When I bought my '85 300TD, I had it checked over thoroughly by my favorite indy. He indicated the brakes were fine, but probably at the next oil change I'd be smart to change them. Well, I did the oil change last weekend, so today I did the front brakes (rear are newish).

The job was easier than I'd have thought. It's my first try on a w123, but took just under an hour from start to test drive on the front. Really easy. From past experimentation, I'd already gathered to use the actual tool reccomended for the job, and so I spent a couple bucks on a punch rather than trying to tap out the pins with a nail. There is a reason they suggest a punch. Glad I got it! Parts cost me about $40, and I'd have probably paid $120-$170 at a local shop for the same job. I continue to enjoy the rewarding ease of ownership of these cars!

Anyway, enough glowing. The complaint comes in a critique of the awful pads that were on the car when I bought it. The backing plates had become detached from the pad material on two of four pads, and the inside edge of the pads was not contoured to match the circular shape of the rotor. They did not have a groove down the middle of the pad either. However, the sensors were properly mounted. What pieces of crap. It was evident even from elementary visual inspection how superior the textars were that I got for the job. I know there are a variety of opinions, but I decided on them because I could buy them locally from an independent mb parts shop.

What sort of surprises have you encountered with your car over the years? I'm interested in p.o. 'fixes' that have been sub-optimal... that the rest of us might look for...

cheers,
Kevin

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Cannondale ST600 XL
Redline Monocog 29er
2011 Mini Cooper Clubman
2005 Honda Element EX

www.djugurba.com
www.waldenwellness.com

Oh, man, you REALLY don't what to know!

Best on I think was the 74 Ford wagon a friend bought the engine out of to put in a truck with a locked up 460 -- all the "emissions crap" hoses were cut and plugged on the SERVO end -- source end wide open. Litterally a double handfull of mud in the lifter gallery. Turned out to have a cracked block from being frozen, too.

The block on the 280 was seriously cracked by the PO leaving water in it due to the leaking water pump (excessive tightening of PS pump ruined a new one in a couple years, original lasted 150,000 miles....).

Other "goodies' are wrong length or wrong size bolts driven down too hard, stripping thread, collapsed valve springs shimmed up to tension, so they break in service, probably hundreds of misrouted or missing vacuum lines, carbs with the anti-tamper cover chiseled out, warping the base so bad it won't seal, wrong heater hoses, spliced radiator hoses, it goes on and on.

Overtightening is probably the worst thing amatuers do, followed by using huge gobs of incorrect sealant.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!