Rear Brakes for 73 280SEL 4.5 Axle - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

SriniFin · #1 06-25-2013, 01:40 AM

Hi,

I have a 1968 W110 200D and that has a 73 W108 280SEL 4.5 rear axle in it. I'm having a hard time finding rear calipers for it. I found the right and left calipers on ebay (different brands and prices)

Mercedes 190 280 300 450 560 Left Rear Disc Brake Caliper | eBay

Cardone Industries 19 164 Rear Right Rebuilt Caliper with Hardware | eBay

Not sure if these are the right ones. Were there any year to year changes for the 4.5, specifically from 1972 to 1973?

Thanks for the help!

DieselPaul · #2 06-25-2013, 10:22 AM

I don't believe there is such a thing as a 1973 108, the 116 came out in 1973. Production of the 108 ended in the fall of 1972.

Maybe the donor car for the axle was registered as a 73 or something but if you use an online catalogue to search for 1973 calipers you are more than likely looking at 116 calipers.

Rock auto has a pretty decent selection of rear calipers for a 1972 108.

Have you checked with pelican?

WANT '71 280SEL · #3 06-25-2013, 10:37 AM

72 and 73 would be the same rear brakes provided they're both 108's.

Paul: some 108's were titled as '73.

Thanks,

David

Tony H · #4 06-25-2013, 10:59 AM

I thought I read on another post that the same rear brakes were used into the 80's which would make finding the calipers much easier. Maybe someone can confirm?

Palolo · #5 06-25-2013, 12:22 PM

The pad design (shape/profile) certainly stayed the same. I got pad options that fit something like 1965 - 1985 (w123?) Benzes when I was chatting with my local parts guy about the rear pads on my 108 280SE. One of the things I enjoy about the cars I like is longevity; on my Land Rover, there are parts that go back to the early 60s at least. I guess in some way, I guess I feel "they got it right" way back then, and aren't changing it for the sake of changing it.

That's not to say the calipers are the same, but increases the chances. The mount or piston diameters may change over time.

DieselPaul · #6 06-25-2013, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WANT '71 280SEL

72 and 73 would be the same rear brakes provided they're both 108's.

Paul: some 108's were titled as '73.

Thanks,

David

I figured some were as noted in my post, but a generic online parts store search engine is probably only showing him 116 when he pulls up 1973.

SriniFin · #7 06-25-2013, 04:51 PM

Thanks a lot for the responses everyone! So I'm going to go ahead and order some A1 cardone rebuilds from rock Auto for a 72 108. Paul is right, the catalogue does hit better results when 1972 is searched.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WANT '71 280SEL

72 and 73 would be the same rear brakes provided they're both 108's.

Paul: some 108's were titled as '73.

Thanks,

David

David, the axle you sold me is all bolted into the 110 and is now just waiting for rear brake lines and calipers

Coolvibes · #8 07-01-2013, 11:48 AM

Srinifin, what exactly did you have to change to mount the axle and where did you get the parts? Any part numbers available? I have a 1967 W110 Fintail and a 1972 W108 axle that I need to mate (same as you are doing). I know it's "bolt in", but there are a few parts that need changing to complete the project properly. Thanks.

SriniFin · #9 07-02-2013, 11:21 AM

Hi Coolvibes, We didn't really change too much over. The new axle mountes just like the old one. Make sure that the center support rod above the diff goes all the way into the trunk from the bottom. We bolted that in first to hold the axle steady. Then we proceeded to jack up each side until all the rear suspension stuff lined up. Shocks and stuff are the same I believe. I think I ordered rear shocks for a 72 W108 and bolted them in. You can probably order shocks for the W110 and be fine. Your choice there...

The only thing you have to actually change is the compensator spring above the differential itself. You have to unbolt the hydropneumatic compensator and put in the stock spring from your 67 W110 rear end (We still have to change ours so I don't have any tips on that yet).

SriniFin · #10 07-02-2013, 11:25 AM

Oh and I'm sure you know after reading this thread that your brake setup will be different as you will have discs in the rear. I'm not exactly sure if the stock W110 master cylinder is going to properly work the rear discs since it was designed for rear drums. My master was broken and I had a real hard time finding one that accepted the press in reservoir (which mine came with originally). We have a W123 master on there now. We have a W115 master lined up at the autoparts store in case the W123 one doesn't work. We're still waiting on all the brake hardware so I'll post back up whether it works or not after installing and bleeding.

Coolvibes · #11 07-05-2013, 12:40 PM

Thanks Srinifin. Yes, I saw that the compensator spring will have to be changed over from the Fintail to the W108 axle. Certainly looks like it would help if that spring was compressed (such as when you are changing shocks in a McPherson strut) to aid in removal then installation. Also, when I checked my car, the rubber brake lines from the body of the car to the rear axle are longer on the W108 versus the Fintail.

SriniFin · #12 07-05-2013, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coolvibes

Thanks Srinifin. Yes, I saw that the compensator spring will have to be changed over from the Fintail to the W108 axle. Certainly looks like it would help if that spring was compressed (such as when you are changing shocks in a McPherson strut) to aid in removal then installation. Also, when I checked my car, the rubber brake lines from the body of the car to the rear axle are longer on the W108 versus the Fintail.

We just changed the spring over on ours. So we had to use a ratcheting strap to compress the spring then pushed the bracket (goes on passenger side of spring) until the holes lined up and threaded the bolts in. Not fun....

I can't remember the brake line lengths. All my lines were completely rusted so I put in new copper lines from the master cylinder all the way back. If your lines look really bad, it might not be a bad idea to just replace them all. I got my lines from an autoparts store. I believe the line is 3/16 and the threading is too. It threaded into the master cylinder just fine.

Pooka · #13 07-07-2013, 12:01 PM

Many years ago Mercedes and other Euro car companies played a bit fast and loose with year models since the cars were rather unchanged from one year to the next and upgrades were considered 'running changes' and not new models.

This was no big deal in Europe but it was a legal thing in the US, so everyone had to stop doing it. I don't know how they do it now, but in the 70's a lot of Euro makers just picked Jan. 1st as the date for when the model year changed. Cars delivered to the US before that date were last years and after that date were this years.

This is why those that sell Mercedes parts are always asking for the VIN when they are looking up parts. The VIN tells when that part type breaks for the new type and not the model year.