Weekend Project: CLK55 Brake System
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2003 Chevy Tahoe
Weekend Project: CLK55 Brake System
The CLK55 has 53K on her now. Time to replace the brake pads, and the rotors aren't too far behind - so what the heck, swapped it all out.
Kept the calipers since they're Brembo 6 pots in front and 4 pots in the rear. Since they're going to be pulled I figured I'd paint them this time. Had considered powder coat but figured a good paint job should last a few years.
Replacing the pads with a set of Porterfield R4S Brake pads Front 1116, Rear 984 from MyRoadster.Net.
Replacing the brake lines with a set of SS Goodridge Phantom Brake Line Kit GR-3403BKC0 from Sparktec Motorsports.
Bleeding the brake lines and replacing the fluid with Ate type 200 amber from Tire Rack.
Lastly - finding replacement rotors for a 2006 CLK55 AMG is next to impossible. The OE rotors seemed to work just fine so I replaced them with another OE set from mymercedesparts.com.
So by the end of this weekend I should have a next to new brake system.
Next up - Kleemann blower, Fabtech Looped Fuel Rail and MBH Longtubes installed by Cory at Kleemann USA, Colo Springs.
Kept the calipers since they're Brembo 6 pots in front and 4 pots in the rear. Since they're going to be pulled I figured I'd paint them this time. Had considered powder coat but figured a good paint job should last a few years.
Replacing the pads with a set of Porterfield R4S Brake pads Front 1116, Rear 984 from MyRoadster.Net.
Replacing the brake lines with a set of SS Goodridge Phantom Brake Line Kit GR-3403BKC0 from Sparktec Motorsports.
Bleeding the brake lines and replacing the fluid with Ate type 200 amber from Tire Rack.
Lastly - finding replacement rotors for a 2006 CLK55 AMG is next to impossible. The OE rotors seemed to work just fine so I replaced them with another OE set from mymercedesparts.com.
So by the end of this weekend I should have a next to new brake system.
Next up - Kleemann blower, Fabtech Looped Fuel Rail and MBH Longtubes installed by Cory at Kleemann USA, Colo Springs.
#2
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The CLK55 has 53K on her now. Time to replace the brake pads, and the rotors aren't too far behind - so what the heck, swapped it all out.
finding replacement rotors for a 2006 CLK55 AMG is next to impossible. The OE rotors seemed to work just fine so I replaced them with another OE set from mymercedesparts.com.
finding replacement rotors for a 2006 CLK55 AMG is next to impossible. The OE rotors seemed to work just fine so I replaced them with another OE set from mymercedesparts.com.
stop by RacingBrake and check out our light weight two piece rotors.
They are a direct OE replacements with no modifications necessary.
Front 06 CLK55 AMG Two Piece Rotors
Rear 06 CLK55 AMG Two Piece Rotors
Click here to learn our two piece rotor features.
Check out some of the reviews posted by other MB owners:
Racing Brake makes me happy
World's First: RacingBrake 2-Piece Brake Rotors ...
The Ultimate Rotating & Unspring Mass Reduction Thread ...
E63 Front Rotor Replacement DIY - RacingBrake
https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...squealing.html
some reviews from Nissan GT-R owners that are known for having the most brake issues and have looked for solutions beyond what OE or other big name brands have been able to provide.
http://www.gtrheritage.com/topic/259...%20racingbrake
http://www.gtrheritage.com/topic/261...ake#entry37500
http://www.gtrheritage.com/topic/268...tor#entry36600
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2003 Chevy Tahoe
How I Spent My Weekend
Spent about 7 hours stripping & sanding. Another five painting, decals and clear
Coat.
Just waiting for the new rotors, Porterfield pads and Goodridge Phantoms to show up, then it's back to the shop to put it back together.
I'm happy with the final product. Son-in-law just graduated from Virginia Tech with an engineering degree. He interned with Bobby Gordon Racing over the summers. Just got hired by Ford Motors to be a test engineer. Good to have an experienced hand close by.
Coat.
Just waiting for the new rotors, Porterfield pads and Goodridge Phantoms to show up, then it's back to the shop to put it back together.
I'm happy with the final product. Son-in-law just graduated from Virginia Tech with an engineering degree. He interned with Bobby Gordon Racing over the summers. Just got hired by Ford Motors to be a test engineer. Good to have an experienced hand close by.
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2002 CLK 55 AMG cabriolet Eurocharged
Thanks for posting,
I am putting rotors and pads tomorrow morning.
The prices for these rotors are kinda out of hand but we do drive a specialty car.
I am not racing too much these days but found some rotors n pads for a reasonable price after some digging.
