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you need to use the same set-up of CLK63, isn't..?, if so,
your exist calipers internals are little smaller than CLK63 calipers, means 32mm in your caliper measurement will be differ than CLK63 calipers, during to the Rotor dia. & bracket thickness..!
ZAYED,,
Interesting comment. This is why I'm looking for the caliper casting number on the '63 nBS. Minor differences I can work around, but if it is a completely different casting that's a different story entirely.
You hit the nail on the head. I have three piece 19's on the car already.
@cm60k,
The 380x32's are probably overkill since my car is lighter. One thing for sure they are way too expensive ... $4500. That's half the cost of the Kleemann SC.
I posted here to explore this upgrade on my standard '55 because most owners on the "other" SKL forum/web site aren't as hard core mod oriented as you guys are here.
I'm just lucky that my SLK was an early one ('06) and already has the bigger six pot caliper.
Looking into the possible options. But I am confused about the models - This sub-forum is for CLK55/CLK63, but you said you have SLK55 (06)?
What's the difference between CLK and SLK chassis (spindle) wise. I have found MB has the most confusing model assignment than any other car makes.
It would be helpful to identify the difference of your calipers vs. C63/E63 6 pot calipers which we offer an upgrade from 360mm to 390mm rotor kit (like std C63 to BS), or older E63 to newer E63 while retain the use of original calipers.
Upgrade as you replace or one stone kills two birds is the idea of what these RB upgrade kits is all about.
I am pretty sure once your OE caliper and pad is identified, a similar affordable BBK can be made available for CLK/SLK.
If you have 19" wheels you may be able to fit up to 390mm rotors (like C63 BS) or 380x32mm.
Looking into the possible options. But I am confused about the models - This sub-forum is for CLK55/CLK63, but you said you have SLK55 (06)?
What's the difference between CLK and SLK chassis (spindle) wise. I have found MB has the most confusing model assignment than any other car makes.
It would be helpful to identify the difference of your calipers vs. C63/E63 6 pot calipers which we offer an upgrade from 360mm to 390mm rotor kit (like std C63 to BS), or older E63 to newer E63 while retain the use of original calipers.
Upgrade as you replace or one stone kills two birds is the idea of what these RB upgrade kits is all about.
I am pretty sure once your OE caliper and pad is identified, a similar affordable BBK can be made available for CLK/SLK.
If you have 19" wheels you may be able to fit up to 390mm rotors (like C63 BS) or 380x32mm.
For the sake of clarity, let me try to answer your questions in order.
Forum/model confusion: I posted in this sub-forum as members and sponsors here seem more modification oriented than typical SLK owners or members of the SLKworld forum (read: you guys rock) . Also, the '05-'06 r171 SLK55 that I have and the w209 CLK55 share the same 340x32 full floating rotor. The '05-'11 r171 SLK55 030 and the w209 CKL63 nBS also share the same 360x32 full floating rotor. All these common models have a 6 pot caliper
I am also making the following presumptions: All the above applications use the same caliper casting throughout with a similar sized master cyl. and second, they each just have differing bracketry to properly locate the caliper over the rotor.
The known exceptions to this are the post 2007 r171 SLK55 non 030 has a one piece 345mm rotor with 4 pot calipers and of course the w209 CLK63 BS has the 360x36 rotor, an 8 pot caliper, and a larger master cyl.
Spindles: As to this, thank you ZAYED for answering that R171 SLK55 & W209 CLK55/CLK63 share the same front spindles with (340x32). But could you clarify what you mean by saying, "but "CLK63" uses (360x32) except "CLK63 BS", which uses (360x36) with differ Rotor Hat height..!" I read you saying CLK63 has the same spindle as the other models but has the 360x32 rotor. Is that what you meant?
For me to answer this directly would have taken even more research on my part. And I have lots of time invested in this idea already to have all this info at my fingertips. If it helps any, as mentioned above, the CLK63 nBS & all SLK55 030 part number for the 360x32 rotor is 2094210112.
C63/E63 upgrade kit compatibility: Your kits likely fit the 6 pot caliper that mates to a 36mm rotor. If so, my upgrading to the 390x36 rotor could be problematic as the applications mentioned above (specifically mine) use a caliper that fit a 32mm rotor. But we are thinking like minded and you're looking in the same direction as I am.
