my newly aqquired 1972 220d has very firm brakes. it will stop but you have to press the crap out of it. the petal is not loose. could it be a stuck brake caliper? the car did sit for ten years prior to me buying it. any ideas?

it sounds like a bad booster or a vac leak.

or it could also be stuck calipers.

does it stop straight and reasonably quickly?

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I would bet on a vac leak or a bad brake booster.

__________________
Adam Lumsden
(83) 300D
Vice-President of the MBCA International Stars Section

the car stops in a straight line. it dosent stop unless you womp on the petal. im pretty sure the vacume pump is ok cause we checked it with a vacume gauge. ?

As a general rule, if a car has been sitting a year or more, I wil generally go completely thru the brake system, cleaning and lubricating all caliper and shoe slide points, checking for seepage at boots and checking actuation at each wheel. Brakes and safety are nothing to kid about or compromise, you only get one chance to do it right. While the system is out of use it collects moisture, and the cylinders (master & wheel) begin to rust which causes eventual seizure or pitting that creates pressure leakage, and can also contaminate pad/shoe linings causing erratic braking or even sudden wheel lockup with little pedal force. Continuous use keeps the cylinders polished smooth.
It could just be a booster leak, or a stuck component, but you're really lucky they even try to work at all from sitting for that long. 10 yrs, thats a definite full system checkup/cleaning/lube. I've rarely come across a car that didnt fall on the floor or last very long before failing after sitting such a time.
I just redid the brakes on my 240, sat for 4 yrs and froze 3 calipers, made it a real task to roll off the trailer into the shop....
-Chris

i was amazed at how well the car faired after 10 years. it was outside in the desert that whole time. the entire thing was covered in about 3 inches of dust. it was actually free on a first come first serve deal. i came first and had to drive it home the same day in order to get it. me and my buddies spent the day working on it and it managed to get it running. i had to drive it 150 miles across the desert and over a mountian to get it home. i felt like i was in the grapes of wrath or somthing crossing that desert . to make a long story short, it made it home flawlessly and i have it cleaned up nice. if the brake booster is leaking how can i go about diagnosing it. where do i start?

I'm in the process of rescuing a 220D that sat for 5+ years. The brakes seem to work fine, but I took it out today on the highway and about 10 minutes into the run the car began to shake a bit and the distinct smell of brakes burning came floated up to me. I'm guessing that a caliper is stuck. Excuse the newbie question, but how do I tell which one and can I get it 'unstuck' or do I have to replace it?

The affected wheel with the dragging or semi seized caliper will be hotter. If on the front you might also feel a pull to that side. Drive a block or so and you should find it although it might take further. You could jack up each wheel and feel for excessive drag as well. If not too expensive get a rebuilt unit. Also a good time to change that old brake fluid.

Read this thread. I also have another couple of threads on the same issue.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=189944

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13