For racing I like the EBC or red stuff pads. maybe this fall.
Nice work on the calipers, and congrats for son in law. Sounds like he is off to a great start.
Gator
I am putting rotors and pads tomorrow morning.
The prices for these rotors are kinda out of hand but we do drive a specialty car.
I am not racing too much these days but found some rotors n pads for a reasonable price after some digging.
For racing I like the EBC or red stuff pads. maybe this fall.
Nice work on the calipers, and congrats for son in law. Sounds like he is off to a great start.
Gator
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2003 Chevy Tahoe
Thanks Gator - baking them in the oven this morning (AFTER SWMBO leaves for work) 200 degrees for 20 min per VHT instructions. Hopefully this hardens everything up.
Rotors arrived last night. Does anybody have instructions on how to paint the hats so they don't rust? Would like to get that done while they're still off the car.
Just waiting on the Porterfields now...
Rotors arrived last night. Does anybody have instructions on how to paint the hats so they don't rust? Would like to get that done while they're still off the car.
Just waiting on the Porterfields now...
#11
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Spent about 7 hours stripping & sanding. Another five painting, decals and clear
Coat.
Just waiting for the new rotors, Porterfield pads and Goodridge Phantoms to show up, then it's back to the shop to put it back together.
I'm happy with the final product. Son-in-law just graduated from Virginia Tech with an engineering degree. He interned with Bobby Gordon Racing over the summers. Just got hired by Ford Motors to be a test engineer. Good to have an experienced hand close by.
Coat.
Just waiting for the new rotors, Porterfield pads and Goodridge Phantoms to show up, then it's back to the shop to put it back together.
I'm happy with the final product. Son-in-law just graduated from Virginia Tech with an engineering degree. He interned with Bobby Gordon Racing over the summers. Just got hired by Ford Motors to be a test engineer. Good to have an experienced hand close by.
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2003 Chevy Tahoe
Got the decals on ebay. Actually ended up using two different sets. I preferred the curved logo for the big front caliper - but straights for the rears.
Make sure you check sizes. One set I received was Lilliputian!
Simple to use - peel the backing, rub them on and peel back the carrier. I marked the centerline both horizontal and vertical, and used masking tape as a guide on the caliper to make sure everything lined up.
Let me know if you've got more questions.
Make sure you check sizes. One set I received was Lilliputian!
Simple to use - peel the backing, rub them on and peel back the carrier. I marked the centerline both horizontal and vertical, and used masking tape as a guide on the caliper to make sure everything lined up.
Let me know if you've got more questions.
#13
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Got the decals on ebay. Actually ended up using two different sets. I preferred the curved logo for the big front caliper - but straights for the rears.
Make sure you check sizes. One set I received was Lilliputian!
Simple to use - peel the backing, rub them on and peel back the carrier. I marked the centerline both horizontal and vertical, and used masking tape as a guide on the caliper to make sure everything lined up.
Let me know if you've got more questions.
Make sure you check sizes. One set I received was Lilliputian!
Simple to use - peel the backing, rub them on and peel back the carrier. I marked the centerline both horizontal and vertical, and used masking tape as a guide on the caliper to make sure everything lined up.
Let me know if you've got more questions.
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2003 Chevy Tahoe
So here's the deal. Sprayed three coats of VHT Engine Primer and let dry for an hour. Sprayed around five coats of VHT Burnt Copper - 30 minutes between coats. Hung dry indoors for temperature/humidity control. Three hours to dry before applying decals followed by spraying four coats of VHT Engine Gloss Clear. Hung dry indoors overnight. Set out side in 90 degree sunlight day 2 for approx 9 hours.
VHT engine paint is VERY fragile. Several small chips on contact points when setting down. We'll see if curing them toughens them up a bit.
Two curing cycles in the kitchen oven. Put them on the rack - turned turned the oven on and let everything come up to temp. When it hit 200 degrees began timer for 20 minutes. Turned off oven and let it cool naturally. Second cure done after work - about 9 hours in between. Slight odor but nothing bad.
Installed tomorrow. Will provide digi pics when complete.
Mguerrero - looked to see if I could find the exact ebay sites I used. No luck. Just type AMG Logo and ebay - you'll find plenty. Look around until you find what you're looking for.
Cheers
VHT engine paint is VERY fragile. Several small chips on contact points when setting down. We'll see if curing them toughens them up a bit.
Two curing cycles in the kitchen oven. Put them on the rack - turned turned the oven on and let everything come up to temp. When it hit 200 degrees began timer for 20 minutes. Turned off oven and let it cool naturally. Second cure done after work - about 9 hours in between. Slight odor but nothing bad.
Installed tomorrow. Will provide digi pics when complete.
