Early W111 Bleeder Screw Size/Pitch and Single Circuit Master Cylinders...

[fritzintn]

A few short questions before I run make the rounds at the local parts stores:

The car: 1962 W111 220S sedan

- I'd like to replace my bleeder screws with 'Speed Bleeders' - as connecting the Motiv pressure bleeder didn't go so well. But I need to know the thread size and pitch....

- Secondly I have the older single circuit, non-boosted master cylinder. It doesn't appear there are any rebuild kits - and the new units all appear to be for the boosted dual circuit units.

I'd like to move to the dual circuit unit (and understand I'll need to replumb the lines) - will it bolt up to the firewall/linkage? Can I keep it non-boosted?

[fritzintn]

Originally Posted by fritzintn

I'd like to move to the dual circuit unit (and understand I'll need to replumb the lines) - will it bolt up to the firewall/linkage? Can I keep it non-boosted?

Archival digging reveals my master cylinder may not be a non-boosted model - perhaps just missing the external booster. Bummer.



Reading this:

Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro

The Fintail S/SE sedans were introduced in mid 1959 with power assisted 4 wheel drum brakes. Front disc brakes became standard on the W111 220SE coupes and convertibles and the Fintail 300SE from their introduction in late 1961, but not on the Fintail 220S and SE sedans until April 1962.

Dual-circuit hydraulics were added in late '63. After '65, when the SE coupes and convertibles got larger engines, 4 wheel discs became standard on those models. Fintail sedans, except for the 300SE, kept the front disc/rear drum setup 'till the end.

Starting with the first 250S/SE models in 1965, all W108 cars were fitted with 4 wheel disc brakes. They DO have a drum brake inside the rear brake-rotor hub, for the parking brake.

111 brake upgrade

Fated for four wheel disks (from a '6X coupe), I should try the following MC/booster options:
1) 1963+ 300SE sedan
2) 1965+ SE coupe/vert
3) 1965+ SL (?)
4) 1965+ W108


Option 1: Presumably no linkage or mounting changes, right?
Availability: Nothing on Napa/autohauzaz/ebay

Option 2: possible firewall differences
Availability: Autohauzaz: $239 MC (0014308901) - booster (0004305530). Napa has no MC, yet a booster at $160.

Option 3: No idea ....
Availability: MC (0014306301) at $155 and a booster is available (0004305530) for $344. Napa , oddly enough, has nada.

Option 4: :shrug:
Availability: Autohauzaz: Same booster (0004305530) and MC (0014308901) as the 250SE coupe...


So confused.

[JeffreyNMemphis]

Fritz, My Brother...

I have a 1962 220S that has recently had a brake overhaul. I rebuilt the master cylinder with a kit that cost $55.00 from the MB Classic Center. I bought two new rear wheel cylinders for about $60 each and had the brake shoes re-lined for $18.00 each.

There is a long thread about rebuilding the remote brake booster which cost about $35.00 for the parts.

The brakes work perfectly. The car is my favorite daily driver. The brake system on the car is well-engineered and cheap to rebuild. You could not get better braking by re-engineering the system and you will spend a fortune doing it.

[mercmad6.3]

Originally Posted by JeffreyNMemphis

Fritz, My Brother...

I have a 1962 220S that has recently had a brake overhaul. I rebuilt the master cylinder with a kit that cost $55.00 from the MB Classic Center. I bought two new rear wheel cylinders for about $60 each and had the brake shoes re-lined for $18.00 each.

There is a long thread about rebuilding the remote brake booster which cost about $35.00 for the parts.

The brakes work perfectly. The car is my favorite daily driver. The brake system on the car is well-engineered and cheap to rebuild. You could not get better braking by re-engineering the system and you will spend a fortune doing it.

Exactly!. I have just recommissioned a 220SE for customer with the single circuit brakes. They work as well as any late model car without ABS .
To convert ot better brakes you need to go up one size in wheels and fit the complete set up from a W108 including the diff and the front spindles . The spindles from a W108 use a wider hole center for the calipers and you can bolt on W108 3.5/4.5 vented discs.
The diff bolts straight in for a higher ratio.
If you have a later finny with the combined booster/master cylinder you can simply swap master cylinders.
You can fit the twin circuit master cylinder using the original booster but the rear brake valve must be removed and the main circuit pressure line must activate the front discs as per normal.