Hi,
I just purchased a used C43 (1999 with 40K miles) and while the brakes are good and stop the car really well, there is what seems to be a lot of dead pedal travel until the brakes start grabbing, and once they start grabbing, it's a little sudden. They're not impossible to modulate, but they definitely don't feel progressive, like the brakes on my 325Cic or even on my 300D.

Is this normal? Would changing the brake pads and rotors, or flushing the brake fluid help anything?

They're not terrible the way they are now, but it would be great if there were a way to make them feel a little more normal. I guess I'm asking you guys what these brakes should feel like. I hope I've posted in the right subforum.

Thanks!

Alex

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1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

Alex,

Congrats on your new acquisition. I have the identical brakes on my CLK that you have on the C43...I would say it's normal. The brake pedal on my AMG travels much more than on my 300CE or on my former 300D. You'll get used to it quickly.

Just make sure brakes have been flushed in the past two years for optimum performance. OEM pads are expensive.

Enjoy!

Thanks, I'll get the fluid replaced. I don't know if it'll help, but the pedal seems to travel an unreasonable amount before anything happens.

Why are the brake pads and rotors for this car so expensive? Someone on another section of the forum suggested Porterfield brake pads which are significantly cheaper. What do you think of those?

Alex

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1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

I've never tried Porterfields, but heard good things about them from racers. The stock rotors are two-piece rotors and the calipers are a floating design. Many MB Master Techs have told me these were closest thing to racing brakes that AMG designed....hence the cost. Most AMG brake setups are now fixed calipers and the cost is significantly less.

For example: A WHOLE C32 setup (pads, rotors and calipers) can be had for less than $900 if you shop it....our front pads ALONE run $300. You gotta 'pay to play', I suppose.

Look up the specs on the C32 brakes vs W208 CLK55 stopping distances. The CLK stopped from (60 mph) an average of 5-7 feet shorter than the C32 with the cross-drilled setup and non-floating design. If you get a chance, examine the rotors and calipers between these different setups....the changes are very plain to see.

my 99 also seems to have a little "travel" in the pedal before really grabbing. But good gracious, when you need it to stop on a dime, it's there.
little monster

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Barker