EBC Brakes for the Mercedes-Benz C63: Which Parts Fit

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

EBC makes street and track brake pads for both modern generations of the Mercedes-Benz C63: the W204 sedan and coupe with the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 (2008-2015) and the W205 with the 4.0L biturbo V8 (2015 and newer). The right set depends on which generation you have, whether it is a C63 or C63 S, and whether you want a quiet low-dust street pad or a pad that survives track days. Below is every EBC part we carry for the C63, what each compound is built for, and how to make sure it fits before you order.

How the C63 brake system differs by generation

The two C63 generations share a name and not much else under the wheels, so pads do not cross over between them.

W204 C63 AMG (2008-2015)

Mercedes-Benz USA describes the W204 C63 as using the AMG high-performance braking system with internally ventilated and perforated discs at all four corners. Its hand-built 6,208 cc V8 made 451 hp, or 481 hp with the optional AMG Development Package. That package also brought two-piece front discs and red-painted calipers at all four corners, so a Development Package car is not guaranteed to share rotors with a base car, even in the same model year. The limited Black Series, rated at 510 hp, used its own brake hardware as well.

W205 C63 and C63 S (2015 and newer)

The W205 moved to the M177 4.0-liter V8 biturbo, rated at 469 hp in the C63 and 503 hp in the C63 S. Mercedes describes radially mounted, motorsport-based front brakes. Red brake calipers are standard on the C63 S and optional on the C63, and an AMG carbon-ceramic braking system was offered for the first time as an option on the C63 S. The C63 S launched on 19-inch wheels while the base C63 came on 18-inch wheels, and the brake packages differ between trims. That is why several of the pads below are listed specifically for the C63 S.

One rule applies to both generations: the EBC pads here are for the standard iron-rotor systems. A car fitted with the optional carbon-ceramic brakes needs pads made for those rotors, not a street or track pad designed for cast iron.

EBC brake parts we carry for the C63

Every part below is listed with its generation and position. Match the part number to your car, not just the model name.

For the W204 Black Series we also carry GiroDisc A1-123 slotted front rotors, listed for the 2012 C63 AMG Black Series only. They are not a fit for a standard W204.

Our W204 pad listings cover 2008-2013. If you own a 2014 or 2015 W204, including the Edition 507, confirm the pad shape against your old pads or your caliper before ordering, because late cars and package cars can carry different brake hardware.

Redstuff, Yellowstuff or Bluestuff NDX: which compound fits how you drive

All three are EBC performance compounds, but they are aimed at very different drivers.

Redstuff: the daily-driver choice

EBC describes Redstuff as a copper-free organic compound enhanced with ceramic granules and made with zero steel fibres. For a C63 that is driven on the street, this is the pad most owners want: cleaner wheels, quiet operation and very little rotor wear.

Yellowstuff: more bite, more dust

Yellowstuff is the pad for owners who drive hard on back roads and want strong cold bite with fade resistance. EBC is direct that it is not a low-dust pad and points buyers who want clean wheels to Redstuff instead. EBC also warns that track conditions can push brake temperatures past what Yellowstuff is designed for, so treat it as a fast-street pad, not a dedicated track pad.

Bluestuff NDX: for the owner who does track days

Bluestuff NDX carries the highest friction of the three and holds up to higher rotor temperatures. EBC positions it as a pad you can bed on the street, drive to the track, lap, and drive home. That makes it the logical choice for a C63 that sees HPDE or lapping days. If you never go on track, the extra heat capacity buys you nothing and Redstuff will be the more pleasant pad.

Signs your C63 is due for pads, and what to replace with them

These cars are heavy and powerful, and they go through pads and rotors faster than an ordinary C-Class. Watch for:

• A brake pad wear warning on the dash. Replace the wear sensor along with the pads; it is designed to be used once.
• Vibration through the pedal or steering wheel under braking, usually from rotor thickness variation or uneven pad deposits.
• Grinding or a metallic scrape, which means the pad is down to the backing plate and the rotor is being damaged.
• A long or soft pedal after hard driving, which points to heat-soaked or old fluid more than pads.

