Having to replace my front calipers. The choices are Bendix and ATE.
Can anyone tell me about either one?
Is there a preference?
Thanks

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1984 300SD turbo 126
"My true love"

God made me an atheist and who am I to question His wisdom

Your car may have either brand right now.

If you are doing both calipers, it's generally accepted that ATE are much easier to find and often less expensive now.

In the old days the pads were not interchangeable, they are the same outside dimensions but one was thicker than the other. I am not sure that matters anymore. Last time I bought pads my parts supplier told me there is now only one listing, so I suspect the pad makers just standardized to the thinner pad.

There is no mounting difference between the Bendix and ATE.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

It doesn't matter which way you go, as long as both brakes on that axle are of the same brand. There is indeed just a single pad now.

There are still different rebuild kits, if you rebuild them.

Both brands are fairly easily available as rebuilds from places like O'Reilly or various online shops.

Thanks for the info.
I also have available, Cardone rebuilt. Have you head of Cardone?

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1984 300SD turbo 126
"My true love"

God made me an atheist and who am I to question His wisdom

Cardone does a lot of the rebuilds for these cars. Napa "Eclipse" brand calipers with lifetime warranty for example are actually rebuilt by Cardone.

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1979 300D 040 Black on Black - 1985 300D Maaco job (sadly sprayed over 199 Black Pearl Metallic) on Palamino

http://i.imgur.com/LslW733.jpg

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Cardone is a common rebuild brand available from places like O'Reilly. I'd say they are OK to purchase, yes.

It's not all that difficult to rebuild the calipers yourself. The rebuild kits are available from that parts site down in Arizona for around $20-25 (at least for ATEs).

Thanks Guys. I installed a pair of Bendix/Cardone rebuilds. Feels much better braking now. Safer braking

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1984 300SD turbo 126
"My true love"

God made me an atheist and who am I to question His wisdom

I always buy Cardone locally from the cheapest source. There have been times where they had to be returned. Some have failed, others have the left side packed as right side or rears boxed as fronts. It is worth a little higher price that have easy access and no shipping.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

Did they have heatshield over the dust boot? I looked at Cardone at one time, and it appeared they did not supply the shields with rebuilts.

There was a thread before about this:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/85254-how-important-brake-caliper-heat-shields.html

Here you can see them in place:

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

For those in a pinch, NAPA does sell rebuilt ATE calipers that are authentic MBZ cores.

They do not come with heat shields installed nor pads, however, they sell good quality pads that now come with a metal back plate heat shield that installs with the pad super easy.

For one, PAGID metallic made in Germany.

A-1 Cardone calipers appear to be folly. They cast there own copies of ATE caliper bodies that are out of dimension and the holes are not accurately set...just don't work.


Good luck.

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1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

I have been able to source remans from the local Bap Geon, either brand.

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83 SD

84 CD

Cardone is one of the rebuilders I avoid using in my shop. Over the years I have had way too many comebacks with Cardone parts (not limited to brakes, but accross their product line). Comebacks = lost time, PO'd customers, lost revenue. Brakes are too important for poor quality control/cheap price. When time permits, I rebuild calipers using quality parts (OE, Wagner, Bendix, ATE, etc). Rebuild kits are reasonably priced.