Hello,

I discovered today that both of the front calipers (ATE) are leaking. Although I have discovered DeliveryValve's excellent pictorial (Resealing w123/126 calipers) on servicing the seals in a caliper, I am leaning toward replacing them with refurbished parts. I note that Bendix calipers are much cheaper than ATE calipers. Is it possible to install Bendix calipers on a 1978 240D outfitted for ATE calipers? Is there any downside to installing Bendix instead of ATE?

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'Betsy the Getaway Car' : 1978 MB 240D, 582k
'The Mistress of the Sea' : 2001 Giant Boulder, 10.30k

They are interchangeable = use two Bendix or two Ate.


Never run one of each.



Have a great day.

__________________
ASE Master Mechanic
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1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
2002 Honda Civic

https://www.boldegoist.com/

Rebuild them yourself. Kits are available. As long as the pistons aren't stuck in the bores, its easy to rebuild the calipers.

P E H

Rebuilding them is not too tough. Just take your time.

Most of the Rebuilts I have ever seen are Junk. I decided on rebuilts for the rear on mine when I first picked up my car. I wish now that I had taken the time to rebuild the originals. I still kept one of them (ATE). If I ever run across one in a salvage yard that has the ATE's, I'm going to grab them, rebuild them myself and replace the "rebuilts" I got from the local auto parts store.

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AJ

1985 300D (SOLD)

Thanks, folks. I found a junkyard car with some front calipers that worked when the thing (busted drivetrain) came off the truck. I may yet end up resealing them, though I hope they will be decent as is. Will know tomorrow when I remove them.

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'Betsy the Getaway Car' : 1978 MB 240D, 582k
'The Mistress of the Sea' : 2001 Giant Boulder, 10.30k

How would one determine whether they have Bendix or ATE calipers on their 126?

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On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

You'll have to take the wheel off to see the caliper clearly. Look for a tiny Ate mark in the casting; on mine it was about 1/4" square, on the outer part of the caliper, up near the top rear. For bendix, they usually put a much larger semi-circle that looks kind of like a brake shoe, usually on the bump that conceals the piston workings.

Kurt

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- '79 240D - engine swap complete! Engine broken in! 28-31 mpg! Lovin' the ride!
- '86 190D (W201-126) - 2.5 NA engine, 5 speed, cloth interior, manual climate controls, 33-34 mpg (sold to forum member).

BENDIX or ATE caliper?
BENDIX or ATE caliper?

Is there any significant value of one over the other?

__________________
On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

No...

Thanks whunter.

Well, just got new ATE calipers to replace my Bendix calipers. Nowadays, the ATE's are considerably cheaper than the Bendix. $55 vs $95 apiece... Tomorrow or the next day they go on, and I can start using the brakes again...

__________________
On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

I bought a pair of rebuilt rear ATE calipers from the Mercedes dealer in 2001. One caliper only lasted 3,500 miles before leaking. It was replaced at no charge. Since then I haven't bought a rebuilt caliper - I just rebuild them myself. I've also gone from Bendix to ATE with no problems.

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Tom Evans
69 280SE 91K (wish I still had it)
73 220D 98K
78 300D 134K
78 300D 185K
81 300SD 301K (still have)
82 300SD 321K (still have)
84 300D 268K
84 6.2 Diesel GMC Suburban 225K (a whole different story!)

I'm going to hold onto the two best bendix calipers from my car and the parts car, for future rebuilding. Right now I have backed myself into a must-be-fixed yesterday corner, as my mother-in-law is coming to visit, and needs to borrow our extra vehicle...

__________________
On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

This is what I would want on my big sedan. Not sure if the factory mastercylinder is compatible, but these are some serious brakes.

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83 300TD (need rear wiper assembly dead or alive)
84 300SD Daily driver
85 300TD almost 400k miles and driven daily.
98 E300D *sold
86 300SDL *sold and made flawless 10 hour journey to new home.

um... are they compatible with our vehicles at all? the rotors do not look like they would bolt in, and the mounts for the calipers do not appear wide enough to bolt into our spindles...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!