Slk55 Amg Brake Upgrade
Topic Started: Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:21 pm (2,087 Views)
mb5032	Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:21 pm Post #1
Member Posts: 105 Group: Members Member #2,450 Joined: March 23, 2008 Colour / Year / Engine Blue 1989 5.0-32 Valve	This is how i accomplished the SLK55 brake upgrade. For your information my hubs are SL 129 type and the wishbones are with the replacable ball joint type. The SLK discs fit they have a 43mm offset from back of disc to hub. The calipers are where it gets interesting. The mounting holes are in the correct place, but need a 2.5mm washer to space them centrally to disc. The problem is the steering stop part of the hub stops caliper from fitting, The leg sticking down on the bottom right of hub. This has to be cut of and rounded of around caliper lower bolt hole. Obviously you cant leave it without a steering stop. As the caliper bracket is in the same place as steering stop was i have fixed bolted a plastic stop to the wishbone which touches caliper bracket at full lock, this is a plastic block which is 16mm thick. The next thing i modified was the caliper as the brake line connection is in line with the steering arm bracket (same problem as trying to fit C32 brakes). The triangular shaped bit at the back of the caliper has to be machined back by 20mm! To do this i removed the centre piston from back side of caliper blocked up the internal brake hole and then did the machining. I would recommend a machine shop do this. I drilled the brake pipe fitting hole 20mm deeper, then tapped it full length M10x1.0. Once thread was done i cut of 20mm with a hacksaw square with tapped hole and then filled it true. I then used fine glass paper and then finally used a sharpening stone to polish completely smooth. The reason for such measures on the end are because i am using a brake hose with a banjo bolt which seals on this polished end. Caliper with banjo pipe bolted up. Heres a close up banjo connection and position of steering arm. The next thing i modified was the heat shields. I used the ones that are fitted to SL 129 with the 334mm discs. You have to cut them were the caliper fits. Then repaint the edges. So now we can assemble, on with heat shield, back on with hub. Now on with disc, forgot the maintenance bolt that holds disc to the hub is in a different place. I have redrilled the hub as can be seen in the last photo. Decided better to redrill hub once instead of disc every time you change discs. Then bolt on brake hose facing upwards and parrallel with caliper. Fit caliper with the 2.5mm spacers and longer bolts than standard these calipers come with 35mm bolts you need 45mm (45mm bolts were used on 500E and 190EVO2 only). The only real problem i had was with the Braided brake hoses. I ordered a set of Goodridge hoses as standard Mercedes 190 but with front ones having the caliper end changed to banjo end. The hoses came and i went to fit and the bodywork end of front hose was to small for bracket. Heres the standard hose setup. So on the phone to Goodridge who said we have never had a query on this and that my car most be different than standard. I said i have 4 mercedes of this type and the bracket hole is the same on all of them about 16mm hole. In the end i popped to exeter the HQ of Goodridge with the old hose, but they dont have the correct end for Mercedes. So went through there catalogue and found they do a bulkhead fitting with a 5/8" thread which is a fraction under 16mm. This fits perfectly, has anyone had problems with this as the pipe should be solidly mounted. With new hose fitting. And the finished setup.



mb5032	Mon May 5, 2008 6:28 pm Post #8
Member Posts: 105 Group: Members Member #2,450 Joined: March 23, 2008 Colour / Year / Engine Blue 1989 5.0-32 Valve	Been asked for part numbers by a couple of you. So here goes. Discs A171 421 01 12 Caliper left A003 420 47 83 Caliper right A003 420 48 83 Pads A004 420 50 20 Backing plate left A129 420 18 44 Backing plate right A129 420 19 44



cossie connoisseur	Mon May 12, 2008 2:30 pm Post #15
there can be only one ;-) Posts: 10,245 Group: Members Member #110 Joined: December 18, 2005	disks Ł419 calipers Ł381 pads Ł135 plates Ł42.60 pretty cheap tbh. Prices are each plus VAT.



