Brake Upgrade for W124 300E - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BlackBeauty · #1 01-01-2004, 06:49 AM

Happy New Year fellas. I've done a search on this subject but nothing conclusive. The caliper pins on my cars are damaged hence I may wish to take the opportunity to do a brake upgrade to larger brakes WITHOUT spending too much $$$.

I wouldn't mind going with 500E brakes. However, can we swap the steering knuckles to make them fit?

I'm quite lost on this issue. Any other links or suggestions? Thanks.

omegabenz · #2 01-01-2004, 03:29 PM

You dont need to swap any knuckles.

I put them on my brothers 300D turbo 1987, and the only thing I had to do was bend the dust sheild inboard a little bit. If you want to be crazy you can buy 600Sl or 500E dust sheilds, and put those on.

I just sold my other set of ATE 500E brakes, but I am expecting some 600SL brakes next week. When that happens I will have my Brembo 500E front brakes, and 600SL ate rear brakes off the car. I might consider selling them for the right price, which is probably a lot. By the way, my brembo 500e brakes have less than 700 miles on them.

I have some porsche 996 brakes if you want to get those, but that requires some custom brakets and hats. I have the rotors, pads, calipers, and brake lines. Id part with these porsche front brakes for 700 plus shipping.

BlackBeauty · #3 01-03-2004, 03:32 AM

Hi Omegabenz,

Thanks for the reply... Good to know someone has tried with the 500E brake upgrade. Are the calipers and rotors the only two parts I would need? Thanks once again..

Rgds

omegabenz · #4 01-03-2004, 05:34 AM

Calipers, rotors, pads, and I would suggest that you buy the 500E brake pad sensor wires because the normal 300E ones, you have to brake something off the sensor so it works, but it only senses one pad instead of two. I would also recommend that you put on new brake lines all the way around your car, or even stainless steel lines.

I am doing a porterfield group buy before march, maybe if you get everything by then, you could get involved.

ItalianBenz · #5 01-03-2004, 11:09 AM

Austin. I am curious what did you sell my old 500E calipers not yours mine he he!. You got a great deal I wanna know how much you sold them for. Wondering if I gave you too much of a break. Next time I can base on austin rates!

Guido

omegabenz · #6 01-03-2004, 04:01 PM

Guido,

I think your calipers were worth what you sold me them for, for their condition.

Thanks

ItalianBenz · #7 01-03-2004, 04:26 PM

Got it. Just check. Im not really sure what you can get for them.
But I thought you got a good deal.

omegabenz · #8 01-03-2004, 04:33 PM

Guido, I tried sending you an email to explain the brakes, but I am blocked as spam.

ItalianBenz · #9 01-03-2004, 08:13 PM

Austin. I had problem with my ISP earthlink everything was becomingb spam. It was nuts.

Its all good. I got yuor detail email. No worries. Just wanted to make sure everything was ok. Sound like you have alot of projects going. Very cool. Did you want me to take some pics of my firends 123 V8 set up lety me know. Sorry for my typing. I wish this has error checker.

guido out

omegabenz · #10 01-03-2004, 10:27 PM

Hey Guido,

Id love to have scanned pics of the 123 V8.

Too many projects for me. I was just working on one, just finished. Now I will do some testing.

BlackBeauty · #11 01-05-2004, 05:40 AM

I got a downloaded spreadsheet on W124 brakes. If I remember clearly, the credit goes to GSXR. Anyways, it lists 2 types of 500E brake set up. One is 300 x 28, the other is 320 x 30.

Of course, I would like to go with the 320 x 30. Are the Calipers 2 pot calipers or 4 pot?? The part numbers I got are as follows:

Caliper: 001-420-00/01-83

Rotor: 129-421-17/18-12

Pads: 002-420-15-20

Rgds,
Brandon

ItalianBenz · #12 01-05-2004, 10:41 AM

Brandon Talk to omegabenz Austin he has the rundown on all the specs

yhliem · #13 01-05-2004, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BlackBeauty
I got a downloaded spreadsheet on W124 brakes. If I remember clearly, the credit goes to GSXR. Anyways, it lists 2 types of 500E brake set up. One is 300 x 28, the other is 320 x 30.

Of course, I would like to go with the 320 x 30. Are the Calipers 2 pot calipers or 4 pot?? The part numbers I got are as follows:

Caliper: 001-420-00/01-83

Rotor: 129-421-17/18-12

Pads: 002-420-15-20

Rgds,
Brandon

the 320mm brakes are cast iron, 4-pots made by Ate. the rotors are directional and these are the standard brakes for the SL600

the 300mm brakes are aluminum 4-pots made by Brembo and are the same brakes that can be found on the 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II.

The W124 500E/E500 used the spindles and hubs from the R129 SL for the bigger bearings. The Brembo calipers are bolt on to the W124 spindles & hubs; but i'm not sure about the Ates. I don't see why they would not be.

omegabenz · #14 01-05-2004, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by yhliem
The Brembo calipers are bolt on to the W124 spindles & hubs; but i'm not sure about the Ates. I don't see why they would not be.

They Do.

2phast · #15 01-05-2004, 05:48 PM

Others who have tried installing 600sl or the later model 500E calipers ran into issues that were directly related to the spindals.

I would be cautious about trying this on a W201 or W124 (both which use the W124 spindals) as the calipers won't be a direct bolt on. The only true direct bolt on would be the 400/420E calipers. I can't comment about the early 500E calipers but like Yhliem said, these were also used on the EVO which used the W124 spindals as well, so I suppose these would fit other vehicles using W124 spindals.

I am not sure about the early W124 confiuration, its possible that the 1987 W124 was different than the later model W124's, that I don't know but I do find it strange that someone could put 600sl calipers on a W124 without any problems, thats contrary to whats been reported by many, many other W201/W124 owners.

Just be carefull with your decision.