Brake upgrades?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 143
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From: Houston, Texas
2001 Mercedes Benz CLK 430 Coupe
Brake upgrades?
Ok so it seams that I am obsessed with this car. Am planning on upgrading the brakes all the way around. I have been searching all over the net and so far found some good prices for what I want. For rotors I am undecided between the EBC Ultimax slotted rotors or the Baer Decelarotors the are drilled and slotted. The pads will most likely be EBC Red Stuff. Any thoughts?
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 335
Likes: 3
From: Lodi, CA
2001 CLK55 AMG
Start with the smaller things and see what satisfies you. Fluid flush, better pads, ebc, hawk, some stainless lines, etc. I hear you can do a w209 swap too without too much difficulty, gives you larger rotors, 2-pot front calipers, yadda yadda and it's much cheaper than a big brake kit.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 143
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From: Houston, Texas
2001 Mercedes Benz CLK 430 Coupe
Well one of the reasons I "need" to swap the rotors is because of some serious vibration when braking. As far as the W209 swap will I nees to swap wheels as well or will the slightly larger rotors clear the 17 inch amg wheels that I have now.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 50
Likes: 3
From: Rochester NY
2001 CLK 55 AMG
The 4 piston calipers and pads from an '03 - '04 AMG CLK (and many others) will bolt right onto your car. The 17" AMG wheels will clear the brakes no problem. It is a tight fit, but you won't have any issues.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 143
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From: Houston, Texas
2001 Mercedes Benz CLK 430 Coupe
That's sweet, I want that big brake dried and slotted look with nice bright red calipers. I do brakes all the time in my spare time and have done many performance upgrades for both friends and family. Now it's time to do one for me. Will there be any issues swapping out the calipers as far as the ABS system?
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Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 50
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From: Rochester NY
2001 CLK 55 AMG
I have put about 8,000 miles on mine and have had no problems. The only thing I didn't do was put on the new brake wear sensors. I didn't have the right ones in stock at the time and didn't want to wait for them. I have done 5 or 6 autocross events with the brakes as well and still no issues. Very easy swap to do.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: SCV SoCal
2002 CLK430
The stock brakes on a W208 CLK are excellent. A stock CLK430 brakes from sixty MPH to zero in 121 feet. It takes 211 feet to stop from eighty MPH. A W208 CLK55 brakes from sixty to zero in 117 feet and 206 from eighty MPH. Improving the calipers alone may bring the 430 numbers closer to the 55. However, the larger discs are required to match the AMG brakes (this is especially true for fade).
In comparison to other cars, a 2004 911 GT3 takes 119 feet to stop from sixty MPH.
In comparison to other cars, a 2004 911 GT3 takes 119 feet to stop from sixty MPH.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,435
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From: Nebraska
99CLK320,
I put cross drilled brembo rotors and Porterfield R4S pads on and they are noisy as hell under hard braking. I had better pedal feel with oem pads but I refused to deal with the constant black dust. I have tracked the car and can see no difference. waist of money on my 320 however, thats not to say an AMG package wouldn't be sweet. I would go w/professor MarcusF. Whats the point in spending the $ if you only gain a couple of feet more on an already excellent braking system?
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 335
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From: Lodi, CA
2001 CLK55 AMG
Marcus is right, unless looks are super important to you, you're best off putting some new rotors and pads on it, good pads, quality rotors, and you're pretty set. Big thing is bedding correctly, and torquing your wheel nuts properly to reduce the chance of warping. Also, fading will decrease with better, and fresh fluid, which you should do anyways with these vehicles, and stainless steel graded lines will increase initial petal feel. You'd be surprised at what some quality rotors and great pads can do. If you want some shiny calipers on a budget with larger rotors, clk500 rotors and pads would be adequate, less to replace than 55 AMG parts, and readily available. They also have a the look you are going for, if you shoot them red. This can be done on a budget and yield great results.
