300TE suspension/brake/steering mods - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

whatever · #1 07-24-2011, 07:36 AM

Hello!
I'm about to add some fun to my 300TE.

I'm going to install a E500 anti-roll (sway) bar or a R129 one.
But what's about the rear?
T-mods have self-leveling suspension connected to the sway bar.
Can I swap a sway bar from somewhere else?
If there is no replacement for 300TE rear sway bar I'm about to use a pair of them.

And then it comes to brakes.
Brake upgrade for early model W124
I've read some threads and I'm fairly sure that 300E-24/Sportline brakes would be okay without any modifications, right?
As for 500E/300SL/500SL 300 mm brakes would I need just an R129 hub or a whole hub and knuckle assembly?

Some one is breaking a E500 here, I thought about swapping the steering box from E500 to my 300TE, as my one needs to be replaced (10 degree dead zone). Can I just swap it? Can an R129 st. box be installed instead? Or I would need a box/pitman arm and some more parts from the particular steering system?

Thank you!

whatever · #2 08-14-2011, 02:35 AM

up!

whatever · #3 08-22-2011, 05:46 PM

I've made my way to the answers and I'm about to share if someone will find this thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatever

I'm going to install a E500 anti-roll (sway) bar or a R129 one.
But what's about the rear?
T-mods have self-leveling suspension connected to the sway bar.
Can I swap a sway bar from somewhere else?

It IS possible to install a usual W124 rear sway bar including E500 rear one mostly likely with SLS, because you would need a specific SLS clamp for that thicker sway bar.

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatever

And then it comes to brakes.
Brake upgrade for early model W124
I've read some threads and I'm fairly sure that 300E-24/Sportline brakes would be okay without any modifications, right?
As for 500E/300SL/500SL 300 mm brakes would I need just an R129 hub or a whole hub and knuckle assembly?

This thread is also good.
400E brakes on early 124
Well, I guess, there is no need to swap R129 knuckle, while the hubs are likely. Though according to gsxr's W124 modification bible on 500E/500SL there are R129 knuckles&hubs used. Still don't know about later E500 brakes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatever

Some one is breaking a E500 here, I thought about swapping the steering box from E500 to my 300TE. Can I just swap it?

Yes, that also improves handling.

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatever

Can an R129 st. box be installed instead? Or I would need a box/pitman arm and some more parts from the particular steering system?

No info yet. But R129 and E500E W124 use different parts in steering system.

Also there is an improvement in handling when you swap all bolts in the arms used in the rear suspension with the V8 ones. I6 have 12 mm bolts, V8s have 14 mm bolts.

That's all for now.

EDIT:

Finally!
Brake Upgrade for W124 300E
An interested thread that clears less than you expect. But!

Quote:

I finally got a round tuit and started messing with my E420 brake upgrade. Someone on the MBshop forum tried this and said the bigger front rotor hit the lower control arm, d'oh. But Rick (2phast) had no problems with his 190E, so I figured it was worth a gamble. Anyway, they don't fit - yet. With the stock font rotors, there is about 3mm air gap to the splash shield, and another 3mm from the back side of the shield to the ball joint / LCA (lower control arm). The problem is, the bigger (294mm) front rotors are 6mm deeper! Translation - no air gap, no fittee. If the shield was removed entirely, the rotor would probably be 1-2mm from the LCA, way too close IMO.

There are a couple solutions. The obvious method is to use the correct, late model LCA designed for the bigger rotors. The bad part is they're ~$100/pair used, plus another $100+ for new Sportline LCA bushings, and - get this - the BJ is not replaceable! It's welded in place. IF the BJ goes bad, you have to buy another control arm! They're $250/ea new wholesale, ouch. Translation - ~$525 for new ones, or ~$225 used with new bushings. OUCH.

Another option is to swap the 500E/R129 hub, knuckle, and steering arm. I'm not sure if this will work with the 294mm rotors I currently have, but it will work with either the 300mm or the 320mm rotors from the 500E/R129. Since I don't have any of that stuff and it's not cheap to get new OR used, I'm scratching that idea. It would be ok if you can get the bigger stuff to begin with, but I didn't, oh well.

So it's either you get Sportline smaller balljoint front LCAs or you mess up with R129 hub+knuckle (all 400E/E500E have R129 (ie SL) hubs+knuckles according to

). Or you can slightly grind up the balljoint, it's strange that no one ever tried.

gsxr · #4 09-27-2011, 09:17 AM

FYI, the R129 knuckle/hubs do NOT allow fitment of 294/295/320/334mm front brakes, the R129 parts don't offer any more clearance. There was an error in the older EPC which made it look like the R129 knuckle/hubs would work, but they do not.

You must use the late-style LCA's, or grind the ball joint area on the early LCA's (not recommended). Some cars might be able to get away with minimal mods, especially if the rotors are used (and therefore 0.5-1.0mm thinner), but you may have issues with new rotors. See photo below of a 500E with R129 knuckle/hub and 320mm brakes (same depth as the 400E brakes). 1mm air gap ain't much:

oldsinner111 · #5 09-27-2011, 09:30 AM

Add ceramic pads you will be amazed.

gsxr · #6 09-27-2011, 09:54 AM

I have Akebono Euro Ceramics on my one E420 and they are excellent. They did take about 1000 miles or so to fully bed in, and performance was just average during that period. Afterwards they have been fantastic, with very low dust too.

JohnM. · #7 09-27-2011, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsxr

I have Akebono Euro Ceramics on my one E420 and they are excellent. They did take about 1000 miles or so to fully bed in, and performance was just average during that period. Afterwards they have been fantastic, with very low dust too.

That's what I've been running for the last 3 years. Haven't seen one speck of brake dust since. The first few stops in below freezing weather can be a bit dicey, but after that your golden.