Crazy ride back from the dealer today, curse on me maybe?

[Hatterasguy]

OMG what a ride! I went to MB of North Haven today to get a bracket for the SDL. The ride up was perfect I sailed up at 70 behind a nice E320. I then ordered the part and talked to a guy that delivers parts in his 300D. 280k miles and going up at 150 a day. Cool car, anyway on the ride back it got interesting.

First coming to the I-91/I-95 merge their is a hill that you go over and you can't see the other side. A road work truck was sitting their of course. In the left hand lane blocking it. I missed the pile up thanks to the great handling but a few cars rear ended each other and side swipped eachother.

Then on I-95 a big truck almost rear ended me a 70mph, I guess I wasn't going fast enough.

Then I get off the highway and a red Sunbird almost slides into me because she was going way to fast around a corner.

Holly crap! Does someone want me or my SDL dead today? Thank you MB for those great brakes they have saved me more times then I care to remember.

[billrei]

Maybe God is telling you not to buy parts from your local dealer? Waste of time + $$$....IMHO

[pawoSD]

Originally Posted by billrei

Maybe God is telling you not to buy parts from your local dealer? Waste of time + $$$....IMHO

When they mess up our stuff they give us free parts. We have a "cool" dealership around here.

As for the brakes, mine are so gentle....like, if I slam them I stop real fast, but no neck snapping force, is that normal? They've always been that way.....ATE powerdiscs and OEM pads....on all the wheels....I have stopping power a plenty, but its not so "violent" when I slam the pedal (when I have to do that on occassion) My dad's 83 has some extreme brakes....it will snap your neck no prob if u hit them too hard.....why is that? Could it be the fluid? I am intending to change it once the weather is nicer.....I haven't yet in my time owning the car.....

mostly just curious, but if anyone knows why the brakes feel different between the two it'd be nice to know.....

[Hatterasguy]

Mine will throw my passenger into the dash if they arn't wearing their seat belt. Changing the fluid does make a difference.

Sometimes it is simpler to buy something from the dealer where you can see it on the screen then describe it over the phone. Besides I get to look at all of the new MB's fresh off the boat.

[Dance'w'Diesels]

Lots of nut jobs who should not hold a driving license. Some of the stunts I see on the highway is unbelievable. I.E. tailgating over 70Mph about one foot from bumper to bumper, last sec hurtles at the end of the exit ramp from drivers seeking to avoid creeping long lines. It pays to drive defensively because our action or lack of it is the last line of defense.

[dieseldiehard]

Hatterasguy, watch out for days like this! the planets tell you you should have ordered from Phil on Fastlane or something
There are lots of road schmuks out there, everywhere esp where you least expect them!
pawoSD, the biggest factor in brakes that give rise to differences in the way they feel and act is the type of pad material used. OE pads are soft and should give some quick "grab" and short stopping with minimal pedal pressure, compared to Pagid or the PBR deluxe pads. ATE I can't remember but I believe are similar to OE but a little harder and last a bit longer.

I doubt that fluid has any factor unless of course there is air in the lines, then the pedal will feel spongy. The other thing you may want to check are the flex hoses at the calipers, these can have loose material in them that partially block return fluid and they also expand when under pressure, some believe braided steel hoses provide "tighter feeling" braking but I have them on two cars and can't feel any significant difference between them and OE hoses.

[barry123400]

I would consider checking vaccum on both cars with a gauge. (comparison) A small drop in available vaccum on the one with weaker brakes is all it would take. The vaccum booster would not give quite as much assist. Pretty easy check as well..These car are not new or at least mine are not. So I expect wear will be a little different from car to car automatically. Example: one car may have a vaccum pump in better condition or replaced/rebuilt at one point while the other cars pump may be starting to wear or in someway not providing as much vaccum because of leaks. Install a larger brake pedal? Sorry Hattersguy not stealing your thread guy just had a question. Great you missed getting entangled with everything but perhaps not your week to buy lotto tickets. Or on reflection maybe it is.

[Johnhef]

Originally Posted by billrei

Maybe God is telling you not to buy parts from your local dealer? Waste of time + $$$....IMHO

no kidding, i work at one and still shop around, a lot of places beat my discount.

[H-townbenzoboy]

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

OMG what a ride! I went to MB of North Haven today to get a bracket for the SDL. The ride up was perfect I sailed up at 70 behind a nice E320. I then ordered the part and talked to a guy that delivers parts in his 300D. 280k miles and going up at 150 a day. Cool car, anyway on the ride back it got interesting.

First coming to the I-91/I-95 merge their is a hill that you go over and you can't see the other side. A road work truck was sitting their of course. In the left hand lane blocking it. I missed the pile up thanks to the great handling but a few cars rear ended each other and side swipped eachother.

Then on I-95 a big truck almost rear ended me a 70mph, I guess I wasn't going fast enough.

Then I get off the highway and a red Sunbird almost slides into me because she was going way to fast around a corner.

Holly crap! Does someone want me or my SDL dead today? Thank you MB for those great brakes they have saved me more times then I care to remember.

I think Alan Hamm planned all of that so your SDL would be out of commission for a while, and he could reach 250K miles before you could.
-Joe

[Hatterasguy]

Yeah maybe I will have to think of a way to get back at Alan for yesterday's events...

Ok I should spend an hour shopping around and pay shipping to save $5 on an $18 bracket when I could just go up to the dealer and get the thing?

I always look for good prices somethings just are not worth it. Besides the dealer beats online parts stores in a few areas... Vac pump, water pump, and floor mats to name a few.