Existing OE on my SLK non 030: I posted a sketch and dimensions of my pads swept area in an earlier post if that helps any. To ID my current OE front calipers, they are 6 pot for the 340x32 rotors. If it helps any, the merc #'s are:
Calipers: 34204783/34204883
Rotors: 1714210112
Pads: 54203920
Wheel clearance: My wheels are 19" Asanti AF120's so there should be plenty of clearance to move the calipers out.
As you review this please remember I would prefer to avoid replacing my existing calipers. I will however be able to CNC relocation brackets for fitment if they cannot be provided as part of a kit. Of course this assumes an appropriately larger pad could also be fitted.
So if for example, your 380x32 rotor for the Nissan GT-R will accept a hat with the proper Merc bolt pattern and centering, and you have a pad that fits into my caliper for an improved rotor contact, I (and I assume a few other folks here) would be very, very interested in that.
And so it goes...
Last edited by Lioninstreet; 10-15-2015 at 11:47 PM.
Can you double check you have posted the correct pad dimension for your CLK63/SLK55 030?
Something is wrong. I have the caliper you show as '05 slk55 non030 shown at the top of your photos. My pad measures 162m x 53mm. Sketch is below. the one above is 55mm x 15mm?
"R171 SLK55 & W209 CLK55/CLK63", pads are (164.6x81.4), pads thickness are (16),
ZAYED,,
Originally Posted by RacingBrake
164.6mm width back plate is for CLK/55/63 (light duty 6-pot) 198.8 width is for CLK63 BS (heavy duty 6 pot) same as C63/C63 BS and E63.
@RacingBrake
OK I think we've pretty much answered my original question. With a relocation bracket it appears that I CAN install the 360x32 030/'63 nBS rotor and pad into the light weigh 6 pot caliper that is on my early SLK55.
Now here is where it gets fun.
I think both myself and ZAYED are measuring the actual pad (friction material), not the back plate as you are. As well as both the width and the height. Is that correct?
So the million dollar questions for you is:
What is the center height of the swept area on your 360x32 & 380x32 rotors?
What is the center height and width of the actual pad friction material for your 360x32 rotor?
And if you have a compatible pad to take full advantage of your 380mm rotor, do you have a hat to allow them rotors to fit properly on the R171 SLK55 & W209 CLK55/CLK63?
I'm hoping you understand what I am asking. Nevertheless, I should probably call you to discuss this.
Last edited by Lioninstreet; 10-16-2015 at 09:29 PM.
"R171 SLK55 & W209 CLK55/CLK63", pads are (164.6x81.4),
"CLK63 BS", pads are (198.8x93.2)....
ZAYED,,
ZAYED- Just to clarify, your measurements (164.6x81.4) are of the pad friction area on the R171 SLK55 030 & W209 CLK63 using the 360x32 rotor, Yes? Who's the manufacturer of pad are you measuring?
I ask because the friction area height of the pad on my '06 SLK '55 is like 30 mm smaller than what you measured. And it covers nearly the entire swept area of the 340mm rotor. That is a big difference for the better!
Last edited by Lioninstreet; 10-16-2015 at 09:37 PM.
ZAYED- Just to clarify, your measurements (164.6x81.4) are of the pad friction area on the R171 SLK55 030 & W209 CLK63 using the 360x32 rotor, Yes? Who's the manufacturer of pad are you measuring?
BTW; i took these measurements from "Brembo/Jurid & TRW",,
*Friction area in kinda pointless to think about, cause it depend to the caliper & bracket that covers all the area of the angle Rotor surface,
*good tuning companies like RB, uses their Experience technique to create their own balancing measurement for many dia. choices,
*you have many good Rotors dia., you can go with, especially you have good spindle to work on, don't waste your time,,
---[[CHOICES FLOWS AROUND YOU]]---
ZAYED,,
Id agree that caliper (ability to apply force) and Bracket (chord & radius of friction area) affect braking efficiency. But I'd disagree that seeking to optimize friction area (pad area) relative to rotor swept area (swept diameter area) is pointless.
What I am saying is for example with all other things being equal, running a 360mm rotor with a pad that only covers 80% of the rotors friction height and is fairly narrow wont yield as much stopping force as one that covers 95% of the friction height and is also wider.
Bigger rotor has longer radius, and a longer radius 180mm (360mm rotor) will provide better mechanical advantage (more brake torque) vs. 170mm (340mm rotor).
