started tear down for paint
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From: Stafford, VA
1998 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG
http://www.radusadirect.com/ has any bolt size you need.
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Well, the shop called and said that the ABS pump was having issues - one of the valves sucking in air. That's whatcha get for $40 I guess, although the seller said it was in working condition. Whatever, cheaper than buying a new one for $2100.
The mechanics asked me to bring my old pump in, he's already disassembled the $40 pump, and will make one good pump with the good bits of both pumps. Just waiting now for my ever suffering wife to grab the pump from the garage, pick me up, and then we'll head to the shop.
Fingers crossed everything back to normal tomorrow.
The mechanics asked me to bring my old pump in, he's already disassembled the $40 pump, and will make one good pump with the good bits of both pumps. Just waiting now for my ever suffering wife to grab the pump from the garage, pick me up, and then we'll head to the shop.
Fingers crossed everything back to normal tomorrow.
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The car never sees the dealer anymore! If I need help (in this case I clearly do, but I can usually handle most things), there are only a few independent shops with whom I deal. I buy parts from the dealer, but I might stop doing that too - need to support the independent shops!
I'm sure the dealer would have told me to just buy a new pump from them. Only the independent shops would suggest ripping apart the pumps themselves. I'm fortunate in that this shop is staffed by ex-dealer guys, who jumped ship when a large conglomerate purchased the dealership. I think they own over a dozen dealerships in town, all of various marques and such.
When I win the lottery, I will build a huge garage and equip it with an alignment rack, wheel mounting and balancing tools and maybe a dyno too.
I'm sure the dealer would have told me to just buy a new pump from them. Only the independent shops would suggest ripping apart the pumps themselves. I'm fortunate in that this shop is staffed by ex-dealer guys, who jumped ship when a large conglomerate purchased the dealership. I think they own over a dozen dealerships in town, all of various marques and such.
When I win the lottery, I will build a huge garage and equip it with an alignment rack, wheel mounting and balancing tools and maybe a dyno too.
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1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
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Yay! The car is back to normal now. Picked it up last night. The tech had to dismantle the two ABS pumps. The electrics on the $40 eBay one were good, but there was something up with a valve in the manifold portion. The situation was reversed on the original pump. Now all's good and the brakes feel great! Mind, we are getting some snow, so I haven't pushed it, but it's just nice to have the ESP/ABS safety net again. Going to buy some longer mounting bolts for the calipers, and I'll post a few more pictures later.
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Some pix of the brakes as 'revised' by the shop. Calipers are mounted with the bleed screws pointing upwards, and the incorrect piston stagger. The elbows on the lines were removed as well, the tech said they were leaking. They also remounted the pad wear sensors with the stock bolts, I think with the calipers mounted the way they are, there are no clearance issues.
It'll do for now, as I don't have any car available at the moment to have time to muck around with the AMG for an extended period of time. Maybe later when the S2000 is back for the season. At that point I think I will get some custom lines done up, or may just figure something out with off the shelf components and adaptors, then get the correct piston orientation.
I also installed the new, 5mm longer caliper mounting bolts too. Still nice and shiny! For now.
Also a pic of the storage bin that eliminates the ashtray. Much more space! I think at some point I will also eliminate the smaller storage bin and replace it with a custom triple gauge holder.
It'll do for now, as I don't have any car available at the moment to have time to muck around with the AMG for an extended period of time. Maybe later when the S2000 is back for the season. At that point I think I will get some custom lines done up, or may just figure something out with off the shelf components and adaptors, then get the correct piston orientation.
I also installed the new, 5mm longer caliper mounting bolts too. Still nice and shiny! For now.
Also a pic of the storage bin that eliminates the ashtray. Much more space! I think at some point I will also eliminate the smaller storage bin and replace it with a custom triple gauge holder.
Last edited by Saaboteur; Mar 27, 2011 at 05:06 AM.
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SAABO:
what did you do with your blue colored adaptors you had mounted to your calipers/SS lines?
are these adaptors necessary to use for brakelines threaded nozzle to reach the backside of the c32 caliper?
you made me worried here if my Goodridge SS lines without any adaptors will be long enuff to bolt the backside of caliper?
where can I buy these adaptors if they are necessary?
local hardware store?
what did you do with your blue colored adaptors you had mounted to your calipers/SS lines?
are these adaptors necessary to use for brakelines threaded nozzle to reach the backside of the c32 caliper?
you made me worried here if my Goodridge SS lines without any adaptors will be long enuff to bolt the backside of caliper?
where can I buy these adaptors if they are necessary?
local hardware store?
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The techs removed the blue adaptors. They said that they were leaking. The adaptors were needed when the calipers were mounted for the proper piston orientation, ie. left side calipers on left side of car. That was because the brakeline orifice was pointed downwards.
Now with the calipers reversed, ie. left caliper on right side, the a) bleed screw is pointed upwards and b) the brakeline orifice is pointed upwards. Because of the latter, there is no need for the adaptor.
I haven't been able to find that adaptor anywhere. When I get a chance to remount the calipers with the proper piston orientation, I will investigate and acquire different adaptors or fabricate up a custom brakeline. However, as it stands right now, the Stoptech stainless lines are long enough.
