I have a 1982 300D Turbo 123 chassis MBZ and I need to do rotors and calipers. Has anyone successfully interchanged the 126 (300SD) vented rotors and calipers in place of the solid rotors and calipers on the 123?

Thanks for your help.

Chris Boyer
San Diego, CA

Stock 300sd is vented?

the fronts are vented. the rears are the same as normal 123's. i have a 280e euro with vented front rotors. i didnt do the conversion. it came from the factory. it is my understanding that the rotor bolts on with no mods and the caliper is also a bolt on. the pads and rear brakes, i believe, are the same.

i have installed 123 front calipers on a 115. this is a bolt on but the postition of the brake lines is slightly different and the lines eventually leaked so if doing it i recommend new hoses (the rubber ones). the rears on 115, 123 and 126 are all, i believe, the same.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Obviously (because the vented disc is much thicker) it is necessary to change both calipers and rotors at the same time, correct? Super cool, if it really works. My sedan needs new front wheel bearings and rotors.... "Honey, I think I better replace those calipers, just to be sure!"

Jay.

__________________
On the road, currently:
'83 300D (German spec.) 168k mi. - - Wolfgang (tucked snugly away for the winter!)
'87 300D 375k mi. - finally went over to "The Dark Side"
'87 300TD 225k mi.
Cannondale 66cm CAAD5 w/Campy/Jamis Aurora
Hujsak Custom Fixie/Landshark Track Shark Custom/Ahearne Custom 29'er

it right. now is the time for the conversion. an economic justification is that the vented rotors will be much less likely (read never) warp. i dont think the braking power is actually more. but a worthwhile conversion specially considering your calipers may very well need changing anyway.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

bump

__________________
'85 300D Cal 280,000 miles
'14 GLK 350 60000 miles

Will any year SD rotor/caliper fit on an 85 300D or should it be the same year? This is the third time in 18 years that I changed rotors and its all because they have warped. I want to do this conversion. I pulled a rotor/caliper from a 77(?) SD just to find out. They didnt fit. The hub was hitting the caliper. Should it be the same year?

__________________
'85 300D Cal 280,000 miles
'14 GLK 350 60000 miles

from what it sounds like, you need to be looking for w126 front brake parts, not w116 ones.

the 116 looks like a big amalgamation of the classic sl style and the w123.

the 126 looks like... well... a blown up 1980s 190/300 big long square car.

look under the speedometer, thatll tell you what chassis the car is

__________________
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...Untitled-1.jpg

Thanks for the reply. I gather for your info that any year 126 brake parts will fit on the 123s. I will post the result of this coversion.

__________________
'85 300D Cal 280,000 miles
'14 GLK 350 60000 miles

If you use 1986 W126 & later brakes on the W123 chassis you will need to change the backing plates & have 15" wheels!

The 1981-85 W126 chassis brakes will bolt-on to the W123 cars.

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

How much larger are the 86+ rotors? Will the caliper bolt onto the W123 since it's larger?

obviously had the earlier brakes as it uses 14" wheels.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

obviously had the earlier brakes as it uses 14" wheels.

you can ask your parts supplier which interchange. if he is a benz specialist he should be able to check part numbers if he doesnt know off the top of his head, which he should.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

is this part about the 15" wheels really the case? Snagged rotors calipers and backing plates from an 89 w126 from the junk yard this morning. is the caliper too big ? will the wheel not fit ?

__________________

1996 E300 110,000
1985 300TD 212,000
1980 300D 238,000

Correct. Second Generation w126 calipers and rotors are too large for 14" wheels.

Here's my thread with pics of upgrading my w123 with 1st gen. w126 calipers and rotors which will fit under 14" wheels.

The rear caliper and rotors are exactly the same on w123 and 1st gen. w126.

Upgrading w123 with 1st generation w126 brakes

__________________
Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys