I recently purchased a 1999 E320 wagon and just took it in to the local dealer for its 56000 mile service and get assorted warranty work done. They called me and said the rear rotors and pads need to be replaced. Then the representative said something that I thought was strange. She said that these rear rotors are designed to wear out before the pads. Is this really true? Why would they design a rotor that wears faster then the pads?

 

Could it be the person who called was just an office clerk passing on info and happened to get it mixed up?

 

Maybe it's a dealer req. I had my 99 E320 in last time for maint. and they told me pretty much the same thing in not so many words. They said my rear brakes are down to 20% and when I asked them how much it would be, they said they need to change the rotors with the pads because they come together in a "set" and are "matched", they are not supposed to match new pads to old rotors...

 

That's different, though. They were saying to you that they don't recommend turning the rotors.

 

i just replaced all my rotors and padss on my 210 and the rears couldnt't be easier or cheaper. $40 a piece for rear rotors and @$40 for the rear pads and they were pretty basic to replace. I'm no mechanic and I did it.