Rear Brake Upgrade Questions
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From: GA
2016 Chevrolet SS, 2006 Cadillac STS-V
Rear Brake Upgrade Questions
I would like to upgrade my rear brake calipers since the stockers are ugly to begin with and mine are rusty so they look even worse. From what I've gathered the REAL upgrade is 6/4 piston from a CLK? I also saw a mention about SLK55 rear calipers. Are the calipers different is one better than the other? I looked at some SLK55s on eBay but its hard to see the brakes through the spoke wheels on those. I don't think I really need to upgrade the fronts (at least right now), I just would like the rears mainly for the better look and the better braking is just a plus. I saw that they will bolt up no problem, I'll just have to trim the backing plate. Are the rotors the same though from my car to the CLK/SLK (except for being cross-drilled)?
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From: Atlanta Metro
Current: C217 V12TT AMG Previously: C55 AMG, SL65 AMG
I've contemplated this upgrade myself, since one of my weaknesses is looking at cars with beautiful brakes. Every time I tell myself I need to save my money.....rough times.
Anyway, here's what I've found:
05-06 CLK55 and 07ish and below SLK55 - 6 piston front w/ 340mm rotor, 4 piston rear w/ 330mm rotor, both rotors are thicker and both x-drilled as well.
07 CLK63 and SLK55 P030 - revised/taller 6 piston front w/ 360mm 2-piece rotor, 4 piston rear w/ 330mm rotor, both rotors are thicker and both x-drilled as well.
08ish-10 SLK55 - comes with the same brakes we have now, 4 piston w/ 345mm rotor, 2 piston rear w/ 300mm rotor, rumor is cost-cutting and owner complaints
Beware that the rear 4 piston caliper gives the impression that it's actually bigger than your front 4 piston caliper. It'll look good, but not sure how picky you are on caliper size comparison. Also, take a look at my thread about painting the rear calipers - it makes a big difference, and for now has satisfied me with the "look". Maybe in the future I'll do the brake upgrade. If you do it and we get together at a meet again, you'll probably convince me to do it.....
Anyway, here's what I've found:
05-06 CLK55 and 07ish and below SLK55 - 6 piston front w/ 340mm rotor, 4 piston rear w/ 330mm rotor, both rotors are thicker and both x-drilled as well.
07 CLK63 and SLK55 P030 - revised/taller 6 piston front w/ 360mm 2-piece rotor, 4 piston rear w/ 330mm rotor, both rotors are thicker and both x-drilled as well.
08ish-10 SLK55 - comes with the same brakes we have now, 4 piston w/ 345mm rotor, 2 piston rear w/ 300mm rotor, rumor is cost-cutting and owner complaints
Beware that the rear 4 piston caliper gives the impression that it's actually bigger than your front 4 piston caliper. It'll look good, but not sure how picky you are on caliper size comparison. Also, take a look at my thread about painting the rear calipers - it makes a big difference, and for now has satisfied me with the "look". Maybe in the future I'll do the brake upgrade. If you do it and we get together at a meet again, you'll probably convince me to do it.....
Last edited by Viper98912; May 30, 2010 at 09:35 AM.
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2014 E350 4Matic
I have the CLK 030 rear 4 piston rear calipers and rotors and the stock, OE larger front 4 piston calipers and rotors on my C55. This set up works just fine. 70% of my braking force is still in the front and no adverse handling characteristic resulted from having upgraded my rears. I did this for cosmetic reasons. The OE braking system is just fine for almost all handling situations short of ***** out racing.
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2016 Chevrolet SS, 2006 Cadillac STS-V
I have the CLK 030 rear 4 piston rear calipers and rotors and the stock, OE larger front 4 piston calipers and rotors on my C55. This set up works just fine. 70% of my braking force is still in the front and no adverse handling characteristic resulted from having upgraded my rears. I did this for cosmetic reasons. The OE braking system is just fine for almost all handling situations short of ***** out racing.
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From: GA
2016 Chevrolet SS, 2006 Cadillac STS-V
I found it, looks like you did a group buy. I can get wholesale prices through my dealer so I'll probably just go through them. Came to about $1300 + tax/shipping on getmercedesparts.com so it should be about the same if I buy locally. I suppose I'll start saving! I probably need to wait a bit anyway since the rear brake pads were replaced by the dealer I bought the car from so they're still pretty new. Plus, my stock parts are probably near worthless anyway, right? As far as being able to sell my stock parts on here/eBay after removal?
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From: NY
2014 E350 4Matic
Great I'm glad you found it. Yes your rear brakes are worthless to others but, keep them anyway. Any time you sell or have to sell your C55 make sure that you have all the OE parts -- anyone who buys your car will want an OE model or at least the opportunity to restore the car to stock if they do not share your taste in mod's. Otherwise, the value of your car will plumet below OE used values regardless of the cost of your mods.
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Current: C217 V12TT AMG Previously: C55 AMG, SL65 AMG
The four corners of the C32/C55 brakes are sought after by the rest of the W203 crowd, I've seen avg price go for about $800 for the entire set.
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that's if you have new/decent pads and rotors. they sell for $500 if you are lucky and the rears are hard to sell. ppl only want the fronts
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2014 E350 4Matic
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2016 Chevrolet SS, 2006 Cadillac STS-V
I've been doing some more research today, and I have a few questions I can't find the answer to. Do the calipers come with all the plates and pins that hold the brake pads in? Is the brake wear sensor different with these brake pads than my stockers? All my searching has confused me a little more too! Some of these threads have the same part numbers for the calipers but rotors and pads have slightly different numbers. I can't even find the thread again that I saved the part number list from.
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2016 Chevrolet SS, 2006 Cadillac STS-V
From what I've gathered the rear is exactly the same from the SLK55 and CLK63 it's the fronts that are slightly different. I actually do plan on getting the fronts too, but it will definately be one set at a time.
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From: GA
2016 Chevrolet SS, 2006 Cadillac STS-V
Hmm, I guess I need to decide whether or not I still want to keep my stock wheels if they won't even fit.
Also, does anyone know how much more the CLK63 front caliper sticks out toward the wheel compared to the stock C55 caliper?
Also, does anyone know how much more the CLK63 front caliper sticks out toward the wheel compared to the stock C55 caliper?
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From: Atlanta Metro
Current: C217 V12TT AMG Previously: C55 AMG, SL65 AMG
The stock 55 wheels are 18s? Did you downgrade?
From pictures, it looks like the 6 piston caliper gets VERY close to the front spokes, but it still fits.
From pictures, it looks like the 6 piston caliper gets VERY close to the front spokes, but it still fits.
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From: GA
2016 Chevrolet SS, 2006 Cadillac STS-V
No, I didn't downgrade. I just bought spr's CLK63 brake setup. I thought I saw someone with a C32 with some kind of a brake upgrade with stock wheels but I can't seem to find it now. So far I've kept everything I've taken off the car, but I'm thinking about selling my stock brakes since they were all replaced before I bought the car to finance the upgrade. However, if I do that and my 17" stock wheels won't fit any more I might as well sell those, too. 