Neil	Mon May 12, 2008 3:18 pm Post #18
Newbie Posts: 18,930 Group: Members Member #63 Joined: November 18, 2005 Colour / Year / Engine Signal Red 1993 1.8 Auto	So, to the man in the street, the front brakes alone will cost you a staggering Ł2297.36 including VAT. And you think that's cheap! Unless you're employed by MB and get 30% or more discount, I'd seriously look at Tar•Ox.



cossie connoisseur	Mon May 12, 2008 3:24 pm Post #19
there can be only one ;-) Posts: 10,245 Group: Members Member #110 Joined: December 18, 2005	the wonders of discounts



cossie connoisseur	Mon May 12, 2008 3:26 pm Post #20
there can be only one ;-) Posts: 10,245 Group: Members Member #110 Joined: December 18, 2005	thats Ł1952.75 with our club discount plus any 'cash' discount



Neil	Mon May 12, 2008 3:27 pm Post #21
Newbie Posts: 18,930 Group: Members Member #63 Joined: November 18, 2005 Colour / Year / Engine Signal Red 1993 1.8 Auto	Do you have to upgrade other parts of the system, ie Servo / Master Cylinder, lines, etc? I assume 17s are required to clear them, too? Just so you know, a Tar•Ox 6-Pot kit for the 2.3/2.5-16 can be had from MSW for Ł1537.52 inc VAT, and a 10-Pot kit for Ł1765.47 inc VAT...



dave_irl	Mon May 12, 2008 3:28 pm Post #22
Defector Posts: 8,735 Group: Moderator Member #6 Joined: November 2, 2005	NEIL May 12 2008, 05:18 PM So, to the man in the street, the front brakes alone will cost you a staggering Ł2297.36 including VAT. And you think that's cheap! Unless you're employed by MB and get 30% or more discount, I'd seriously look at Tar•Ox. Or for a full bolt on conversion... Still four figure sums but at least with a € prefix..



mb5032	Mon May 12, 2008 5:04 pm Post #23
Member Posts: 105 Group: Members Member #2,450 Joined: March 23, 2008 Colour / Year / Engine Blue 1989 5.0-32 Valve	The only reason i did this conversion was that i got the discs for Ł100 the pair part worn. I also get very good discount.



mb5032	Thu Aug 7, 2008 2:04 pm Post #29
Member Posts: 105 Group: Members Member #2,450 Joined: March 23, 2008 Colour / Year / Engine Blue 1989 5.0-32 Valve	Thought you might be interested SLK55 AMG rear brake upgrade to be posted soon. This consists of 4 piston calipers and 330mm discs. Will post pictures when i fit them.



mb5032	Sun Sep 7, 2008 9:57 pm Post #30
Member Posts: 105 Group: Members Member #2,450 Joined: March 23, 2008 Colour / Year / Engine Blue 1989 5.0-32 Valve	Here is the SLK55 AMG rear brake upgrade. I used all SLK parts, backing plate, discs, calipers and pads. Here is the hub assembly stripped of car. I then removed wheel bearing so as i could fit new backing plates, i know you can cut the originals, thats not my way of doing things. The next thing was to fit new backing plate. The problem with the backing plate is that Mercedes redesigned the way it is connected on these later model cars. We have two pins near the brake cable inlet, the new ones have two bolts. We have three bolts holding plate on, new ones have two plus the two i allready mentioned. This is not a problem you just drill out the two 8mm holes near brake cable inlet 12mm clearance, then you mark and drill three new holes to match position of the 190/124/129 ones. Here its bolted in place with ss cap heads. Heres hub bolted back on car. The caliper and disc fit perfectly with no spacers. bolt straight on. Heres the finished job with braided brake lines.



mb5032	Mon Sep 8, 2008 9:50 pm Post #34
Member Posts: 105 Group: Members Member #2,450 Joined: March 23, 2008 Colour / Year / Engine Blue 1989 5.0-32 Valve	dave_irl Mon Sep 8, 2008 11:47 am Nice attention to detail on the plates, thats definitely your modus operandi.. If you didnt have to swap the plates though, you would not have had to strip out the hubs & carrier right? Thats correct, it was all stripped to fit the plates. You can bodge it and cut them as an alternative.



dave_irl	Mon Sep 8, 2008 10:11 pm Post #35
Defector Posts: 8,735 Group: Moderator Member #6 Joined: November 2, 2005	What would your thoughts be on not running the plates at all? Even just on the rear..



124_widebody_turbo	Sun Nov 28, 2010 4:53 pm Post #36
Newbie Posts: 1 Group: Members Member #6,625 Joined: November 28, 2010 Colour / Year / Engine white,1989,3.2 am,g spec 103 with twin turbo	can any one selling rear brakes from an slk55 or 211 e55amg, or knows someone who is selling please contact me, i am after a set for my 124, cheers