Now with the calipers reversed, ie. left caliper on right side, the a) bleed screw is pointed upwards and b) the brakeline orifice is pointed upwards. Because of the latter, there is no need for the adaptor.
I haven't been able to find that adaptor anywhere. When I get a chance to remount the calipers with the proper piston orientation, I will investigate and acquire different adaptors or fabricate up a custom brakeline. However, as it stands right now, the Stoptech stainless lines are long enough.
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1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
Stock calipers work with the C32 rotors, I think he wanted more pots and the silver calipers with the black AMG logo (I LOVE THE WAY THEY LOOK)
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For the front, if you want the C32/55/CLK500 calipers, you will need the corresponding 345mm disc as well. The C32 caliper might physically fit over the C43's 334mm disc, but that'd be hack. The C32 calipers are designed for 345mm discs, so you really need both to work properly. Otherwise the pad would not 'grab' a sufficient area of the disc. As I said, it would probably work, but it's DEFINITELY not right.
At the rear, the C43/32/55 use the same disc and I believe caliper as well.
I wanted the 4 piston calipers for better pedal feel. And also because I have multi piston caliper envy. It's a bonus that the parts are cheaper too - not that I intend to burn through discs every year though.
At the rear, the C43/32/55 use the same disc and I believe caliper as well.
I wanted the 4 piston calipers for better pedal feel. And also because I have multi piston caliper envy.
It's a bonus that the parts are cheaper too - not that I intend to burn through discs every year though.
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Last year, after I had the car painted, I had the front end covered in clear 3M protection film. However, that film does not extend to cover the grille, of course. Consequently, I acquired a bunch of chips and such.
Yesterday I decided to begin the grille repaint project. It began with a can of paint stripper and some time with my pressure washer. This is the end result.
Next I'm going to blast it with black Plasti-Dip.
And after that...I noticed a bit of rust already on my driver's door! WTF. That's what I get for a cheap paint job I guess. It's started bubbling a bit on the lower most edge, just above the weather stripping. I think I'm going to remove the inner door trim, clean up as much of it as I can, hit the exposed rust with rust converter, and then do a thin line of Plasti-Dip on the outside of the door. Naturally, I'll have to do the other doors to match, but that's fine. On a black car I don't think it'll be too noticeable.
Next weekend I'm going to install the supercharger kit on my S2000. Then I'm picking up some seals for the 55 motor next month when I head to the US. Plan is to remove the 43 engine on a weekend in August, take a week to tidy up the engine bay, and then put it all back together a weekend after that. Should be fun!
Yesterday I decided to begin the grille repaint project. It began with a can of paint stripper and some time with my pressure washer. This is the end result.
Next I'm going to blast it with black Plasti-Dip.
And after that...I noticed a bit of rust already on my driver's door! WTF. That's what I get for a cheap paint job I guess. It's started bubbling a bit on the lower most edge, just above the weather stripping. I think I'm going to remove the inner door trim, clean up as much of it as I can, hit the exposed rust with rust converter, and then do a thin line of Plasti-Dip on the outside of the door. Naturally, I'll have to do the other doors to match, but that's fine. On a black car I don't think it'll be too noticeable.
Next weekend I'm going to install the supercharger kit on my S2000. Then I'm picking up some seals for the 55 motor next month when I head to the US. Plan is to remove the 43 engine on a weekend in August, take a week to tidy up the engine bay, and then put it all back together a weekend after that. Should be fun!
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good luck with you work Vincent. 
already rust on black beauty?
that sux man!
you need to go back to the bodyshop and complain about their lousy paintjob.
whip their lazy booties!
slap them around and tell them you're going to badmouth their reputation.
already rust on black beauty?
that sux man!
you need to go back to the bodyshop and complain about their lousy paintjob.
whip their lazy booties!
slap them around and tell them you're going to badmouth their reputation.
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moon buggy
In my situation, I live in the SF bay area with roots from Canada.
With the Sharks battling it out with Canucks for WCF, I cheer for the Canucks.
All because hockey is Canada's game.
I'll be in Edmonton next week for my yearly visit to my Mom.
I do hope to get some time to meet and greet with you + to check out your S2k and your AMG.
With the Sharks battling it out with Canucks for WCF, I cheer for the Canucks.
All because hockey is Canada's game.
I'll be in Edmonton next week for my yearly visit to my Mom.
I do hope to get some time to meet and greet with you + to check out your S2k and your AMG.
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Forgot to mention I drove my friend's brand new, performance pack C63 on the weekend. Wow. Not even broken in yet, so didn't push it much, but that car is cool. I see one in my future. Right next to a 911 or some sort...
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Was just about to hit the grille with the Plasti-Dip spray when I decided I should open up the upper passenger side portion of the grille. The passenger side air intake feed is right behind that part of the grille, and stock, parts of the area between the horizontal slats is filled in. Some time with the dremel tool and a box cutter and this is the end result. I'm sure it will give me anothe 50hp....
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1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
Was just about to hit the grille with the Plasti-Dip spray when I decided I should open up the upper passenger side portion of the grille. The passenger side air intake feed is right behind that part of the grille, and stock, parts of the area between the horizontal slats is filled in. Some time with the dremel tool and a box cutter and this is the end result. I'm sure it will give me anothe 50hp....
