560SL brakes
 

I drove a 560SL a few days ago, the brakes had a problem. They took a significant amount of force to stop the car, but were not spongy, and the pedal barly moved at all. I suspect the power booster is not working correctly. Does this sound right? If so, what would need to be done to fix?

This is not right. Check the booster and vacume line.

John Roncallo

I know its not right, and was wondering what could be the problem. Is this what would happen if the booster is not working? What would cause the booster to not work? If the booster is not working, would there be much travel in the pedal, or very little? Can the car be driven with the booster not working, with the expectation of significantly more foot pressure needed to stop?

Bad pads?
 

I drove a fellow board member's 500E once, and similarly the car barely stopped (though the travel was considerable if you pushed Very hard). I mean, pushing nearly all the way to the floor I couldn't even induce ABS. However, after a number of 100 MPH "panic stops", their bite improved dramatically. Glazing perhaps? (I know this sounds bizaar, but I was shocked too)

Yes this is what will happen if the booster is not working. It could be a bad boster or vacume line, or vacume check valve. Shut the car off and crack the line going to the boster. If you get no vacume leak noise when you crack the line your boster, or vacume line, or check valve are bad. The booster could be damaged by a ruptured diaphrame, vacume hoses can leak and check valves can stick. If the booster is not working you would feel as if you have less travle in the pedal. But in reality you dont have less travel you really need to press alot harder.

John Roncallo

John Roncallo