Hello.....again


Sorry gents but I am experiencing rather a few issues with this. Last time I posted here on brake disc. Great feed back. Know my disc size and what my car has. 6pot front and 4 pot rear callipers. Solid disc rear vented and perforated and 2 piece front vented and perforated. I see now on the W204 forum that one shouldn't use a single design disc on the front. I have ordered 2 Ferrodo disc yesterday but it hit me now that they are only a single piece but are ventilated and perforated. I am trying to find a ferrodo front pad number but nothing here. I have dimensions on the pads and discs.


I seen a C63 2008 model whilst driving along side it and it seemed like the rear calliper is the same as our front calliper
Now I think the pad is the same so googling and searching. The C63 rear has these funny like ears (vibration dampers) which ours doesn't and the design although looks similar wont actually work.


I may just haveta buy the front pads from a local guy who imports them here or EBC if they stock it. Is it okay to use a single piece design front disc or what am I going to experience. Hopefully today I will get them and can check if I can unbolt the old one and mount it to the new one. That section with the bolts or am I still looking for trouble and should just save and buy EBC disc as well however they are only slotted.


As for the rear, Ferrodo list the wrong pads for my car and their disc shows its just ventilated. Anyway my rear just needs a skim/turned.
I have ordered a CLK63 rear pad as the dimension is only a mm more. I will see if it fits snugly and obviously doesn't sit tight. I don't want it seizing in there. The CLK63 rear pad is the only one that comes close to the 55 dimensions on my W209. If its wrong I will be left with buying it from this local guy importing it.


Anyone here ever used the CLK63 rear pads on their 55 rear? Isn't the callipers the same? Why would the length be slightly different but then again, couple internet sources all show different lengths. Some say 111.6, 109.8, 110, I guess it depends who used what to measure it. Mine however using a measuring tape came in just over 110mm. This local import guy says 109.6 is listed for my VIN.


Someone or anyone, please help?

 

You can use 1-piece Rotors, rather than expensive 2-piece Rotors(it's your option),

C63 uses 4-pot calipers & 330 Rotors, which is identical with your W209 CLK55,

you can put these pads with winglets, you only need to change the wear sensors,,

CLK63/CLK63 BS sharing the same rear pads with W209 CLK55/R171 SLK55

ZAYED,,

 

You can use solid one piece rotors on the front but beware that the unspring weight will be much higher, possible 10 to 15 pounds more per side. That will definitely affect ride and handling. You will also have to be sure the offset is correct or your wheels could touch the calipers (they are very close as it is). Finally the one-piece rotors will need to be the same thickness as the two piece stock rotors.

 

1-piece Rotor is: (345x30), while 2-piece Rotor is: (340x32)..!

ZAYED,,

 

Yeah how **** is my country right now. I only realised when I got home the darn disc are 5mm bigger. Even better nobody from Ferodo brings in racing brakes for Merc. Only for VW and Audi TT cars. Been calling around like mad. Ferrodo main dealer in SA which the product manager informs me that they only do vented and solid. No perforated disc. Gives me a number for a guy who deals in the racing side of Ferodo so mood changes slightly. Enquire from the gentleman and sadly he never brought in the brake pads nor any disc for me. Refers me to Powerbrake who I called before sometime ago. Well anyway call up and hey they only make disc for the pre facelift W209 and the W209 which is 345mm again.


So now I am stuck with hopefully my solution which is the salvage yard here who say they have "new" disc for me. I think it rather machined disc but hell mine look like meteors hit'em and worse then a man who constructed a wall without a spirit level gauge
Maybe machining them will work but the cracks won't be alleviated nor will any warpage if any present at all.


Will have to see if Brembo is decently priced with their outer pieces or find an alternative solution for the future. As of now, I can only start the car and idle her.


Shukran for the input Zayed and thanks Floridawriter

 

So you saying the 345mmx30mm will fit without any issues? It may haveta be an option if the salvage yard don't have two piece rotors for me. Only problem is will haveta get them laser or water jet cut for the drillings or perforated holes.

 

Sure bro., you can directly bolt-on (345X30), they're good drilled Rotors, that used in C32/C55,

if don't want to go with OEM, get "ATE or Zimmermann", of course RB brakes is good optional as well,,

my friend replaced his 2-piece Rotor to 1-piece Rotor in his SLK55, during to high price of "-P31" 2-piece's

(which i believe NOT worth it)..!

ZAYED,,

 

Hmmm I see. Will just haveta call around and hear what they charge to make the holes as I heard drilling them rotors will cause them to crack. This guy who makes disc here told me drilling isn't worth it. It actually becomes the weakest spot for the brake as it can cause cracks and premature disc failure. He prefers making the slots like they do on their brake disc. Well if the salvage yard don't have the right ones, will haveta just make them order the disc again so I can use it.
My country don't have ATE disc for this model car nor any other brands here. ATE do stock here for other makes of car models however Zayed.

 

As you know; It's soo risky to do anything to the brakes in general,

prefer to get Rotors & pads from qualified companies, cause they should to be accurately balanced,

it will be better if you can find good brands locally like "TRW or Zimmermann or Textar"..!

ZAYED,,

 

That's true and very important. Sadly the only manufacturer here for drilled and slotted are Powerbrake but as mentioned they don't have a die mould for my car. Wait now. They said they do have a set of the 345x30mm disc. Will see what happens later on.
Other than that everyone imports stuff here like Ferodo brands and ATE as well as Safeline and Motopart and Alpha disc.

