As some of you know, I have installed 500E front & rear brake calipers on our 1988 300TE, along with a C36 engine/tranny/diff.

Unfortunately, at a braking intensive track (ButtonWillow Raceway), both myself and my instructor noticed that we could NOT get the front brakes to invoke ABS/lockup, no matter how hard we pressed and even with the brake cold, warm, or hot. This was using Porterfield brake pads.

We flushed the ENTIRE system with ATE Type 200 brake fluid, cleaned-off the rotors with a 200grit Emery cloth, and sanded down the Porterfield pads. No help. We installed the "yellow-box" Textar pads, still no ABS/lockup. The brake-lines are new MB OEM rubber lines, and the system has no leaks.

Could it be that there is not enough pressure in the stock brake system to get the maximum out of 500E calipers? If so, can I retro-fit the 500E/400E's double-diaphragm brake booster and master-cylinder (yes, I know I'll have to re-route the brake lines)?

Thanks in advance,
:-) neil
1988 360TE AMG
1993 500E