C43 brakes question
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22 X3, 21 330e, 97 M3, 97 C36 (sold), but on the hunt for a clean, low-mile C43!
C43 brakes question
So I just looked at and test-drove a C43 w/ pretty low miles (88K), and although the car was in ok condition, when I drove it I noticed that the brake pedal was pretty mushy and that the brakes didn't really grab until the pedal was pressed down quite a way (about an inch and a half off the floor). Does this sound normal? Current owner only had the car a couple months so he doesn't know if the brakes have ever been replaced/flushed/etc.
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From: Norcal
43
So I just looked at and test-drove a C43 w/ pretty low miles (88K), and although the car was in ok condition, when I drove it I noticed that the brake pedal was pretty mushy and that the brakes didn't really grab until the pedal was pressed down quite a way (about an inch and a half off the floor). Does this sound normal? Current owner only had the car a couple months so he doesn't know if the brakes have ever been replaced/flushed/etc.
At this point in time it could be anything, but the first thing I would suggest (easiest too) is to look at the rotor and brake pads. If that's the problem you will most likely notice a huge lip formed around the edge of the rotor, and the brake pads will be thin or probably worn down to near the metal.
In a less optimistic scenario, it could be that either there is a leak in the brake lines, or the brake master cylinder is failing, or has failed already. There could still be other possible reasons for this issue.
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From: Chapel Hill, NC/Montreal, QC
1995 C36 AMG, 1998 C43 AMG
+2
When i got my C43 the discs were warn and warped, and the pads were quite warn, and unevenly. It sounded a bit like what you described.
But also note that when i got new pads, new rotors, new fluid etc in the 43, compared to the feel of my 36, the first couple impressions I had were that the "new" brakes sucked. It felt like I had to press a bit until they started biting, and honestly the smoothness really threw me off. I thought they were barely grabbing, and really late too, then I realized when I glanced at the speedo just how hard I was actually braking.
It sounds like there's just warn stuff going on with this particular one, but do keep that in mind.
When i got my C43 the discs were warn and warped, and the pads were quite warn, and unevenly. It sounded a bit like what you described.
But also note that when i got new pads, new rotors, new fluid etc in the 43, compared to the feel of my 36, the first couple impressions I had were that the "new" brakes sucked. It felt like I had to press a bit until they started biting, and honestly the smoothness really threw me off. I thought they were barely grabbing, and really late too, then I realized when I glanced at the speedo just how hard I was actually braking.
It sounds like there's just warn stuff going on with this particular one, but do keep that in mind.
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From: Bay Area, CA
98 C43, 15 Alfa 4C LE, 18 Tesla Model 3 DM Perf, 08 Duc S1000, 02 Duc 998, 98 Duc 748, 01 Miata
I would not describe the brake feel in a C43 as "good". There is minimal feedback and the early portion of the pedal throw is not linear. Once you're into them though, the pedal pressure is more of a linear relation to the braking force.
