I haven't done a brake job since the 1980s. My last one was probably a drum brake job on a GM vehicle. Those were fun! Anyway...

My 1999 M-B C230 needs new rear brakes--badly. From what I gather, ceramic is the way to go for the pads. I'd rather replace the rotors than try getting by with having them turned by some auto parts store guy.

Can anyone help me narrow down the choices? Good brands, things to look for, things to avoid--that sort of thing? The difference in prices even among parts that seem identical in quality and composition (from looking at descriptions) is shocking.

http://www.MercedesPartsCenter.com/partlocator/index.cfm?siteid=215720

I priced out a set of genuine rear pads and genuine rear rotors from that site. With shipping, it is only $170. On most European cars, you usually replace the rotors and pads together.

If the original equipment parts are reasonably priced, which they usually are if you purchase from a dealership that sells parts online, then I always go with them since they are guaranteed to work and deliver predictable performance.

Ceramic pads that you find in stores are best suited for cars that were never high-performance to begin with. I have read that installing ceramic pads on higher performance European cars, are a hit/miss. Ceramic pads from major brands are usually tuned for super long life, low dust and low performance. I would instead, rather install pads that were designed specifically for the vehicle and will deliver excellent stopping performance.

No shop will turn Mercedes rotor. If the rotor can not be re-use then you need to replace. For pads you want to stay with these German made: Pagid, ATE, Jurid, Meyle or Textar.

Just remember that the Pagid, Meyle, Textar, etc "german" brands are really just the Raybestos, Centric, Bendix, etc of the German market. When you buy those german pads from worldpac, they are sometimes the aftermarket version of the OE supplier's brake product-- no guarantees that it'll function identically to the Genuine Mercedes product. I think a lot of people get confused when they see a Pagid or Textar product at worldpac and believe that it is the identical dealer product in a different box-- not always the case.

I second or third the Genuine Factory replacement products.

But, If I were looking for another quality product, I would look at Hawk.

Jim

If you were happy with the performance of the OE stick with them.

I've had good luck with both Hawk and Akebono for pads. Brembo for rotors (stock replacement...nothing fancy...) - with the mileage and the typical MB specifications for minimum rotor thickness, I would simply replace the rotors vs. trying to turn them...

And the ceramic Akebonos on both Volvos are great for rotor wear (none), dust (none) and longevity. My wife's XC has nearly 50K on the pads - and they are still over 50% thickness. There was no loss in braking performance either...they cost a bit more, but are worth it.

If you can find them I would buy Balo rotors and ATE pads for this application.

Hawk pads FTW with OEM rotors right from the MB dealer!!!

I never have comebacks using whatever high grade NAPA pads and rotors fit a Benz.

Forget about machining a rotor on any German car. They wear so quickly that even if your rotor is above spec now, it will be below spec midway into the life of the replacement pads.

Also, low dust pads only go so far to reduce brake dust from a German car. Those fast wearing rotors contribute to more to brake dust than pad material itself.

Define "high grade." NAPA Safety Stop or NAPA Ultra Premium?

OEM if you are satisfied with the performance and price. If you choose to save a little, I have heard that Akebono Euro Ceramic Pads and Zimmerman rotors are great.

Ultra Premium or Adaptive One, whatever one is availible at the time.

It depends on how important "Genuine OEM" or "German Engineering" are to you.

There are lots of brake pads that give you same or even better performance than the Mercedes OEM pads rotor for less, much less. Those high performance street pads with FF to GG ratings are usually sufficient unless you track your car, and if you do track your car, the OEM Mercedes pads probably aren't sufficient anyways.

Usually, OEM will have less noise and dust to avoid warranty works.

Ill second Astro on the Akebono pads and the brembo direct replacements. Just did the front of the XC for $200, including new ATE hoses and a tube of ATE lube. Ive also had good luck with ATE premium one rotors and heard good things about Zimmerman rotors. Not the area you want to go cheap on . Check out FCPGroton.com.