AMGDave

Posted over in the Classified section:

https://mbworld.org/forums/classifieds/94563-sold-334mm-brembo-brake-upgrade-w124-w201-r129.html

Bolt-on for 400E/500E and all SL, can also fit all 124/201 with minor mods...

AMGDave

Bump. New classified ad here:

https://mbworld.org/forums/classifieds/191688-fs-334mm-brembo-brake-upgrade-w124-w201-r129.html

(can't edit link in original post, sorry!)

CDP

whoa, you've been trying to sell that set for that long?

AMGDave

LOL! No, this is the fourth kit. I've sold two before, and I have one for my personal car. I keep my eyes open and find maybe one per year. They're pretty rare - not enough wrecked Silver Arrows out there.

rlee02135

Chris, you should get these


BTW, these look very similar to the C32 brakes...







maybe the C32 x-drilled rotors will fit? they are 13.6"

CDP

I thought I did?

AMGDave

The R129 and C32 Brembo brakes are very similar but not identical. The rotors are not interchangeable, although they look almost the same. I just picked up a set of the 334mm Silver Arrow drilled rotors from the dealer this afternoon and they look almost identical to the C32 rotors. I haven't had time to take photos yet.

From what I understand, when the C32 calipers are installed on 124/129 knuckles, they have to be swapped left to right to get the bleeder screw on top. That flips the leading/trailing pistons as well, which isn't desireable. I'm not sure what the possible drawbacks are, other than uneven pad wear, but it's something to consider along with the "clearancing" required. The C32 stuff sure looks pretty though!

CDP

Dave, I'll let you know how everything goes next weekend!

rlee02135

wuz talking about the R129's

AMGDave

Sounds good - I'd love to see photos of what has to be 'tweaked' to make the C32 brakes fit. I also wonder if there's less interference problems when the C32 calipers are installed with R129 knuckles (i.e., like your E420 instead of an E320.)

E4///Turbo

The C32 brakes are bigger but on a stock horsepower Eclass any. these are the best for the price.

I would not want to swap the calipers left to right-the mods to make them fit are not that bad......

I have my car completely torn to bits right now and engine out tranny out and might have the wheel lips polished, I will take some more detailed photos fo those interested, either way the wheels have to come off again for a full inside and out side cleaning and waxing so will take pics then......

300EVO

AMGDave, you seem to know your brakes! I have the calipers/rotors from a '95 E320, do you think they'll fit my '88 300E or will I run into the clearance problem you're talking about? The dealership said the spindles are the same part # but I did notice the difference in the ball jt. areas of the control arms. Thanks.

CDP

Hey Coast,

I understand that when you did the swap you had to do three minor mods to make the brakes fit.

I was talking to one of my friends who is a mechanic here at my work and who has also done countless amounts of C32 swaps on various cars including the C32 and he said there would be no modifications needed?

E4///Turbo

From what I understand, when the C32 calipers are installed on 124/129 knuckles, they have to be swapped left to right to get the bleeder screw on top.

That is not correct in my case anyway, left front caliper bolted to left front right front caliper bolted to right front, you would have to look extremely close to tell it was not a factory installation.... I could slap a E36 badge on the trunk and no one would no the difference.......

E4///Turbo

I was talking to one of my friends who is a mechanic here at my work and who has also done countless amounts of C32 swaps on various cars including the C32 and he said there would be no modifications needed?

The first swap that I did was on a fellow board members white widebody W210, and the C32 brakes fit directly bolt on needed spacers though to clear calipers with 18 inch Lorinser type wheel.

2nd one I did was a e500 95 bolt on zero mods

3rd 1992 190 evolution II same mods as required on my car....

You have a V8 car I am guessing it will bolt right up....

I have a M111 powered E class cabriolet....

in the end C32 brakes are the very best you can buy for your car within reason period.....I have checked Bekkers, Stop tech and everywhere else and at $995.00 new there is nothing else with 4 piston brembos and 345 mm rotors and will pull the car down to a stop period....

Think of C32 brakes on an Eclass as a reverse turbo....It will stop you fast....
__________________

AMGDave

The '95 E320 brakes won't fit the '88 300E without mods. The rotor sits 6mm deeper and will contact the ball joint area of the lower control arm. You can do one of the following:

1) Swap on R129 knuckles & hubs, this pushes the rotor (and wheel+tire) further out
2) Swap on the late W124 lower control arms ($$$$ for new ones, alignment required afterwards)
3) Forget the E320 brakes and get the 300x28mm R129/500E brakes instead - these fit without mods, but require 16" wheels. I'm putting these on my diesel within the next month, with the matching 500E rear brakes too.

AMGDave

Someone mentioned that they had to be flipped to fit, but now I can't recall who said that, and which application they were referring to. That would be very cool if they don't need to be flipped, since the bleeders & pistons should be in the correct orientation. I'm wondering if the difference between installs might have to do with the R129 knuckles? Only the W124's with the M119 (124.034, 124.036) got the R129 knuckles. Maybe Coast had to do mods since his car didn't have those (AFAIK.) If they bolt on without mods that would be sweet.

Chris, please let us know what you find out!

AMGDave

OK - that data supports my theory... the 6-cyl W124, and all W201, use different knuckles/hubs. So they may fit fine if you use R129 knuckles. Question: There was no 1995 E500 in the USA. Do you mean 1994?

Chris, if the C32 setup fits with ZERO mods, I'm tempted to try it on my E500... hmm...

CDP

Dave and everyone else - I'll definitely let you guys know next weekend when I get them installed. They should arrive by FedEx by then. Aiming for Saturday to be exact.

I'm hoping they are a direct bolt on set up - then again I don't see why they wouldn't be. It's gonna look killer!

I'm kind of contempting getting C32 rear's.... worth it?

AMGDave

I was wondering the same thing. Does anyone have specs, and photos, of the C32 rears?

BTW - does someone have the eact weight of a C32 caliper & rotor? I'd like to add that data to my spreadsheet.

AMGDave

The C32 has fancy front brakes with drilled rotors, etc... but it has plain, solid rear rotors and normal 2-piston calipers out back. Oh well. Here's some good photos of a 2004 C32 on fleaBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=320107125376

Looks like the Silver Arrow drilled rears are still the hot ticket for 124/129/201. They should match nicely with the C32 fronts.

CDP

eh, those brakes look boring.

E55 rear AMG brakes FTW!!!

AMGDave

You gotta be careful to have at least somewhat matched piston size front & rear, or the bias will be screwed up. I'm thinking that the C32 pistons are 44/40, same as the R129 Brembos, which should be OK with the R129 rears.

The E55 deal with 4-piston rears, well, I'm not sure I'd attempt those without the matching fronts. I know a guy who put the E55 brakes (8-piston front, 4-piston rear) on a 124.036 but I think it took quite a bit of fabrication. More details are on the 500Ecstasy.com forum somewhere, with photos.

I'm thinking more low-budget, myself, lol. I checked into the C32 brake prices and at wholesale the calipers, pads, rotors, and wear sensors add up to over $900 plus tax and/or shipping... figure $950-$1k to your door. Cheaper than StopTech for sure, but not exactly cheap.

My Brembos for sale are about half that (hey, I'm still trying to sell them, lol!)

CDP

LOL. thats at list price... imagine what my cost on those brakes will be.

Anyways, yeah I know who did that E55 swap. My buddy Ramil.

awesome car and guy.

AMGDave

List price was $1100+... wholesale is less 20% for the ~$900 price. If your price is below wholesale, then yeah, wow...