W123 coupe 1983 to w126 560SEC bendix brakes.

I am going to do this upgrade. Has anyone done it? If not, Ill document it real good.

I am going to do new wheel bearings, new seals, rebuild the calipers, put it all back together with new bolts and caliper bolt locks and new hoses.

I got Ate Power discs which look sharp.

I got Mercedes Benz brake pads, but I am thinking of getting some porterfield pads, if some of you guys are interested in a porterfield group buy email me and Ill start a thread.

So any comments, suggestions, approval?

Let me know

__________________
Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

I did that mod on my 1981 280E. You will need the brake backing plates as well. That mod works quite well.

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

I used 1991 560SEL Bendix Brake calipers (rebuilt them)

I actually got Zimmerman cross drilled rotors (300mmx28mm)

Changed wheel bearings, etc.

I just took off the dust shield backing plate, btw what are they for anyway?

Im looking to get ATE calipers to match, but for now Im not too worried, I may get dust sheilds if someone has some good advise.

__________________
Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

The rear brake dust plate is an air scoop to cool the brakes, it is a smart idea to modify them so they will fit on the car and help with the cooling.

I installed front spindles from a 90 300sel complete with backing plates, hubs and larger discs and bendix calipers. The hubs are differrent for larger vented rotors. I also installed the later calipres on the rear also.

1981 30tdt

The hubs are different, but they will work from the w123 to bolt a w126 disc up to. Do you like the bigger rear brakes as well?

__________________
Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

the early 126 brakes bolt onto the 123. he must have done late 126 brakes to have needed to change the spindles.

i believe all 126 rear brakes are the same as 123.

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.

Cool, I'm all ready then at least for the "early 126 upgrade". Still curious though about the rotor sizes on the 126s. The 123 FSM gives diameter dimensions, but not the 126 FSM.

__________________
Dave

2002 Audi S6 Avant
1983 300D
1984 300D (sold)
1990 560SEL (sold)

Well my calipers are Bendix from a 1991 560SEL, the rotors are 300mm diameter. And they bolted up to my hubs. I dont know where this early late info came from.

__________________
Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

the early ones are same diameter, just thicker because vented. power is the same but fade resistance should be better. also not as likely to warp.

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.

Earlier is better? I'm confused...

Where can I find slotted rotors? I found Zimmermann cross-drilled front and rear rotors at the Buy Parts link (Phil) and also from Rusty (***************), but I've heard slotted is better. Any suggestions about whether I should use slotted/x-drilled?

Thanks!

__________________
Dave

2002 Audi S6 Avant
1983 300D
1984 300D (sold)
1990 560SEL (sold)

I just painted them black with G2 caliper painting system available from www.wheelskin.com I think that the red would have looked nice, but maybe too ricey, so that is why I did black. I will have picture by the end of the week.

__________________
Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

So, the "backing plate" is just the sheet metal behind the brake rotor, correct? Are these necessary to swap when using pre-1986 calipers/rotors? Those cars mostly came with 14" bundts, so wouldn't they also have the same backing plates as the 123s?

I just came home with front calipers from a 1982 300SD at the junkyard, but it was resting on the rotors/backing plates, so the plates were smashed. Also, are the rear rotors the same size as 123's? They appeared as the same diameter and I ran out of time so I didn't grab them.

What are the dimension differences on the small/large rotors for the 126s?

Thanks!

__________________
Dave

2002 Audi S6 Avant
1983 300D
1984 300D (sold)
1990 560SEL (sold)

Backing plates are behind the disc. Most BBK (big brake kit) companies suggest not having backing plates, but I did put them on my car, when I had the hub off.

__________________
Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

No matter what you do,
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, use some sort of backing plate. Even a home made thing will be better than none at all. They are extremely important, for both cooling, and heavy debris. I'm basing this on a lot of years professional brake work experience. The reason these aftermarket companies tell you not to put them, is purely cosmetic. They believe it, "Dirties" their product. I'm interested in making this upgrade. I will get most of my parts from a private source. Please, though just make sure you put on backing plates on whatever you build. They are very effective for a long list of reasons, and I could not stress it more.