C350 Brake Upgrade
01-08-2011, 11:54 PM
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C300
C350 Brake Upgrade
I have an 09 C300 sport and bought loaded calipers and rotors from a member of this site, and installed them today. The installation was super easy and took less than an hour (I also changed the rear rotors because they were trash - after only 30,000 miles).
You can see the C300 calipers (left) versus the C350. I read on this list at some time that someone thought the C300's were aluminum and were lighter. Mine are not aluminum and are lighter than the C350's, but only by about 2 pounds. They are both steel but the C350 is much beefier. Both are single piston and the piston is the same size on both. However, the frame is bigger. The C350 pads are a bit larger but not that much bigger. However, they are better isolated from the piston which greatly aids in heat dissipation which in turn reduces brake fade.
The rotors on the C350 are almost an inch larger in diameter and about a 1/4 in wider. Again, better heat dissipation and less fade.
After I finished, I took it out for about a 30 mile drive to break in the pads to the new rotors. What I like - very responsive braking. Very little pressure on the pedal will bring the car to a stop. Put real pressure on the pedal, and there is a noticeable difference in stopping distance and you can actually feel the braking through the pedal - not some soft vanilla reaction to pressure.
What I don't like about it so far is the increased braking noise in the car. However, this is normal when upgrading to a "performance" set up. When I do these to turbo Porsche's, there is significant increase in noise - more like a low buzzing sound coming through the frame of the car, especially from high speed.
If I had to pay dealer cost ($1500 - $1800) in parts to do the upgrade, I wouldn't do it. I bought the parts used and in good shape for $625 and I think it is an ok upgrade. I think if you really want a high performance brake upgrade, spend the big money and buy a 4 or 6 piston Brembo system. I can't see doing that either because of the cost, but that's me.
The best upgrade I did on this car for handling is installing new Michelin Sport A/S all around. Incredible ride, incredible handling, incredible steering response, and little or no road noise. They really compliment this car.
You can see the C300 calipers (left) versus the C350. I read on this list at some time that someone thought the C300's were aluminum and were lighter. Mine are not aluminum and are lighter than the C350's, but only by about 2 pounds. They are both steel but the C350 is much beefier. Both are single piston and the piston is the same size on both. However, the frame is bigger. The C350 pads are a bit larger but not that much bigger. However, they are better isolated from the piston which greatly aids in heat dissipation which in turn reduces brake fade.
The rotors on the C350 are almost an inch larger in diameter and about a 1/4 in wider. Again, better heat dissipation and less fade.
After I finished, I took it out for about a 30 mile drive to break in the pads to the new rotors. What I like - very responsive braking. Very little pressure on the pedal will bring the car to a stop. Put real pressure on the pedal, and there is a noticeable difference in stopping distance and you can actually feel the braking through the pedal - not some soft vanilla reaction to pressure.
What I don't like about it so far is the increased braking noise in the car. However, this is normal when upgrading to a "performance" set up. When I do these to turbo Porsche's, there is significant increase in noise - more like a low buzzing sound coming through the frame of the car, especially from high speed.
If I had to pay dealer cost ($1500 - $1800) in parts to do the upgrade, I wouldn't do it. I bought the parts used and in good shape for $625 and I think it is an ok upgrade. I think if you really want a high performance brake upgrade, spend the big money and buy a 4 or 6 piston Brembo system. I can't see doing that either because of the cost, but that's me.
The best upgrade I did on this car for handling is installing new Michelin Sport A/S all around. Incredible ride, incredible handling, incredible steering response, and little or no road noise. They really compliment this car.
02-14-2011, 10:41 PM
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Update....
The brakes have been on the car for over a month and they have bedded in great - no noise, no super-grabbing, no surprises. There is also no fade whatsoever regardless of the speed. There is a noticeable difference in brake feel even though these are really that much bigger than stock. Around town, very little effort is needed to brake the car. From highway speed, the car backs down quickly, smoothly and quietly. I really like the upgrade now.
The brakes have been on the car for over a month and they have bedded in great - no noise, no super-grabbing, no surprises. There is also no fade whatsoever regardless of the speed. There is a noticeable difference in brake feel even though these are really that much bigger than stock. Around town, very little effort is needed to brake the car. From highway speed, the car backs down quickly, smoothly and quietly. I really like the upgrade now.
02-14-2011, 10:47 PM
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02-15-2011, 04:57 AM
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great write up! did you have to change the piston carrier to get the C350 calipers on your C300? If so, once you got the carrier, the rest was a straight swap?
02-15-2011, 09:19 AM
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As the owner of a C350 who has driven multiple C300s, I agree -- the brakes do make a difference. A couple of car magazines complained about the C300's brakes, but none ever did so in the case of the C350.
Agreed.
My experience is different.
(i) On good roads, the Michelins are IMHO simply superb -- both noise-wise and ride-wise.
(ii) On bad roads, however (e.g., concrete highways, poorly fixed smaller roads), the noise level and ride quality are bad enough that I am now looking at alternatives. I changed from the Conti Pro Contacts last Fall, and while the Michelins have significantly better steering response and cold-weather handling, the ride and noise levels are significantly worse on bad roads. Unfortunately, that's where I spend most of my time in car.
(i) On good roads, the Michelins are IMHO simply superb -- both noise-wise and ride-wise.
(ii) On bad roads, however (e.g., concrete highways, poorly fixed smaller roads), the noise level and ride quality are bad enough that I am now looking at alternatives. I changed from the Conti Pro Contacts last Fall, and while the Michelins have significantly better steering response and cold-weather handling, the ride and noise levels are significantly worse on bad roads. Unfortunately, that's where I spend most of my time in car.
02-15-2011, 10:34 PM
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This whole operation was a direct swap - take calipers and rotors off, install the c350 stuff, bleed the brakes, drive. As I said in my write up, the whole process took around an hour. Add 15 min for bleeding the brakes and double checking your work.
