W123 front Brake Calipers. run around at auto parts store - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

charmalu · #1 12-09-2015, 01:24 AM

A couple weeks back I back the 80 240D out of the garage and noticed a drop of engine oil on the floor.
This car just about never leaks oil, but ever so often will see a drop.
So grab a Flash Light and get own on my knees and shine the light around, and notice the inside of the
L/F tire is all wet with oil.

I had just been under the car the day before dealing with the Alternator issue of not charging and swapping in another VR etc...
So this problem just happened that day. Noticed it was Brake Fluid and that the reservoir wasn`t low.

Take her over to the shop and pull the tire. the out side seal on the Caliper blew, and only the out side pad was soaked along with the inside of the wheel and tire.
Get that cleaned up first, then go in the house and price calipers. See what they are here on pelican, and the Core charge is $35.
Really don`t want to deal with mailing back the calipers and probably cost as much to mail them as I get back.

So I run down to O`Rilly`s and see what they have, I have ATE calipers on the car, and this is what I want.
The guy looks them up and we order them. I gave him the MB part# for right and left along with a set of pads.
This way he could cross ref them with their part#`s.
The kid has a Smart Phone and had him go into Peachparts catalog to see the correct parts etc...

Next day they come in, the pads were the wrong one`s. some long narrow one`s, but with the correct store part #. (Different kid) so we go back into PP and I show him the correct pads. finally get them.

The Calipers that came in do not have ATE on them just a # cast in the metal 19-339 for the right side and 19-338 for the left.
They look like something cast at a factory in a 3rd world factory.

I give them the old Calipers for the core and off I go.

I bolt the L/F on and the Rotor will not turn,

like it is in a bind. First it looked like the edge of the Rotor was hitting the caliper where it turns inside.
It was really close to the body.
Then bolt on the other side and the same thing. Loosen the bolts a little and the Rotor will turn but scrapes.
Then see a scratch in the rust of the hat part of the Rotor. The Caliper body right next to the Piston is bigger
and sits tight against the Rotor.

I go back in the evening and talk to this 18 - 20 yr old kid with an attitude.
He really didn`t want to be there, but here we are explaining to him the problem.
Tells me I probably have the wrong Rotors, and then ya know after 20 yrs the do change the calipers. WTF

I mention Iam on a MB Forum and never heard of this problem, well Iam on a Subaru Forum, and there are a
lot of idiots giving wrong info etc....

Actually Iam the idiot for going in the store in the first place.

I finally take one off my parts car and bolt it on. Fits perfectly with no binding.
Take picture of it along with theirs to show the difference.

This morning I go back and talk to an older guy and we look through the list of calipers etc...
IMC is one of their vendors, but would take a week to get one caliper in from Baltimore, MD and one was some where else.
He was getting frustrated also.
Looking at their prices and what Pelican shows, pelican probably cost more, but far less frustration and problems.

Pelican has a new ATE for $285 and O`Reilly shows one for $400 plus.

Tonight I looked up on their site to see what I can find. It shows a picture of a ATE caliper.
But the part # is BHH 19-339, same as what I picked up from them.
The pic and what ya get are not the same.

BrakeBest Brakes 19-339 - Brake Caliper | O'Reilly Auto Parts

I probably should have used the one`s off the parts car and been fine. I just might
do it just to get the car up and running.
Then order the replacements. Not that hard to swap them over.

The old rubber brake hoses have a date stamped on them of 11/79. so these are original to when it was built.
Some cracks in the rubber but not as bad as you would think.

Wonder if the Calipers are 35 yrs old also.

.

I picked up a set of new hoses.....made in China.

Buy from the Forum and get it right the first time.

Charlie

sent from my pos computer

mannys9130 · #2 12-09-2015, 03:05 AM

Sorry that all happened to you Charlie. I've had my fair share of wrong part mixups at work.

It took us a week to get the correct oil filter for a TDI Jetta. Apparently the California model took a different filter. The part suppliers eventually sourced it from the dealer in town, marked it up, and sold it to us. It was a ridiculous run around and it embarrassed my coworkers in front of the customer.

fahrvergnugen · #3 12-09-2015, 05:00 PM

Been there, done that, hated it too...

