Bendix/ATE Front Calipers
 

My 1981 300SD came with ATE calipers. I bought reman calipers for both fronts. A local parts store gave me a Bendix caliper for the front left and said the ATE caliper is on backorder from the supplier.

I wasn't able to gather a concrete answer after searching, but is it okay to have a Bendix and ATE caliper on the front brakes? The first thing I noticed was the brake pad retainers are different, but I'm not sure if having the two brands will actually affect my braking.

Thanks!

According to my research from when I replaced the calipers at all four corners - No. You should have the same make of calipers on Left and Right. You can, I believe, have bendix in the front and ATE in the back - and vice versa.

I was able to source pretty good (so far) and affordable ATE remans from N A P A.

According to the W123 FSM, mixing caliper brands is acceptable provided the piston diameter is the same on a given axle.

As far as I know, the only difference between Bendix and ATE is that one can take a slightly thicker brake pad. Forget which.

Bendix and ATE have different anti-rattle clips and different pins, so make sure you have a complete hardware kit for whichever you're servicing. Mixing caliper brands is fine, they have the same piston dimensions and take the same brake pad. FWIW, my SDL has a matched set of Bendix in the back, OEM Bendix on the driver's side front, and ATE reman on passenger's side front.

I stand corrected. Although I find it hard to imagine a Mercedes dealer/service shop ever mixing brands from left to right.

Yep, except for the pins and the different rattle clips they are the same. Except for the thickness of actual brake pad itself.

Most manufacturers of brake pads build to the specs of the thinner pads so that only 1 part number is necessary and the pads will fit both brands of calipers.

Always look at the calipers closely before leaving the store and NEVER give up your cores until you are sure that the calipers are installed and working correctly. Buy locally in case you have to return them.

A-1 Cardone for example sent me a rear boxed as a front and a left boxed as a right. Another had the bleed nipple installed crooked and the threads leaked fluid. Had I given up my core, I would have been out the money because stores ship cores out frequently and have no way of replacing them one they're gone.

i found mine ordering through napa, they were in boxes branded "Eclipse" - i recall them looking almost identical to my original ATEs, except only 2 of the new 4 had the mercedes star visible. I kept my cores until I had the car on the road with the new brakes for several weeks.

Rebuilt / Overhauled Exchange Parts
 

Mixing brands of brake parts / styles in axle sets is not good practice .

Maybe if you're in the third world using junk yard parts but in the big picture this is unwise at best .

Original caliper cores are getting scarcer, odd because most hulks get crushed with the original calipers on them .

I bought 'rebuilt' W123 300TD calipers from the host here, waited THREE MONTHS and was given brand new Chinese copies so I kept my cores .

Regardless of the item, never, [COLOR="Red"]EVER[/COLOR turn in your old parts (cores) until the job is finished and test driven to your satisfaction because your old usually better quality original part is *gone* the day after you trade it in and all they'll do is refund your $ if you return the defective/incorrectly rebuilt/damaged part and " tough luck buddy" to you who now needs to buy new cores .

Words to the wise, not to be ignored .