Hi there,
I replaced the Bendix front calipers with rebuilts from Cardone (from ********, which was favorably mentioned here).
Calipers have same Bendix numbers in the casting, but the rebuilts did not have that metal ring that sits on top of the piston (between the piston and the brake pad). If you have seen a caliper repair kit, its that shiny metal ring.
I tried to use the old one, but the inner diameter of that ring of 31 mm would not go over a piston with an outer diameter of 35 mm. The rubber ring must also be different.
Cardone says not to worry, their rebuilts are testet.
Anybody experience this and can shed some light on the function of that ring? Was there a design change later that does away with the ring? I am contemplating to send the cores back but wonder if I can rebuild the one's on the car now later with the kit.
Thank you

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Reinhard Kreutzer
1987 420 SEL (126)

I recommended Cardone, and I am sorry to hear such a half-assed explanation. The metal ring is a heat shield. Maybe it got left off by mistake, or maybe it is no longer used. But in either case, you should make ******** or whoever you got them from explain what the real deal is.

I mean, how could you possibly "test" something like a heat shield.

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Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe

I had recommended Cardone also a while back. I am curious as to why the rebuilt caliper has a different piston diameter in the first place.