Disc brakes and pads

[mauro12]

Hello guys , I would like to replace the discs and pads for my 250sl .
After watching a video of Kent bergsma , I would like to put Zimmerman discs and brembo pads. Kent recommends this combination not for the pagoda specifically but for any classic mercedes . What do you suggest ? Could this combination improve the braking performance? Have you ever tried?
Especially the oem quality vs brembo and Zimmerman which are the best companies in terms of brakes.
Thank you

[WRe]

Hi,
both companies you mentioned are professional manufactures of brake systems.
Brembo a big and well known Italian OEM with a big product range and Zimmermann a small German company with small product range.
 I don't see any advantage of mixing these parts. I would use all of these "premium" supplier you can find for example here:
https://www.daparto.de/Ersatzteile/Mercedes-Benz-SL-Pagode-W113/2-1211-?kbaTypeId=897#category-1456-1521.
...WRe

[mauro12]

How about brembo brake pads? Do they give more braking performance?
I would like to put something better than oem discs and pads

[Shvegel]

Speaking as a lifelong mechanic and former BMW instructor I would stick with OEM brakes.  They are designed to work cold and wet and are engineered to provide the fewest warranty problems (squeeks). I have driven quite a few cars with drilled or slotted rotors and I find the noise they make annoying.  Most performance brakes need to be warm before they work.  They are actually worse than stock when cold. I bought a BMW E38 that had been fitted with pads and drilled rotors from a niche manufacturer.  My first trip down an off ramp on the highway wall all I needed to see.  Halfway down the brakes started to heat up and it felt like I had pressed the pedal harder when I hadn’t.  Stock pads and rotors went on the next day.

[mauro12]

I think the Zimmerman brake discs are with no holes and not ventilated like the standard one . I was just wondering if there was something better than oem. Apart from that I guess is better to buy coated discs rather than not coated . Regarding the brake pads, brembo should be better than oem. Nobody has ever tried ?

[Garry]

Not sure what you mean by ‘better brake pads’ but there has been a bit i’d discussion in the past on ceramic pads and their performance and benefits re dust and a search might give you some comments.


https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=15970.msg110556#msg110556

[mauro12]

I meant that some brand of brake pads are better than others . Brembo probably is the best company in the world regarding Brake systems. I was wondering if this brand could bring to our car some benefits .

[stickandrudderman]

I only ever fit genuine Mercedes discs & pads.
Why?
Well, If I drive your car I'll know straight away if you've fittted after-market brakes.

[mauro12]

I think genuine mercedes discs are or NLA or cost something like 1000€.
I would follow your advice and go to buy oem discs and pads

[Shvegel]

My backup in that situation is Ate rotors.  They built the original braking system and build really good stuff.

[Pawel66]

I think genuine mercedes discs are or NLA or cost something like 1000€.
I would follow your advice and go to buy oem discs and pads

Not sure what you mean. The set is $70 at Mercedes, comes with springs and pins.

[mauro12]

70 dollars for genuine mercedes discs ? Or pads?

[Vander]

Textar is an oem supplier for 280SL front brake pads Part # 001 420 77 20. OEM list price is $57.00

[hauser]

I'm using Carbotech brake pads.

[stickandrudderman]

Textar is an oem supplier for 280SL front brake pads Part # 001 420 77 20. OEM list price is $57.00

Doesn't mean that the pads are the same.

[Pawel66]

70 dollars for genuine mercedes discs ? Or pads?

pads + pins + springs

Sorry for not being precise.

For discs I went for Ate, like this: https://allegro.pl/oferta/tarcze-mercedes-pagode-w113-2-3-63-67-10223175302

This is more like $150 for 2, much more expensive in Mercedes, as part 154211112 64 costs $600 more or less. Maybe this is this EUR 1000 you mentioned. Yes if you buy discs + pads +screws + rear discs + rear pads - you would be somewhere close to EUR 1000.

Rear Ate discs are $75 more or less.

It is also a good idea to buy the screws when you replace the discs: for front - 10x A 000 990 72 12 @ $4.0. And have a good 10mm allen with long bit for impact gun to unscrew. At least my experience.

There is no "genuine" Mercedes discs or pads. They will also be form some producer, but they will for sure be of high quality, often even compared to same product OEM. Sorry, this is my theory, I know others think differently.

It has never crossed my mind to go Brembo, ceramic, etc., as I simply do not drive in the way I would need them. I also heard about a lot of surprises as some of these parts are made for aggressive driving and work not so well when driving slow.

[mauro12]

I just wanted to buy something which gives to the car a bit more aggressive braking .
Brakes in our car are ok , considering of a 50+years old car but I was wondering if was possible to improve by changing the pads with brembo ( well known company ) and new discs.
The oem discs available in the market are coated ? My discs are the original and they are quite rusty after 50 years .
Maybe with coated discs this will help to prevent rust and improve the braking performance .

[Cees Klumper]

Your brake discs should most definitely not look rusty. With normal use, they should look very clean, have no grooves, be straight and be above the specified minimum thickness. Brake discs can come coated when new to prevent rust from non-use, but that coating is removed either shortly before or right after fitting. It sounds like your discs may be worn out and if that is the case, replacing them, and the pads, with just about any brand new will likely improve your braking performance.

[mauro12]

They are rusty in the back . They look really old overall. I will replace them anyway.
Putting the coated one I think it will prevent rust issues for many years .

[Cees Klumper]

Hi Mauro - again, the coating on the braking surfaces will fly off the minute you start driving (braking). The remainder of the disc will be protected by the finish for some time.

[Pawel66]

They are rusty in the back . They look really old overall. I will replace them anyway.
Putting the coated one I think it will prevent rust issues for many years .

I am probably not qualified to make this comment, but if the discs in the back are rusty and they do not get clean when you drive, maybe the pistons are stuck in the caliper?

[mauro12]

Guys I have another question . Has ever been made a kit of vented brake discs for our car ? I’m thinking why there are only not vented discs on the market for our car .

[114015]

Yes.

A109 420 0005
or equivalent aftermarket product.
But you need other (wider) brake calipers then.

[Shvegel]

Your rear brake pads are probably stuck in the calipers.  This is not uncommon.  In fact Mercedes supplied a special tool to jack the old pads out of the caliper.  I happen to have one.  There are also special single sided files to clean the caliper surfaces up.  Your brakes may not be operating in the rear hence your desire for better brakes.