Check rotor thickness against the minimum stamped on the rotor every time you change pads. Worn or grooved rotors will not let new pads seat properly, and a performance pad on a glazed rotor often feels worse than the pad you took off. Browse replacement brake rotors and brake hardware kits for the parts that go in with a pad job.

Brake fluid matters on a C63

Hard driving puts the fluid at risk before it wears out the pads. The federal fluid standard sets a minimum dry boiling point of 230 C (446 F) for DOT 4 fluid, but only 155 C (311 F) once it has absorbed moisture. Old fluid in a C63 that is driven hard is a common cause of a pedal that goes long after a few hard stops. Use the fluid specification in your owner's manual and change it at the factory interval, or sooner if you track the car.

Installing and bedding EBC pads on a C63

Pad replacement on either generation is a reasonable job for an owner with a torque wrench and a good jack and stands. Clean and lubricate the pad contact points, replace any worn anti-rattle hardware, fit a new wear sensor, and torque the caliper hardware to the value in the factory service manual. Pump the pedal until it is firm before you move the car.

How you bed the pads depends on the compound:

• Redstuff and Yellowstuff: EBC says its street pads are mostly self-bedding over roughly the first 100 miles of normal use, and recommends holding off on aggressive driving until well past that, not before about 300 miles. Some smoke or odor the first time the rotors get hot is normal as surface coatings burn off.
• Bluestuff NDX: EBC recommends a staged street bed-in of 5 stops from 70 mph to 20 mph, a cool-down, then 5 more stops from 80 mph to 20 mph, followed by gentle use for about 200 miles. For track use, EBC describes two separate heat cycles with cooling in between.

Do the stops only where it is legal and safe, and do not sit with your foot on the brake with hot rotors after the last stop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do W204 C63 pads fit the W205 C63?

No. The 6.2L W204 and the 4.0L biturbo W205 use different brake hardware and different pad shapes. Use the part number listed for your generation.

Which EBC pad is best for a daily-driven C63?

Redstuff. It is EBC's premium low-dust street pad, it is kind to rotors, and it keeps the wheels cleaner than Yellowstuff.

Can I put EBC pads on a C63 S with carbon-ceramic brakes?

No. The pads listed here are for the standard iron-rotor brake systems. Carbon-ceramic rotors require pads made specifically for them.

Is Bluestuff NDX too aggressive for the street?

EBC designs Bluestuff NDX to bed on the street and drive to and from the track with good street manners. It is still more pad than a car that never sees a track needs, and Redstuff will be more comfortable day to day.

Should I replace rotors when I change pads on my C63?

Measure them. If the rotors are below the minimum thickness stamped on them, grooved, or cause vibration, replace them. Fresh pads on worn rotors will not bed properly.

Why are some pads listed only for the C63 S?

The C63 and C63 S use different brake packages on the W205, so certain rear pad sets are specific to the S. Check the trim on your window sticker or registration before ordering.

Sources

1. Mercedes-Benz USA: C63 AMG features new design, enhanced technology - W204 6,208 cc V8 output, Development Package two-piece front discs, ventilated and perforated discs
2. Mercedes-Benz USA: C63 AMG Black Series makes waves - Black Series output
3. Mercedes-Benz USA: The new Mercedes-AMG C63 - W205 4.0L biturbo outputs, radially mounted front brakes, ceramic-composite option on C63 S
4. Mercedes-Benz USA: 2015 C63 S/C63 Sedan Quick Reference Guide - red calipers standard on C63 S, carbon-ceramic option, wheel sizes
5. EBC Brakes: Product focus on Redstuff brake pads - Redstuff copper-free ceramic-granule compound, no steel fibre, minimal dust
6. EBC Brakes: Yellowstuff fast street brake pads - Yellowstuff fade threshold and dust
7. EBC Brakes: Bluestuff NDX super-street and trackday pads - friction rating, temperature range, street bed-in stops
8. EBC Brakes: How to bed in your EBC brakes - street pad self-bedding mileage and track heat cycles
9. 49 CFR 571.116 (FMVSS 116), Cornell LII - DOT 4 dry and wet boiling points