Hella Pagid 355019841 Rear Brake Pads for Mercedes SUVs

This is the Hella Pagid 355019841 rear disc brake pad set, a low-metallic friction pad built for the rear axle of Mercedes-Benz SUVs on the W166 and X166 platform. Think ML350, ML550, GL350, GL450, GLE350, and GLE400. It ships as a complete set of two pads, enough to do one rear axle, and it comes with the brake caliper screws you need to button the job back up. If you're doing a rear brake job on one of these trucks, this is the pad that does it right.

Hella Pagid isn't a bargain-bin name. Pagid has been making OE and OE-quality friction material for European vehicles for a long time, and these pads are formulated to match the feel Mercedes owners expect. Low-metallic compound means a strong, consistent bite when the pedal is cold and steady stopping power once things heat up. It's the kind of pad that just works, the way the factory part did, without the mushy feel you get from cheaper economy pads.

Here's what low-metallic actually means for you. The friction material has a higher steel and iron content than a ceramic pad. That gives you excellent stopping power and strong high-temperature performance, which matters a lot on a heavy SUV that can be towing or loaded down with the family and gear. The trade-off is a little more brake dust and a touch more noise than a ceramic pad. That's normal for this compound, and it's the same behavior the factory pads had on these vehicles. If your Mercedes came with a low-metallic pad from the factory, this keeps the braking character exactly where you're used to it.

The set-of-two count is worth calling out. Two pads cover one caliper pair, which is one axle. So this box handles the rear of the vehicle. If you're doing all four corners, you'll want the matching front set as well. Don't mix a fresh rear with worn fronts and call it a brake job. Do the axle as a pair and you'll get even, predictable braking.

The included caliper screws are a nice touch that saves you a trip back to the counter. Mercedes calipers use specific fasteners, and reusing old, stretched, or corroded screws is asking for trouble on a safety-critical part. Fresh screws torqued to spec give you peace of mind. A quick tip from the shop: put the correct thread locker on the caliper guide bolts per the service manual, and use a little brake lubricant on the pad ears and contact points so the pads slide freely and don't squeal.

Installation on these platforms is straightforward if you've done a brake job before. Pull the wheel, unbolt the caliper, swing it off the bracket, and the old pads come right out. Compress the caliper piston, seat the new pads, reinstall with the fresh screws, and torque everything to the Mercedes service spec. Most of these rear setups also run an electronic wear sensor. Check whether yours needs a new sensor while you're in there, since that's a separate part and it's the smart time to replace it if the old one is worn or damaged. Pump the pedal a few times before you drive to bring the pistons back out to the pads.

Fitment on these Mercedes SUVs shifted a little across model years and trims, so verify the part fits your exact vehicle before you install. The cleanest way is to match your VIN or cross-reference Hella Pagid part number 355019841 against your car. Rear brakes on the ML, GL, and GLE families share a lot of hardware, but you want to be certain, because a brake pad isn't the place to guess.

Bed them in once they're on. Take it easy for the first hundred miles or so, then do a handful of moderate stops from around 40 mph down to 10, letting the brakes cool between them. That transfers an even layer of friction material onto the rotor and sets you up for quiet, consistent stops for the life of the pad. Do that, and this set will give you the honest, factory-style rear braking these Mercedes SUVs are supposed to have.