Purely for looks, the C230 sport comes with a nice setup up front with a 330x28 drilled rotor and 57mm dual piston caliper. The rear is a 290x10 solid rotor with a 36mm caliper, which looks a little small.

Anybody upgrade the rears only to the C32/C55 setup of a 300x22 rotor with 42mm dual piston caliper? I'm curious to know if there was a major difference in brake balance or brake pedal feel.

 

Don't do it. It will mess up the brake balance.

 

I've been trying to figure out the similarities between the 44/40mm F + 42m R setup vs. the 57 F + 36 R setup. These piston diameters were commonly used across MB's smaller vehicle lines, and yet I can't seem to find anything that says there were different MC's or valves between the two setups. And if you do the math, the increase in piston bores isn't of the same percentage.

Just curious really from people's real-world results...

 

I have full set of Front and Rear C32/C55 Calipers and Rotors on my C230 Coupe, and the brakes are amazing.

Remember that when you add the C32/C55 Rear Calipers and Rotors you are going to a lager diameter VENTED ROTOR, with a bigger rear pad.
There is no reason that anyone would need any more brakes on this car.

 

+1 - you did it properly - Back & front.

 

I agree with posts above.. Changing only the rear will make matters worse.. If you are going for a bbk upgrade... change both front and rear

 

+1. Should always change out front and rears at the same time with matching components or the brake balance goes crazy.

 

This might be a mod in my near future if I can find someone selling this setup.

-Markus-

 

+1

 

I have a complete set of Front and Rear Calipers 4-Sale in the For Sale forum.

Thanks,
Dave

 

If you want to improve looks but not mess up brake balance, why not just change out the rear rotors with drilled ones of the same size... it would look sportier.

 

The brakes on the 203 (dunno about pre-facelift or non-sport ones) are awesome.

 

What's the point? If its just for looks then why spend the money unless I had a beautiful set of rims to go with them. I prefer to kep the stock ones on there and get an actual 32/55/63 if I want the big brakes.

 

It's crazy viper because in our threads (the 32 and 55 section) we talk about and some people even have done the e55 big brake upgrade, but in this section they talk about doing the 32/55 upgrade.moral of the story, be thankful for what you have I guess.

 

thats very true! just how a boy racer with a honda civic wishes he had a C280 LOL... the grass is always greener on the other side

 

The reason is because I have the C55 rear setup I pulled off my C55 that I may want to place on a future car, but don't necessarily want to go with the 4 pots (330 or 345) up front. The difference between the front calipers pistons is only a 9% increase, while the rears is a 26% increase. Yes there are changes in rotor size and the amount of moment that's produced on the rotor, but in terms of overall pedal feel and lockup, there isn't a direct correlation between the front and rear increases.

I'm trying to reuse something I have (basically it's free ) and wanted to know some real world results vs. my calculations on paper.

 

Do you still have the brakes available?

 

I sold that set, but have another set complete with rotors that I would want $1000. for.
The calipers, rotors, pads everything has less than 5k on them since new.

Thanks,
Dave

 

I offer you 600$ right now.. Its all I have. Is that the 2 or 4 pistons brake?

 

No thanks on the offer.
They are 4-piston front and 2-piston rears.
I sold a set of calipers only for $500; and it did not include rotors, and not as nice a set.

Thanks,
Dave

 

Dave, I apologize if my offer sound offensive. I didn't know we were talking about front and rear.

Could you accept 850$?

 

What about just the front do you think I can get away with it for a little? also will they fit in the stock wheels of my 05 c230k sport