190e Caliper Repair Kit.What is it?
 

I've seen the caliper repair kit on Fastlane for the 190e.

Seems to consist of 4 huge round rubber washers.

Can anyone advise on its use?

Is the repair kit the solution to say, a dragging caliper?

The kit is for rebuilding your caliper. ;)

I'm not saying that you should not rebuild your own calipers, but if you're not experienced in such work, you could run the risk of losing your brakes faster than you think.

Caliber Mercedes(Calif.) sells rebuilt MB calipers that MB warrants. Is this route more expensive? Of course, but if you don't know what you're doing(and I'm not saying you don't), then consider units rebuilt buy someone who does.

Rebuilding the caliper?

The caliper kit consists of 4 round rubber washers and I remember seeing a round piece of the same size exposed when chaging out the front brake pads.

I would like to know if the caliper repair kit is actually a straight replacement of the worn washers?

"Caliper Repair Kit" sounds kinda big but on Fastlane, you can see that it consists of only 4 round rubber washers.

I doubt if rebuilding a caliper is a simple DIYer but I'm sure replacement of the washers should be straightforward enuff.

Anyone?

Rebuilding the calipers? Are you sure they need rebuilding? Often pushing the pucks back into the calipers lubes them.

The best analogy I have heard to this is a parachute packing: Yes, most anyone can figure out how to do it .... that’s not the point. The point is who would you trust to do it?

For me, I will not do it again. Yes they came out successfully but I was terrified they wouldn't for weeks afterwards. (This was on the 911) .....

It isn't hard to do but you need to understand how and what you are doing. For an example: No sharp/metal tools what so ever, if your caliper pucks have a specific orientation, you must find how to attain it.

Best additional advice is to not split the caliper halves (if pertinent).

Finally, carefully inspect the pucks for ANY wear, pitting or corrosion what so ever .... if found trade 'em in for rebuilt ones.

The obvious point here is these are the only things between stopping you and your loved ones or disaster.

Be sure you completely understand before doing it. If in doubt, don't. Rebuilt ones are actually not that expensive.

Let us know what you decide .....

No, I'm not looking into rebuilding a caliper, but i'm wondering what the "caliper repair kit" is for.

It consists of only 4 pcs of round rubber discs and this makes it look like it's a direct replacement part.

Am I wrong?

There is very little in a brake caliper. All that moves are the pistons (apparently called pucks in the US). These are usually hard chrome plated to make them smooth and wear resitant. To seal the pistons in the bore of the caliper is a round rubber seal. This is what you get in the repair kit.

A number of things can make a caliper scrap:
- Corrosion of the piston (other than superfical corrosion on the outer side of the seal)
- Scoring of the bores in the body
- Hamfisted attempted to separate the two halves of the caliper. The seal between the two halves depends on a completely flat and clean mating surface. This is easy to damage or get dirty.

Because of these factors, it is usally wise to buy reconditioned calipers. The cost is very small compared to the importance of properly working brakes.

So that's what the repair kit is all about?

Cool.

That's the info i was looking for.Thanks.

And yes, rebuilt calipers aren't expensive (in fact, they're very cheap where I'm at;) ).Just needed to know about the kit, that's all.:D

I am also curious about this - I just did my rear brakes (rotors, pads and parking brake shoes) and I noticed the rubber seal on one of the inner pistons was worn out. The piston (or puck) itself is still fine and I tested the operation of it and it works ok. It seems that only the rubber seal has worn out.

Rather than replace the entire caliper ($150) I am looking at this kit as well. As far as I can tell, only the seal requires replacement and this is what this kit ($30) is apparently for.

Is this job difficult? It looks quite straightforward...I don't think replacing a rubber seal qualifies as rebuilding a caliper...am I wrong? Thanks...

Zeus

If you read my earlier posts, I was thinking along the same lines.

I saw the seal when I was checking the pads on my front calipers.

I wonder if anyone can confirm?;)

azhari -

I spoke with my mechanic yesterday and he said that you can renew the outer seal without removing the pistons from the calipers. These seals come with the repair kit. I'm not sure if any other seals (inner seals?) come with the kit, but the outer ring seal can be replaced easily. He also mentioned that rebuilding the caliper is not that hard if you are careful and methodical. I've ordered the seal repair kits...we'll see how it goes. I'd like to renew the seal without having to rebuild the caliper.

Chris

Disassembling the caliper is outlined on shop CD in job # 42-0152 (floating caliper) or 42-150 (fixed caliper).

The job explains what to look for, how to treat corriosions, etc. Looks fairly straightforward.

Good luck :D

Paul - Where did you get your CDs if you don't mind me asking? I don't have them yet and I want to pick up a set. The dealer price for them is quite high though. They'd probably help me far more than my useless Chilton's manual...thx!

Zeus:

I bought mine straight from MBUSA. Call their 800 number for more info. I paid ~$140 for them a couple of years back, and they have paid for themselves 10 times over at, at least, with the labor they've saved me.

I've also read that you can occasionally find them on Ebay, so you may want to look there.

good luck

Cool, thanks Paul. I'll check E-bay first...;) Dealer second.