Anyone have any experiance rebuilding the front brake calipers on a 560SEL? My front driver's side brake is leaking fluid and I'm thinking this means its time to rebuild the darn thing too... (both sides)

Any good references, or caveats I should know about? Is there a Mercedes Job number for this I can look up?


Thanks!


Scott

It's not rocket science, but if you get it wrong, you and others may be dead.

My 2 cents.

I don't know about the prices for Mercedes stuff, but in lieu of rebuilding the calipers on my Chevy Tahoe I just bought rebuilt ones from Federated auto parts for like $17 each.... simple R&R job --- no seals no junk to mess with and you really can't screw it up.

I understand the risks, and too bad it's not rocket science since thats what I do as my day job. Personally, I don't think I could screw this up as badly as the brake shop I took my car to last time and those guys wouldn't know their wrench from their... well... you get the idea.

Basically I just want to make sure I've got good resources lined up I can study before tearing into it so I know what all I'm getting into and know what to expect.

I'll look to see if there's a place that sells rebuilt. I know I can get the rebuild kit for ~$20 but if the price/quality is right then I wouldn't mind forgoing the project. Thanks for the tip!

Thanks for the replys!


Scott

Scott:

If you want to do it yourself, the Haynes manual offers a fair amt. of good info on concepts. They have a manual specifically about brake work and it's not model-specific, but conceptual in nature. These books have received a lot of bad press here, but I've learned a great deal from the "concept" books.
Pep Boys and other mass marketer auto parts stores sell them.

If you want the best rebuilt(not necessarily the cheapest), I'd call this MB dealer ship in California. I priced a set of 126 rebuilt calipers a few yrs. ago and was surprised by the price, all things considered. MB put a 2 yr. warranty on them.

This is one of those parts that I wouldn't go cheap on.

http://www.caliber.mercedescenter.com/mbcenter/b/index.jhtml

Pardon my French, but what a pantload.

Rebuilt calipers sold by the "box stores" are a headache waiting to happen.
There are 2-3 types different calipers on these cars,and the
white-box rebuilds never have the right pieces inside. 8 instances.

If you are like any of the rocket scientists we deal with(Houston), have at it.
As anal as you guys are, this should be a walk in the park.

Have your vin # handy(vin break on cal. kits), as well as
brand(stamped on outside of caliper housing.)
Or buy new on the net(replace Bendix with ATE whenever possible,as a pair
if needed).
You'll be surprised how cheap they are.

Conservative estimate===
300 calipers rebuilt in the last 20 years.

Carnage on the highway===zero

__________________
Todd Haven
Parts Manager
MPH Automotive
Houston,TX