I actually used to work at an O'Reallys, and I am about to start back at one until things pick up with my FT job. With brakes, you don't have any idea what you are getting until you look at them. If you specify Beck Arnley parts, often you will get OE or at least OEM, but not always.

Buyer beware, and dont be afraid to ask questions; it's the only way You and the Parts Geek can learn, often...

barry12345 · #4 12-09-2015, 06:16 PM

Might be a caliper rebuilder in your area. Maybe 50-60 dollars to have one done. Actually probably not much different than the average caliper from a parts store if any in average quality.
Perhaps even better than a Mexican rebuilt. Parts stores in general do not care much anymore about quality. Only the largest margin.

Junkman · #5 12-09-2015, 06:38 PM

I ended up with Cardone remans bought locally to avoid shipping if wrong. Two brands were original equipment. One brand is significantly more expensive. I bought the cheap brand. Remans can be problematic. Mine are working. Change calipers in pairs and don't mix brands. Either brand is acceptable if working correctly.

I hate Cardone remans but sometimes the price is low enough or the alternative expensive enough that I buy. Keep the fluid changed and they will last.

Charlie Foxtrot · #6 12-09-2015, 06:46 PM

I've had good luck with the national chain that shares a name with a valley in california's wine country. They usually have MB's in stock in the Chicago or Indy warehouse (next day/2 day ship to the midwest). Looks like ATE are in stock in Chi for under $70/e up to $200. Good luck.

Charlie Foxtrot · #7 12-09-2015, 06:56 PM

PM sent

mistersooty · #8 12-09-2015, 11:12 PM

Since your there you may want to replace those original brake hoses. Even though they look good on the outside they could be delaminating on the inside.

My 240D had some wonky brake issues when I first bought it and replacing the original hoses which in fact were delaminating along with the calipers made a world of difference. And yes it was a pain to get the correct calipers and discs.

Need brake advice / calipers not releasing

Lycoming-8 · #9 12-10-2015, 01:54 AM

Guess I have been extreeeeemly lucky, cause I've gotten the correct calipers and pads on the first try from the "Irish" parts place. The parts geeks, be they male or female are very helpful and appear to be knowledgable as well.

Do find that it is very effective to order from Pelican though, especially if I have a rather large order.

charmalu · #10 12-10-2015, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Foxtrot

PM sent

Thank You for the info.

Charlie

sent from my pos computer
she`s ready to blow.

Stretch · #11 12-10-2015, 04:22 AM

Barry mentioned a rebuilder

Did you not feel the urge to try and rebuild the calipers yourself?

Or were hopeful for a quick solution?

mannys9130 · #12 12-10-2015, 06:14 AM

Rebuilding would have been a good idea. We're they corroded?

What's the hoopla about splitting/not splitting the 123 caliper halves?

charmalu · #13 12-10-2015, 07:07 AM

I have never rebuilt a Caliper. I just wanted to get the car back on the road.
This was the quickest solution at the time. The latest when the parts guy said the caliper in Baltimore would
take a week to get here, and one in another wear house, that`s when I said for get it.

Iam taking the calipers back later in the day, it`s 4am now. The wind woke me up with things crashing out side.

Checking weather.gov. wind gusts as high as 50mph.

Big storm coming in from Calif, wind, rain, and snow the next several days.

Charlie

sent from my pos computer
she`s ready to blow.

Stretch · #14 12-10-2015, 07:10 AM

Well wrap up warm Charlie - take a thermos of nice coffee just in case

ollo · #15 12-10-2015, 10:24 AM

That storm came thru Oregon Charlie. Gusts were up to 100 mph on our coast but slowed as it came inland. Tuesday, I had to go to a meeting in Salem and got caught in the previous wind storm. My E-420 had alarm problems, so I drove my 240D. Wind was blowing me all over the road until I slowed to 45mph. Just not as aerodynamic! Don

Edit: just looked at weather.com & I was wrong, our storm went into Eastern WA & Idaho. We are all catching bad weather though & more coming. Some pretty impressive pics of the damage. Winter is here, batten down the hatches and stay safe. Don