Brake torque calculation:
Fn = Normal (Clamping) force is the force pressing brake pad against brake disc.
Fn = P * A (P=Hydraulic pressure; A=Piston area)
Fb = Braking force is the tangential friction force acting between brake pads and disc.
Fb = µ*Fn (µ=Coefficient of friction between pad and disc)
Tb = Brake torque is the moment of braking force about the center of rotation
Tb = Fb*Re (Re=Effective disc radius/torque arm)
Assume same braking force is applied, you get more brake torque (stopping power) with a bigger rotor, or require less pedal effort (hydraulic pressure) to stop a car than a smaller rotor.
Brake pad size and rotor annulus are not related to the brake torque, but the rotor diameter and µ.
A larger pad will generate less heat for the same amount of work (brake torque) transmitted. Therefore a larger rotor or a larger pad is always a good thing to have. But since changing brake pad size involves caliper change which gets more involved, so upsizing the rotor or change brake pad compound (for higher µ is a more practical upgrade.
Last edited by RacingBrake; 10-19-2015 at 09:01 AM.
What I hear you saying is use the largest friction area pad available that will fit into the caliper as well as use the largest rotor radius available.
Could you look up the friction area center length and width dimensions for the largest pad that fits this smaller 6 pot caliper?
I'd also be interested to know if you see if you have a hat that would make it possible to fit your 380mm rotor on to the slk55/clk55/63nBS using our caliper?
You better stay with the stock pad, as I said above a larger (wider) pad would require a different calipers (such as C63), which is what most people don't want to do due to the cost concern.
We have 380x32mm rotor ring that can fit to the same hat as 360mm, so your effective torque arm will be increasing to 190mm vs. OE's original 170mm.
This set up can be used as upgrade for 340 and 360mm OE set up, but would be a special retrofit build.
Since my earlier posts, I have confirmed from several sources that the 6 pot front brake caliper using the 32mm rotor on the w209 clk55/clk63 nbs, r171 '05-'07 slk55 non-030 and all the r171 slk55 030's are the same caliper casting. Just the caliper mounting bracket is different.
This per the folks at RacingBrake as well as forum members.
This is amazing news considering the concern that our 6 pot caliper was not useable for a larger brake rotor upgrade.
So an upgrade from the 340mm rotor to the 360mm rotor is easily doable without concern. And for the slk55 non-030 and clk55, this caliper will also fit the larger 030/clk36 nbs brake pad.
My CNC guy told me that it will cost $400 for the drafting/programming/fixturing and $240 per piece to make a couple sets of brackets. Depending on interest, a group buy would likely lower the per piece price to near $200.
This is amazing news considering the price of the 360mm rotor is coming down from the outrageous stealership cost.
In addition, after discussions with RacingBrake, we can also consider an upgrade that is even more interesting, radical and durable considering the extreme hardness of their rotors.
Their upgrade would consist of a RB 380mm X 32mm GT-R Nismo rotor, a custom made hat to fit it to Mercs, their 165mm X 65mm brake pads, a new set of brackets to fit it all togeter, and longer brake hoses. Cost has so far been estimated at under $1900.
This upgrade would be similar to the existing kit they offer using the larger 6 pot caliper standard on the E63 and C63 class. It upgrades from 360mm to a 390mm rotor (like std C63 to BS), or older E63 to newer E63 while retaining the use of original calipers.
And again a group buy would also lower the per piece price.
Upgrade as you replace is the idea and value of RB kits. With an even lower cost than OE replacement rotor, you get everything you need for a bolt on installation to instantly improve the performance and look of your CLS.
Definitely can't go wrong with this upgrade kit. Join with other satisfied C63 and E63 owners who have done the same upgrade.
C63/E63 is up from 360 to 390mm rotor
For CLS it will be up from 345/360 to 380mm rotor, keep the same OE calipers, pad configuration etc, while still fits nicely under 19" wheels.
If we can get 3 or more pre-orders, free shipping will be included.
10-15-2015, 09:12 AM
. Also, the '05-'06 r171 SLK55 that I have and the w209 CLK55 share the same 340x32 full floating rotor. The '05-'11 r171 SLK55 030 and the w209 CKL63 nBS also share the same 360x32 full floating rotor. All these common models have a 6 pot caliper