Mguerrero - looked to see if I could find the exact ebay sites I used. No luck. Just type AMG Logo and ebay - you'll find plenty. Look around until you find what you're looking for.
Cheers
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2003 Chevy Tahoe
The Finished Project!
Apologize for taking so long to post up pics of the finished brake project, busy week, then a run up to downtown Manhattan yesterday.
VHT paint looks like it will hold up fine. A few minor chips during the install process - minor touchups.
The Porterfield R4S pads, along with the new OE rotors, Goodridge Phantom SS brake lines and the ATE 200 provide an unbelievable amount of brake feel, response and stopping power. No squeal - with about as must dust as the OE pads.
Spent yesterday afternoon and early this morning bedding in the new pads and rotors. A series of 20-5 mph slows with about a quarter mile in between. One hour brake. Same for 30 mph, another brake, then a series at 40 mph. Repeated a second time today.
So here's a few pics of "Gladys" with her new brakes.
VHT paint looks like it will hold up fine. A few minor chips during the install process - minor touchups.
The Porterfield R4S pads, along with the new OE rotors, Goodridge Phantom SS brake lines and the ATE 200 provide an unbelievable amount of brake feel, response and stopping power. No squeal - with about as must dust as the OE pads.
Spent yesterday afternoon and early this morning bedding in the new pads and rotors. A series of 20-5 mph slows with about a quarter mile in between. One hour brake. Same for 30 mph, another brake, then a series at 40 mph. Repeated a second time today.
So here's a few pics of "Gladys" with her new brakes.
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Thanks Zayed! It's just the beginning. Most of the initial mods will be performance-based. Kleemann blower, MBH long tubes, Fabtech looped fuel rail. That'll be followed by Wavetrac LSD and a set of OZ wheels. I'm running a set of beat up OE wheels and Nexens for now. I-95 between home and work is being rebuilt, so they haven't fixed anything since the winter storms. Impossible to not hit half a dozen sink holes on the daily commute, so don't see any reason to run good wheels and Michelin PS until the repairs are done.
Am thinking of a wide body mod sometime down the line. But I think it's enough for now.
Am thinking of a wide body mod sometime down the line. But I think it's enough for now.
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Thanks Zayed! It's just the beginning. Most of the initial mods will be performance-based. Kleemann blower, MBH long tubes, Fabtech looped fuel rail. That'll be followed by Wavetrac LSD and a set of OZ wheels. I'm running a set of beat up OE wheels and Nexens for now. I-95 between home and work is being rebuilt, so they haven't fixed anything since the winter storms. Impossible to not hit half a dozen sink holes on the daily commute, so don't see any reason to run good wheels and Michelin PS until the repairs are done.
Am thinking of a wide body mod sometime down the line. But I think it's enough for now.
Am thinking of a wide body mod sometime down the line. But I think it's enough for now.
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2003 Chevy Tahoe
Ahmad my friend! Your extended absence from the forum has not gone unnoticed! Good to hear from you and thanks for the props! Coming from you I take it as quite a compliment!
Should have been out to see Cory long ago, but things at work have been crazy! Have been thinking of mid-late Sept now, and may even push it as far as early October. Much after that I run the risk of snow and even though I grew up in the Midwest, Gladys doesn't get wet unless she has to!
Saw your pistons and the Dartons! Looking good! Good to hear from you - and thanks again!
Should have been out to see Cory long ago, but things at work have been crazy! Have been thinking of mid-late Sept now, and may even push it as far as early October. Much after that I run the risk of snow and even though I grew up in the Midwest, Gladys doesn't get wet unless she has to!
Saw your pistons and the Dartons! Looking good! Good to hear from you - and thanks again!
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Ahmad my friend! Your extended absence from the forum has not gone unnoticed! Good to hear from you and thanks for the props! Coming from you I take it as quite a compliment!
Should have been out to see Cory long ago, but things at work have been crazy! Have been thinking of mid-late Sept now, and may even push it as far as early October. Much after that I run the risk of snow and even though I grew up in the Midwest, Gladys doesn't get wet unless she has to!
Saw your pistons and the Dartons! Looking good! Good to hear from you - and thanks again!
Should have been out to see Cory long ago, but things at work have been crazy! Have been thinking of mid-late Sept now, and may even push it as far as early October. Much after that I run the risk of snow and even though I grew up in the Midwest, Gladys doesn't get wet unless she has to!
Saw your pistons and the Dartons! Looking good! Good to hear from you - and thanks again!
Yea work seems to always get in the way. But we need the money to play with these things. Sounds like a plan. If we happen to be in Colorado at the same time we should grab lunch/dinner with Cory.
Thank you!