SLK 230 front brake pads
 

I need to replace the front brake pads on my wife's 1998SLK 230, and I have3 and 1/2 questions.
1)Where can I get a repair manual? Auto parts stores don't carry them, and the dealercharges a fortunefor access to their repair manual.
2) What is the minimum allowable thickness for the front rotors?If Ileave rotors with less than the minimum thickness on, is it really a safety issue or just a performance/wear and tear issue?
3) Replacing the pads looks pretty straight foward, similar to american and japanese cars I've worked on before.Is there any special trick or suprises I should know about?

RE: SLK 230 front brake pads
 

the thickness is stamped on the rotor. sometimes hard to see but it is there if it is a MB rotor. will have part # then spec in mm'syes the brake job is straight forward. if you dont see a huge lip around the edge of the rotor you prob ok then. the worst that usually will happen is brake squeel or vibration when braking.

RE: SLK 230 front brake pads
 

Check Ebay for the repair manual. Way cheaper than the dealer.

RE: SLK 230 front brake pads
 

Thanks for the info. Actually there is amoderate lip around the edge of the rotor, probably a little more than 1/32 inch, definitely less than 1/16 of an inch. I'm fairly sure the front pads were replaced once before by the previous owner. One more question--do the OE pads from mercedes contain asbestos?

Thanks!

RE: SLK 230 front brake pads
 

not sure on that, but im sure that they probably do.