 

Agree with you,

always unknown aftermarket brands scared me, { brakes = life},,

get any of those famous brands, everything will be FINE..

ZAYED,,

 

Food for thought. Drilled rotors used to have a purpose when brake pad glue was crap but now they are just for looks. The are actually not as good at dispersing heat and are prone to cracking. Vented rotors are all you need.

 

Certainly your dealer carries new discs and pads. Is your goal to find a less expensive alternative?

 

Less expensive alternative and no I don't compromise on safety. Certain parts I get from agents. If it a hose like the one that went out on me. I didn't waste time looking for one in the salvage yards. All my service liquids and filters I get from agents. But the brakes are a big NO NO. Their pads and sensors front and rear will be $460. The disc are $720 each for the front. I am no ways gona pay almost R30 000 on brakes for my car. I rather save and put that money toward a salvage 63 motor if that's the case.

 

Insame1 I always thought the same. Heck I even took a little o-ring picker and cleaned out all the drillings and felt it was more effective in stopping afterwards. Like I mentioned I will be using Ferrodo pads. The front rotors I will see what the salvage yard has to offer me. If its just skimmed rotors they can shove it. I will have to get the 345x32mm slotted and vented 1 piece from Powerbrake SA. My brother told me a friend bought it for his Honda EK civic and it looked like it was carbon ceramic disc. Their website shows something else but will see next week if I can get off from work.

 

http://www.wilwood.com/m/techtip/Tec...aspx?id=8&no=2

 

i just took my rotors to a reputable shop and had the pair turned for $30
sure the holes and slots take hits but as anybody who has a clue will tell you they are primarily there for show

 

Wave can you post a photo of your disc before the skim and afterward pls?


I doubt mine are able to survive a skim coz like I said, they have burn marks here and there and ridges like you cant imagine. I guess I didn't look at the car close enough when I bought it and was ripped off here regarding the brakes.
I will be using Febi brake disc which I have sourced from local shop that keep parts for European and German vehicles. They are ventilated and perforated disc and definitely are lighter than the ventilated Ferodo ones. They are however one piece 345mm and not 2 piece sadly.


One last question guys for those who know or have done the service themselves before. Where do I fit the brake pad wear sensors? I was told the car uses 2 only. Read up on this and indeed they mention the use of 1 per front and rear. I now have 4 sensors and was thinking of fitting them all round. I do know my car has one on the driver side rear axle being a RHD vehicle for South African roads. I saw one on the driver front axle but the wire was broken off.
I haven't had a look at the LHS of the vehicle as the findings from the RHS were enough to tell me to do the brakes all round.


Thanks once again everyone for your assistance and information and knowledge from experience and education.

 

I think only (1) sensor for fronts & (1) in the rears..!

ZAYED,,

 

what he said. It is pretty obvious when you get in there.

 

Indeed he is right. One for both right rear and front. Sadly my disc are not fitting with the reinforcing carrier bridge bolt section

I have two options here. 1 I either machine this carrier spacer so the disc clear but because their primary function is to reinforce the calliper as well as provide stability, that is a big NO NO.
Option 2 which I am most likely to use, is to use washers of equal size and thickness on either side of the allen key mounting bolt. This should be able to move the calliper up a bit just enough to give me 2.5 to 3mm clearance so my disc can freely rotate.

 

I read this topic and don't really understand the issue.
345*30 single piece are only for MK 1 with 4 pots calipers

For MK2 (6 pots calipers) you need 340*32 2 pieces for a CLK 55 and 360*32 for a CLK 63
If you find 1 piece rotor you need to keep the dimensions : 340*32.
For the pads OEM are not so bad except if you track your car.
Rear brakes are the same (4 pots calipers) between CLK 55 MK2, CLK 63, CLK 63 BS and SLK 55 MK1 and SLK 55 BS
CLK 55 MK1 shares the same rear brakes (2 pots calipers) with SLK 55 MK2.

There is only 2 wear sensors. One on front and one on rear brakes pads on the right side.

 

All I can say is take a look at just how thick those rings are before you commit. Have the machinist take it nice and slow and report back.

Mine were scratched and grooved and glazed and they came out just fine. I do have pictures to u/l but honestly what could possibly be your downside?

I'm only trying to save you $1000>come valentines day I prefer candy to flowers

 

Tex... My issue is I cannot find any 340mmx30mm disc in my country except agents. Else I will have to import and as of late the Rand to $$$ don't look great at all.


Wave, I will look for my micrometre and measure the disc. I am still doubting whether to use the wrong diameter disc or not just till I save up to import the right size I require. The weights are as mentioned above very different between the 340 2 piece and 345 single piece rotors.


I also obviously will run into the problem of having those rust rings formed on the inner section of my 345 if I use them as moving the calliper away with the washers I have will give me the 3mm room I require. I do intend to use a longer bolt with this and thread locker and see how it works from there.


I don't know what else to do from here but go with the spacer on the calliper to use the C55 disc.

 

I don't think 5mm more in dia. will be the issue..!,

more think to be considered is the pad height, during to the differ Hat dia. between 1-piece Rotor & 2-piece Rotor:-

*Rotor Hat dia.:-

1) C32/C55: (220.5mm)

2) CLK55/SLK55 Hat dia.: (218.5mm)


*Pad height:-

1) C32/C55: (71.5mm)

2) CLK55/SLK55 pad height is: (81.5mm)


[[-Hope i'm NOT wrong with these measurement-]]!!??!!

ZAYED,,