Slk55 Amg Brake Upgrade

Topic Started: Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:21 pm (2,087 Views)

mb5032

Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:21 pm Post #1

Member

Posts:: 105
Group:: Members
Member: #2,450
Joined:: March 23, 2008

Colour / Year / Engine: Blue 1989 5.0-32 Valve

This is how i accomplished the SLK55 brake upgrade. For your information my hubs are SL 129 type and the wishbones are with the replacable ball joint type. The SLK discs fit they have a 43mm offset from back of disc to hub. The calipers are where it gets interesting. The mounting holes are in the correct place, but need a 2.5mm washer to space them centrally to disc. The problem is the steering stop part of the hub stops caliper from fitting, The leg sticking down on the bottom right of hub.
Posted Image

This has to be cut of and rounded of around caliper lower bolt hole.
Posted Image

Obviously you cant leave it without a steering stop. As the caliper bracket is in the same place as steering stop was i have fixed bolted a plastic stop to the wishbone which touches caliper bracket at full lock, this is a plastic block which is 16mm thick.
The next thing i modified was the caliper as the brake line connection is in line with the steering arm bracket (same problem as trying to fit C32 brakes).
Posted Image

The triangular shaped bit at the back of the caliper has to be machined back by 20mm! To do this i removed the centre piston from back side of caliper blocked up the internal brake hole and then did the machining. I would recommend a machine shop do this. I drilled the brake pipe fitting hole 20mm deeper, then tapped it full length M10x1.0. Once thread was done i cut of 20mm with a hacksaw square with tapped hole and then filled it true. I then used fine glass paper and then finally used a sharpening stone to polish completely smooth. The reason for such measures on the end are because i am using a brake hose with a banjo bolt which seals on this polished end.
Posted Image

Caliper with banjo pipe bolted up.
Posted Image

Heres a close up banjo connection and position of steering arm.
Posted Image

The next thing i modified was the heat shields. I used the ones that are fitted to SL 129 with the 334mm discs.
Posted Image

You have to cut them were the caliper fits. Then repaint the edges.
Posted Image

So now we can assemble, on with heat shield, back on with hub.
Posted Image

Now on with disc, forgot the maintenance bolt that holds disc to the hub is in a different place. I have redrilled the hub as can be seen in the last photo. Decided better to redrill hub once instead of disc every time you change discs.
Posted Image

Then bolt on brake hose facing upwards and parrallel with caliper. Fit caliper with the 2.5mm spacers and longer bolts than standard these calipers come with 35mm bolts you need 45mm (45mm bolts were used on 500E and 190EVO2 only).
The only real problem i had was with the Braided brake hoses. I ordered a set of Goodridge hoses as standard Mercedes 190 but with front ones having the caliper end changed to banjo end. The hoses came and i went to fit and the bodywork end of front hose was to small for bracket. Heres the standard hose setup.
Posted Image

So on the phone to Goodridge who said we have never had a query on this and that my car most be different than standard. I said i have 4 mercedes of this type and the bracket hole is the same on all of them about 16mm hole. In the end i popped to exeter the HQ of Goodridge with the old hose, but they dont have the correct end for Mercedes. So went through there catalogue and found they do a bulkhead fitting with a 5/8" thread which is a fraction under 16mm. This fits perfectly, has anyone had problems with this as the pipe should be solidly mounted. With new hose fitting.
Posted Image

And the finished setup.
Posted Image

mb5032

Mon May 5, 2008 6:28 pm Post #8

Member

Posts:: 105
Group:: Members
Member: #2,450
Joined:: March 23, 2008

Colour / Year / Engine: Blue 1989 5.0-32 Valve

Been asked for part numbers by a couple of you. So here goes.

Discs A171 421 01 12
Caliper left A003 420 47 83
Caliper right A003 420 48 83
Pads A004 420 50 20
Backing plate left A129 420 18 44
Backing plate right A129 420 19 44

cossie connoisseur

Mon May 12, 2008 2:30 pm Post #15

there can be only one ;-)

Posts:: 10,245
Group:: Members
Member: #110
Joined:: December 18, 2005

disks Ł419

calipers Ł381

pads Ł135

plates Ł42.60

pretty cheap tbh. Prices are each plus VAT.

Neil

Mon May 12, 2008 3:18 pm Post #18

Newbie

Posts:: 18,930
Group:: Members
Member: #63
Joined:: November 18, 2005

Colour / Year / Engine: Signal Red 1993 1.8 Auto

So, to the man in the street, the front brakes alone will cost you a staggering Ł2297.36 including VAT.
And you think that's cheap!

