track? The answer to these questions will help indicate what type of pad you should consider. Do you want a hard pad that will stop on a dime but possibly squeaks? This pad will have little dust and will last forever, but your rotors will wear out sooner. A softer pad might be really quiet but not have nearly as much stopping power. This type of pad will wear quicker, but your rotors will last a lot longer. Do you want a pad that is excellent but dusty, or one that is not as great but has nearly zero dust residue left behind? For every attribute you yearn for, there is likely going to be an attribute with which you'll have to make some concessions. Take a look at these popular brands to help make your decision process a little easier.
Brake Pads
EBC Redstuff |
EBC Yellowstuff |
Hawk |
Ultimax (EBC) |
PosiQuiet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Average Price (Front & Rear) |
$225 | $250 | $200 | $120 | $150 |
Density |
Hard | Medium hard | Medium hard | Medium hard | Medium hard |
Dust |
None | None | Low | None | Low |
Stopping Power |
Excellent | Very good | Very good | Very good | Good |
Noise |
None | Quieter | Quieter | None | None |
Driving Style |
Daily, City | Highway, Track | Daily, City | Daily, City | Daily |
Origin |
England | England | United States | England | United States |
Warranty |
Limited Lifetime | Limited Lifetime | Limited Lifetime | Limited Lifetime | Limited Lifetime |
Best Value: PosiQuiet
EBC Redstuff
Price – $225
Density – Hard
Dust – None
Stopping Power – Excellent
Noise – None
Driving Style – Daily, City
Origin – England
Warranty – Limited Lifetime
The EBC Redstuff brake pad is one of the most popular choices by E-Class owners who are city drivers and have a lot of stop-and-go driving. They are very quiet with no dust complaints and have excellent stopping power. Recommended for the daily city driver.
EBC Yellowstuff
Price – $250
Density – Medium hard
Dust – None
Stopping Power – Very good
Noise – Quieter
Driving Style – Highway, Track
Origin – England
Warranty – Limited Lifetime
The EBC Yellowstuff brake pads are among the top choices for the E-Class owner who mainly tracks their car. These no-dust brake pads are fairly quiet and stand up to the high heat conditions of the track. Recommended for harder driving, although they are street legal.
Hawk
Price – $200
Density – Medium hard
Dust – Low
Stopping Power – Very good
Noise – Quieter
Driving Style – Daily, City
Origin – USA
Warranty – Limited Lifetime
The Hawk brake pads are a good choice at a moderate price. For the price, these brakes are a very good option for the daily driver who spends more time on the freeway than in the heavy stop-and-go traffic of the city. They are clean pads with little dust and are pretty quiet, but they do not have the excellent stopping power needed for more aggressive drivers. Recommended for the daily and touring driver of the highway or otherwise for light traffic without the need for constant or heavy braking.
Ultimax
Price – $120
Density – Medium hard
Dust – None
Stopping Power – Very good
Noise – None
Driving Style – Daily, City
Origin – England
Warranty – Limited Lifetime
The Ultimax brake pad is the economical brand made by EBC. While it has very good stopping power, it does not stand up to the heavy demands that the red or yellow EBC products offer. This is a very good, dust-free, quiet pad that is a smart buy for the daily driver. Recommended for the daily driver who does not require heavy braking.
PosiQuiet
Price – $150
Density – Medium hard
Dust – Low
Stopping Power – Good
Noise – None
Driving Style – Daily
Origin – USA
Warranty – Limited Lifetime
The PosiQuiet, as the name suggests, is a virtually silent brake pad. If the traditional squeaking noise of other brake systems sends shivers down your spine, then this is definitely the pad for you. While the stopping power is marginally more effective than the OEM pad, it does do a pretty good job of keeping clean. These pads have a good price point for the driver who is looking for good performance at an affordable price. Recommended for the daily driver who has been generally happy with the OEM pads.
Related Discussions
- PosiQuiet Brake Pad Opinions - MBWorld.org
- Good Low-Dust Brake Pads? - MBWorld.org
- C63 Brake Pads - MBWorld.org
