It has been a rough week for Lurch, our '85 300D. Last week my 17 year old failed his physics experiment by realizing that a 300D breaks easier than a fire hydrant. Smashed tail light and slightly dented trunk.

Today, he has off school so I send him on an errand from DC to Baltimore. 20 minutes later my Office Manager is trying to get my attention while I am on a call and finally sends me an e-mail "URGENT!!!!! Your son called and said to tell you that his tire is on FIRE!!!!!!!!!

Needless to say I ended my call a little early and called him back. Turns out the master cylinder is going bad and caused the right rear caliper to stick to the point were the pads were on fire. The rear disk was glowing red hot. I was about to call a tow truck but instead called Mitch Carr's (my indy) who told me that if we just wait a little while it will release and the car will probably be drivable. Sure enough he was right. My son was able to drive it to his shop where I am waiting for an estimate. I have a fairly long list of other items that need attention on that car, so it will not be pretty.

I wish I had some of the time that you guys have to DIY, but if I have 2 hours to myself on a given weekend it is a miracle.

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Alan Hamm
'87 300SDL 277K Miles
'89 560 SL 68K Miles

Sounds like you need to reassess your priorities

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Atleast he or a bystander didn't hose it down with a garden hose..
My father had a lady watering her flowers hose down a rear brake drum on a utility truck he used to drive when it was smoldering/light fire from the drive down a mountain with failed front brakes.
Needless to say, there wasn't much of the exploded drum left.
Sometimes, I guess, doing the 'right' thing is actually wrong :-p

And about your son and the fire hydrant, he shoulda got more inertia behind the automobile. Course then you get to pay for a hydrant
It tis sad regardless...my condolences..

Wow poor 300D. But it can only get better, it seems your son has been unlucky for the last few weeks. It happens to all of us, I got my Camry stuck sideways on a narrow icy hill. Advice don't pull the e brake on a steep icy hill. Nothing a tow truck couldn't handle.

Will your son be driving the SDL now that his 300D is in the shop?

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Put him in the 1989 560 SL, his license will be gone in a week.
Vroom, Vroom.

2 days after backing the 300D into the hydrant he actually asked if he could take the 560 SL on his homecoming date.

I could not say yes

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Alan Hamm
'87 300SDL 277K Miles
'89 560 SL 68K Miles

Recovering from a brake pad fire isn't all that bad. You'll need a new caliper, pads, and rotor. The sway bar link will probably be melted and need replacing. Likely a good time to replace the flexible brake hose.

A more important question is why the brake(s?) locked on. Was it only the one side, or were both having the same problem? If both the master cylinder is suspect - this is a known failure mode. If only one side locked on it's likely the old flexible brake hose acting as a one way valve. In that case it's time to replace all four Could even be as simple as a stuck caliper piston. If so one of the charred brake pads will be much thinner than the other. It's important to find the root cause lest the problem occur again.

Many years ago my wife drove her 123 home 30 miles on the freeway with the rear brakes locked on. She had to call the fire department upon arriving home.

Surprisingly, the rear wheel bearings survived unscathed. A friend now owns that car; I think it has at least 150K more miles.

- JimY

I have had that happen too. and I believe JimSmith has related the same thing.. there is at least one discussion in the archives about it.. but it is not often brought up as a potential cause. Since it is inside the rubber line many other things are often replaced with no change in the situation .. until the brake lines are the only thing left to replace.
Rubber brake lines are not replaced ' on principle' ( as MB refers to it ) as often as they should be.

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/10414-help-i-need-check-stretch.html

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

i lived in the shady side of bakersfield california, went to BHS. I got my windows knocked out and my tires slashed once but they only did that once. Next time i would have shot them.

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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.

There are places around Bakersfield they could have dissapeared and never be found for doing that. there are some desolate areas out there.
I can see why you live in wash. now

You didn`t happen to know Buck Owens did you, he put bakersfield on the map.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

My 16 year son drives his 1985 300D (converted to two tank veggie). He said in the middle of all the colored plastic jellybean cars and SUVs his "classic" Mercedes (1985 is "classic"?-I feel old) really stands out and gets a lot of 2nd looks.