Unless you're employed by MB and get 30% or more discount, I'd seriously look at Tar•Ox.

cossie connoisseur

Mon May 12, 2008 3:24 pm Post #19

there can be only one ;-)

Posts:: 10,245
Group:: Members
Member: #110
Joined:: December 18, 2005

the wonders of discounts

cossie connoisseur

Mon May 12, 2008 3:26 pm Post #20

there can be only one ;-)

Posts:: 10,245
Group:: Members
Member: #110
Joined:: December 18, 2005

thats Ł1952.75 with our club discount

plus any 'cash' discount

Neil

Mon May 12, 2008 3:27 pm Post #21

Newbie

Posts:: 18,930
Group:: Members
Member: #63
Joined:: November 18, 2005

Colour / Year / Engine: Signal Red 1993 1.8 Auto

Do you have to upgrade other parts of the system, ie Servo / Master Cylinder, lines, etc?
I assume 17s are required to clear them, too?

Just so you know, a Tar•Ox 6-Pot kit for the 2.3/2.5-16 can be had from MSW for Ł1537.52 inc VAT, and a 10-Pot kit for Ł1765.47 inc VAT...

dave_irl

Mon May 12, 2008 3:28 pm Post #22

Defector

Posts:: 8,735
Group:: Moderator
Member: #6
Joined:: November 2, 2005

NEIL

May 12 2008, 05:18 PM

So, to the man in the street, the front brakes alone will cost you a staggering Ł2297.36 including VAT.
And you think that's cheap!

Unless you're employed by MB and get 30% or more discount, I'd seriously look at Tar•Ox.

for a full bolt on conversion... Still four figure sums but at least with a € prefix..

mb5032

Mon May 12, 2008 5:04 pm Post #23

Member

Posts:: 105
Group:: Members
Member: #2,450
Joined:: March 23, 2008

Colour / Year / Engine: Blue 1989 5.0-32 Valve

The only reason i did this conversion was that i got the discs for Ł100 the pair part worn. I also get very good discount.

mb5032

Thu Aug 7, 2008 2:04 pm Post #29

Member

Posts:: 105
Group:: Members
Member: #2,450
Joined:: March 23, 2008

Colour / Year / Engine: Blue 1989 5.0-32 Valve

Thought you might be interested SLK55 AMG rear brake upgrade to be posted soon. This consists of 4 piston calipers and 330mm discs. Will post pictures when i fit them.

mb5032

Sun Sep 7, 2008 9:57 pm Post #30

Member

Posts:: 105
Group:: Members
Member: #2,450
Joined:: March 23, 2008

Colour / Year / Engine: Blue 1989 5.0-32 Valve

Here is the SLK55 AMG rear brake upgrade. I used all SLK parts, backing plate, discs, calipers and pads. Here is the hub assembly stripped of car.
Posted Image

I then removed wheel bearing so as i could fit new backing plates, i know you can cut the originals, thats not my way of doing things. The next thing was to fit new backing plate.
Posted Image

The problem with the backing plate is that Mercedes redesigned the way it is connected on these later model cars. We have two pins near the brake cable inlet, the new ones have two bolts. We have three bolts holding plate on, new ones have two plus the two i allready mentioned. This is not a problem you just drill out the two 8mm holes near brake cable inlet 12mm clearance, then you mark and drill three new holes to match position of the 190/124/129 ones. Here its bolted in place with ss cap heads.
Posted Image

Heres hub bolted back on car.
Posted Image

The caliper and disc fit perfectly with no spacers. bolt straight on. Heres the finished job with braided brake lines.
Posted Image

mb5032

Mon Sep 8, 2008 9:50 pm Post #34

Member

Posts:: 105
Group:: Members
Member: #2,450
Joined:: March 23, 2008

Colour / Year / Engine: Blue 1989 5.0-32 Valve

dave_irl

Mon Sep 8, 2008 11:47 am

Nice attention to detail on the plates, thats definitely your modus operandi..

If you didnt have to swap the plates though, you would not have had to strip out the hubs & carrier right?

Thats correct, it was all stripped to fit the plates. You can bodge it and cut them as an alternative.

dave_irl

Mon Sep 8, 2008 10:11 pm Post #35

Defector

Posts:: 8,735
Group:: Moderator
Member: #6
Joined:: November 2, 2005

What would your thoughts be on not running the plates at all? Even just on the rear..

124_widebody_turbo

Sun Nov 28, 2010 4:53 pm Post #36

Newbie

Posts:: 1
Group:: Members
Member: #6,625
Joined:: November 28, 2010

Colour / Year / Engine: white,1989,3.2 am,g spec 103 with twin turbo

can any one selling rear brakes from an slk55 or 211 e55amg, or knows someone who is selling please contact me, i am after a set for my 124, cheers