I think the 300E brakes are very good, except at very high speeds. While doing 100+mph, the car can barely stop. This sucks so much having such a fast highway car, but know your braking system is bad. What can I do to get better stopping power at higher speeds??

Brakes
 

I have A 1986 300e I put Brembo crossed drilled rotors on with KVR carbon fiber pads and My Car will stop good at any speed. The whole kit cost me $450. I got everythin from KVR they are located in Canada.

I don't know how bad "sucks" is, but remember that braking energy is proportional to speed SQUARED! Your brakes have to dissipate TWICE the energy stopping from 100 mph as from 70 mph, and I wouldn't be surprised to see stopping distances double. 130 mph calculates to 3.5 times the energy.

Driving really fast requires you to look a long way down the road, and plan a lot farther ahead than you may be used to. Then too, large, well ventilated rotors and excellent tires help...

I remember a 68 Buick with drum brakes that would barely stop from 60 mph... :rolleyes:

BCingU, Jim

Agron80,
Do you have Mercedes pads? My 126 stops like a beast when it is dry out. Tires also play a factor in braking force.

Pads are original (JURID).....in fact, I just got em all changed last week. Dont get me wrong, their good pads and they stop the car on a dime except at triple digit speeds. I'll look into crossed drilled rotors, if thats what you guys suggest.

Before you do cross drilled rotors, how about a 400E brake upgrade? The later 400E/ E420 rotors and calipers were upgraded in '93 or '94, more warp resistant. The 4 piston calipers really haul my 190 down from speed.
Darryl
'91 190

Adgron80, We didn't that much trouble slowing down that day you pushed her up to 120. :) As soon as you saw that E class ahead of us, you got on the brakes and she came down pretty well. Perhaps larger roters, will do the trick.?

my 87 300E brakes fine from 120MPH with crappy pads and ATE rotors. both are 2000 miles old though. i think its the case of good desicion making that makes them prevent dangerous accidents.
drive safely!
adam

I don't think just mounting cross-drilled rotors without any other brake mods will change braking performance. In order to get real stopping power, you would need something like a Brembo big brake kit that comes with oversized rotors and powerful calipers ($1600 per pair). Just get one pair and mount them in the front, should do you fine. You'll also need stainless steel brake lines to hancdle the new powerful brakes, thats about another $125. Then your car will stop on a dime and the huge brakes look really cool too :cool:

a braking system that sucks???
 

Agron80,

About one week ago I came home from work and the last couple of kilometers on the highway I took the car up to 200km/h. After I left the highway I played around on our 1,5 car wide dutch country (farmer) roads over a total distance of 13km...
When I got out of my car at home the car smelled like "hell" and my front rotors were glowing hellish orange! :D ! :D ! :D
I wanted to make a picture of it, but the memory card of my digital camera was full...
There is definitely something wrong with the brake system on the slower mercedes models!

greetingz,

Think Ahead
 

Weither you're driving a sedan, motorcycle or an airoplane, you must be out in front of your machine.
At highspeeds you've got to be in control so you won't have these stopping conditions.
Unless you have the equal to F-1 brakes, you are going to have brake faid, gassing between the two members.
STOMP STEER STAY is the technique for ABS.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from Houston!!!
Donald, El Cheapo(not on my brakes)