I have been going a bit nuts trying to find the correct front pads for my 85 300D. The existing calipers are ATE.

In looking for calipers I find different ones offered for the 85 300D. Some say up to 04/85. Others say they are for 45mm width, others 49mm. Some specify the chassis as 123.133, but not the width. There appear there may be two thicknesses of pads? The ones I have now almost totally fill the gap between piston and rotor.

Assuming I get same ATE calipers as I now have (they are original), then I need matching pads. Some vendors show same part number for ATE that others show for Bendix (0014209920). Another says they should be 0054204520. Yet another site said those are rears? Another offered 0004205920 or 001420992005. I am confused.

I am looking at basic pads. Nothing fancy. Car doesn't get driven many miles each year. I have used Pagid in past. Does anyone know the proper pad part number or pad type that suits the 85 300D W123.133? (my epc is broken)

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

G:

Over the years, the most satisfactory pad for this writer has been the Raybestos pad labeled either:
RPD 145, or PGD 145
PGD seems to have superseded RPD

This is what Rock says those fit - Not for 1985.

MERCEDES-BENZ 230 1974-1978
MERCEDES-BENZ 240D 1976-1979
MERCEDES-BENZ 280 1973-1976
MERCEDES-BENZ 280CE 1978-1981
MERCEDES-BENZ 280E 1977-1981
MERCEDES-BENZ 300CD 1978-1980
MERCEDES-BENZ 300D 1975-1980
MERCEDES-BENZ 300SD 1978-1980
MERCEDES-BENZ 300SEL 1973
MERCEDES-BENZ 300TD 1979-1980
MERCEDES-BENZ 450SE 1973-1976
MERCEDES-BENZ 450SEL 1973-1979
MERCEDES-BENZ 450SL 1973-1979
MERCEDES-BENZ 450SLC 1973-1979

But they also show for PGD145AM

MERCEDES-BENZ 240D 1980-1983
MERCEDES-BENZ 300CD 1981-1985
MERCEDES-BENZ 300D 1981-1985
MERCEDES-BENZ 300SD 1981-1985
MERCEDES-BENZ 300SDL 1986-1987
MERCEDES-BENZ 300SE 1988-1991
MERCEDES-BENZ 300SEL 1988-1991
MERCEDES-BENZ 300TD 1981-1985
MERCEDES-BENZ 350SD 1991
MERCEDES-BENZ 350SDL 1990-1991
MERCEDES-BENZ 380SE 1984-1985
MERCEDES-BENZ 380SEL 1981-1983
MERCEDES-BENZ 380SL 1981-1985
MERCEDES-BENZ 380SLC 1981
MERCEDES-BENZ 420SEL 1986-1991
MERCEDES-BENZ 450SEL 1980
MERCEDES-BENZ 450SL 1980
MERCEDES-BENZ 450SLC 1980
MERCEDES-BENZ 500SEL 1984-1985
MERCEDES-BENZ 560SEC 1986-1991
MERCEDES-BENZ 560SEL 1986-1991

The OE number for ATE calipers is apparently 0014207820. But neither of those Raybestos pads are equivalent to that number. Raybestos say PGD100 is, but those are rear pads. Calipers for the 85 300D apparently changed in 04/85, so that may add another complication. Maybe you can see why I am going nuts!

There are many here with 85 300Ds, so maybe someone will have a record of their caliper/pad combination.

This is the Raybestos interchange site: https://www.brakepartsinc.com/raybestos/catalog-part-search/catalog-interchange.html#

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

G:

With respect to the various designations in the Raybestos line, we can see that the "145" is common, and denotes the physical configuration of the pad. The various pre- and suf-fixes designate the grade and the friction material. At the moment the best quality would appear to be designated PGD145AM.
We might note that the catalog reference of "up to 4/85" is not consistent across all brands of pads.
I'm of the view that any of the Raybestos "145" pads will be correct in Teves/ATE calipers.

The date break at 4/85 may be due to a pad thickness change associated with Bendix calipers.

0004209920 is the front brake pad set that shows up for me for 123.133's (EPC).

At napa Canada, they offer several rebuilt calipers. Some are 45mm wide and some 49mm wide. Presumably this is to allow for thicker pads or rotor. My original rotors are 49mm, so perhaps that was the change in 04/85.

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

Does epc show any other part numbers that would indicate a change at some point?
If I buy remans, they should be same as the originals (49mm wide). New ATEs state that they must be used with a different pad. Thinking they may be an earlier model's calipers. Maybe the 45mm units.
Dont want to buy pads that dont fit. It's hard to match pad against caliper with the info on some sites not matching.

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

Well, a mix of parts changes things. EPC shows 1244211612 as the correct rotor for 123.133's.

It would be interesting to know what an 83 or 84 used for rotor and pads.
I need to get another epc - mine expired a few months ago.

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

There was no change noted in the EPC list, but the W124 part number of the rotor seems to indicate a revision was made.

Those sites are not the most reliable especially when dealing with transition years like you have.

Listed calipers for 123.133's is 0014201883/1983.

My EPC reference doesnt have details on year to year differences, but it looks like if you have 0014201883/1983 calipers and 1244211612 or same sized rotors, then the 0004209920 will be the correct pads for your application.

Is here a problem buying the thinner pads if you feel yours are too tight? Can you measure the pad thickness currently if they have low miles on them? Sounds like they are rotor thickness dependent. Car will probably not have original rotors.


I could be all wet. Lots of confusion there.

1) Be very skeptical of a 124 rotor part number listed as used on a 123 chassis. The designs are quite different where they attach to the hub.

2) There are two different pad thicknesses; the applications are caliper dependent, rather than rotor dependent. The thinner pad can be used with all calipers, the thicker only with some.

That is the way it seems to be. What I have found:

- Rotor part number 1234210012 has not changed since 1977 (130/132/133).

- There are two pad part numbers.
15mm 0014207820 (was 06320 & 06420)
17.5mm 0014209920 (According to one manufacturer (TRW), this part will fit the 300D from chassis 165148 with ATE calipers and from 164521 with Bendix)

- Caliper part numbers (Teves/ATE) never changed 1234200183/0283. However, rebuilders indicate some have 45mm gap and others 49mm. Sometimes they specify "up to 04/85" Not clear if that is when the gap changed - not! Just checked, and my car was built 02/85, yet has 49mm gap!

ADDED: Just found this in the shop manual:



There are new calipers on market. These have same part number (1234200183/0283) but specify they MUST be used with 0014207820 pads. This would probably indicate that these are the type with 45mm gap.

These are the new lower cost ATEs some vendors now have for under $200, no core required. A lot more by time we ship those to Canada, pay duty & tax and pay with our depressed C$.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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

To buy some time, I cleaned up the old caliper and revived my old pads.

The integral anti squeal layer on the back of pads was toast. Scraped that all off. Power sanded the steel back to get rid of rust scale. Pins were rusty - need replacing. The pads looked quite good once revived.

Installed pads (after applying anti-squeal paste), lubed, and bled. Tested in shop and seemed OK - no binding. Taking break - still need to put wheel back on and road test! UPDATE: OK did that. After short trip with fair amount of harder than normal braking, I jacked car up again. Wheel in question spins freely, so caliper must have retracted! However, other side front wheel was hard to rotate. I plan on pulling pads and doing similar cleanup.

The old pads are now 14mm thick. Even so, I had to push hard to get the pistons in far enough so pads could be inserted. (I had pushed them partly out when making sure both pistons would move.) If calipers hang in there without sticking, I think I would buy the 15mm pads next time even with 49mm calipers. More likely I will replace the calipers too. 35 yrs old with one rebuild.

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