500E brembo vs 500E/500SL cast iron ATE front calipers - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

omegabenz · #1 10-02-2003, 11:49 PM

500E brembo vs 500E/500SL cast iron ATE front calipers

For you guys that have tried both, which stops faster? I dont care so much about the noise because that means they are working

Cannoli · #2 10-03-2003, 01:28 PM

Austin:

I currently have the original aluminum Brembo calipers on my 500. The stopping power on the street appears to be adequate. I did experience the 'problem' that these Brembos are famous for ... noise and vibration. I was running stock (OE) pads (which I replaced due to an excessive dust and vibration problem) and where approximately 75% worn. An intermittent, low frequency vibration would be felt through the steering wheel. This only occurred at approximately 40 mph - no braking, just in motion. Tap the brakes ... very little force, and the vibration went away. There was no apparent loss of performance during this time.

I changed to EBC RED pads and the vibration went away. I believe a resonance condition exists when the 'system' variables are just right ... as the pads wear, the 'system' mass changes and goes into a resonance condition. If it happens again, I'll just change my pads … so much for the pad sensors! Now, if I upgrade to 18” wheels, Daddy’s getting new brakes!

omegabenz · #3 10-05-2003, 04:00 AM

I was talking to someone about the cast iron calipers. I showed him both: the aluminum brembo, and the cast iron ATE 500E front calipers. He said that the structure of cast iron has a natural dampening effect. Plus they are heavier which makes them move slower (more inertia) and the cast iron ones are stronger. But I do not know about the braking distances.

Brembo aluminum vs ATE cast iron. It would be a good test to see which one stops faster and which one resists fade the best.

Im more interested in stoping distances, than noise....unless its unbearable....maybe someone can give me a ride with the brembo caliper set up???

Michael · #4 10-05-2003, 06:07 PM

I've personally only owned the iron caliper setup, but I will say that with them, inducing wheel lockup was never a problem-tire adhesive traction was the limiting factor with regard to braking.

I will say, though, that I've driven 2 500Es with the alloy brembo calipers, and they felt and acted the same as the 500SL iron binders. I'd think the biggest potential benefit to the alloy bits would be unsprung weight, but in that regard I was unable to tell the difference (didn't have the opportunity to drive the different setups back-to-back).

omegabenz · #5 10-25-2003, 02:59 PM

I put the 500E brembo brakes on the front. Those stop faster than the ATE 500E calipers. I am impressed. I am going to keep the brembo ones on my car.

I should have weighed them before I put them on. Oh well.

Thanks for the replies, if anyone has 600SL brakes let me know.

J Irwan · #6 11-14-2003, 03:20 PM

Where can I get these E500 brembo aluminum caliper..?.
Anyone has pic of the caliper and rotor size..?
Part number would be appreciated as well.

What year of E500 has the brembo caliper fitted onthe car..?

Regardz,

omegabenz · #7 11-14-2003, 03:37 PM

They were supposed to come on the early model 1992 500Es, but I guess people complained that they make noise. I compaired the stoping power of them as seen above, and I liked the Brembos. Mine have less than 500 miles on them right now.

300mmx28mm rotor, same as the 500SL, and all 500Es up to the ones that have the 600SL brakes.

It is highly unlikely that they will fit on a C36. I tried puting C36 brakes on a 500E/300E, but the brake lines coming out of the C36 caliper hit the shock tube, etc.

J Irwan · #8 11-14-2003, 03:45 PM

Thanks

Austin..

I am just exploring my option for brake upgrade.

I think I will have no problem fitting 500SL/600SL(R129) brake on my car since the C36 caliper is actually modified SL600 caliper..
Also I could fit C32 brake on my C36 as well, but I decided not to do it because it won't fit if I use my 18"monoblok

My stock rotor size is actually 316mmx28mm

Regardz,

Cannoli · #9 11-14-2003, 05:00 PM

I have an early build 500E with the front aluminum Brembo calipers ... see the picture below.

Stopping power appears to be adequate for street driving; I haven't tracked the car yet. The calipers will talk (low frequency humm at about 40 mph) when the pads are about 75% worn. As soon as new pads where installed, the humm went away.

omegabenz · #10 11-14-2003, 05:13 PM

J Irwan,

I had a set of 96/97 C36 brakes (Using the w210 rotor) which are different from 95 C36 brakes (Which use the HWA202 rotor). I tried the 96 C36 brakes on my w124, they did not fit. It is highly probable that the 500E brembo (or cast iron ate) brakes will not fit your C36.

I think if I had a C36 I would get the AP brake kit or the brembo Gran Turismo kit. The C32 brakes I have heard have pretty bad fade (heard from a C32 owner).

I have heard of Two 94 E500s with Brembo brakes like Norman Posted a picture of. I believe the brakes are the same as the 2.5-16 Evo II.

Are you looking for better stoping power or fade resistance?

As soon as I find some real 600SL brakes they are going on my car. But they are difficult to find.

ItalianBenz · #11 11-16-2003, 01:04 AM

. The brembo aluminum had alot of trosional braking vibrations. I fell the only way to really eliminate. That noisy braking force. Is to install some light brake disc. Like brembo replacements, this way. The unsprung weight is evenly match. I really think there cool calipers. A friend of mine has a 1993 500E. He put on late style SL500 calipers and discs,off a 1999 . Look great stops great from what he said. The only thing is he installed SS brake line.

My set up is incredible. Especially with a new master CYL.

Guido

J Irwan · #12 11-16-2003, 01:23 AM

Guido

I am in love your brake dude..

quit teasing us...

Do you think brand new master cylinder would help..

The reason I want to upgrade my brake is that I want to improve the brake feel.

Even non M BMW brake feel more sharper than my 1997 C36...

I drove CLK55 (W208) and E55 (w210 ) before and the brake feel is excellent.

Did you notice huge improvement on the brake feel after you upgrade to Stoptech, also what kind of brake fluid are you currently running...?

TIA

Regardz,

gsxr · #13 11-17-2003, 03:31 PM

J Irwan,

For improved brake feel, the first things to try are braided stainless steel lines, then a better pad compound (Porterfields had great feel on my car), and finally make sure you have the system bled perfectly. I'd do that before spending major $$ on different calipers or larger brakes. Guido's setup from StopTech is awesome, but mainly gives you fade resistance thanks to the gargantuan rotor size (350mm, I think - wow.)

Oh yeah - ATE SuperBlue (or Type 200) is the hot stuff for street use, it doesn't require changing every few months like the race-only stuff. In a pinch, Valvoline SynPower fluid is almost as good, and much cheaper.

J Irwan · #14 11-17-2003, 03:52 PM

Dave,

I have been using SS brake lines, and running ATE super blue, stock rotor and stock pad but I am still a bit dissapointed with the way the brake feel.

Upgrading the SS lines only improved the feel a little not by much.

Do you think the dustless pad compound would have worse brake feel..??

Regardz,

gsxr · #15 11-17-2003, 04:12 PM

Hmmm. Well, I'd at least try the Porterfield R4-S pads (for street use only!) before doing other more major mods. The pads will be ~$150/pair up front, compared to something like $3k for the Stoptech kit. If the pads don't make the feel any better, you can always sell them here or on eBay and get some money back (keep your old pads around just in case). You could get custom made "dash 2" s/s lines, which have a smaller I.D. and improve feel... but that's probably grasping at straws.