Need help on brake upgrade
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Newbie
Joined: Jul 2005
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Need help on brake upgrade
I bought a complete set of front & rear AMG calipers and rotors from a 2003 CL55 AMG KOMPRESSOR with 84,000 miles. I was told that they would fit my 2000 S500. After receiving my purchase and taking them to my local non-dealer Mercedes service/repair guy, I learned that I would need different spindles on the front. I have been advised that any spindle from a 2003 to 2006 S600 or 2003 to 2006 215/220 AMG would work and accommodate these calipers. Can I get some confirmation from some of you experts that these spindles will work? Also, what modifications am I looking at for the rear calipers? By the way, I have 20" HRE's on the car.
Thanks in advance for any help. I am not a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination.
Thanks in advance for any help. I am not a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 586
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From: Salinas,CA
2000 S430
ok will do Im thinking about just doing the back first since the rear pads are getting low and then when the fronts go upgrade the fronts but who knows lol I may just say f it and upgrade all the way around when the rear pads are gone.
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
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2003 S-430 Sport
Great topic - I'm getting ready to do the front brakes on my 03 S430 and wouldn't mind upgrading if possible.
First of all, where do you guys purchase the S55 AMG upgrade Brake Kit? I searched around but couldn't find the AMG kit.
Second - should the S55 brake kit be for the 00-02 S55 or the 03-06 S55? I heard somewhere that the older kit was a closer plug and play fit for the 03 non S55 like mine but that the "newer" was better.
Have any of you already upgraded? How did it go?
First of all, where do you guys purchase the S55 AMG upgrade Brake Kit? I searched around but couldn't find the AMG kit.
Second - should the S55 brake kit be for the 00-02 S55 or the 03-06 S55? I heard somewhere that the older kit was a closer plug and play fit for the 03 non S55 like mine but that the "newer" was better.
Have any of you already upgraded? How did it go?
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Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2005
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I finished the installation of front and rear AMG brakes. 8 piston front and 4 piston rear. I got most of my parts from Potomac, a MB recycler in Maryland. Front spindles from 03 to 06 215/220 AMG will work but you will also need the hub carriers for the rear from the same. Do your homework before you delve into this. It can get expensive.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
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2003 S-430 Sport
No kidding, I was talking to a local shop for alternatives like Brembo upgrades and they were talking about 2k in parts alone not including labor! Assuming they do the upgrade of course.
Obviously you can probably get the parts for less if you are getting them from recyclers or something like that but it still sounds expensive compared to just doing the regular brakes with some nice Akebno pads!
...must research more....
Obviously you can probably get the parts for less if you are getting them from recyclers or something like that but it still sounds expensive compared to just doing the regular brakes with some nice Akebno pads!
...must research more....
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2005
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I bought the amg calipers, rotors, etc., on ebay for $1000. The spindles and hub carriers were another $1000. I had my local shop install it all. I think all total I've got just over $3000 in the whole job
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 314
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German vehicles stink, will never buy again. Moved on to Toyota and BYD.
rolex: Is that fronts and rears? My MB shop quoted me $4500-5000 for all 4. I have to do it this week as the car is making really really terrible sounds.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 586
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From: Salinas,CA
2000 S430
No kidding, I was talking to a local shop for alternatives like Brembo upgrades and they were talking about 2k in parts alone not including labor! Assuming they do the upgrade of course.
Obviously you can probably get the parts for less if you are getting them from recyclers or something like that but it still sounds expensive compared to just doing the regular brakes with some nice Akebno pads!
...must research more....
Obviously you can probably get the parts for less if you are getting them from recyclers or something like that but it still sounds expensive compared to just doing the regular brakes with some nice Akebno pads!
...must research more....
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 314
Likes: 1
German vehicles stink, will never buy again. Moved on to Toyota and BYD.
My dealer just called me back and said that the S55 rear brakes are the same as the S600. He is saying to do front brakes is going to cost ~$3300 (including 4 hours of labor).
Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 42
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2003 S-430 Sport
I talked to BTM Motorwerks but know that the quote was for just the fronts and it was an estimate and for the Brembo kit. I've never used them before so I can't say either way.
So if you add it up it looks like about the same 2k for the front, 2k for the rear plus labor. After seeing the real cost of this to be honest I'm not prepared to drop 5k on upgrading the brakes. If I found them for 3k used and all perhaps but still it's a bit high. It would be nice and all but the stock brakes work fine and yeah maybe they don't look as nice but the cash is not burning a hole in my pocket enough to pull this trigger yet
.
So if you add it up it looks like about the same 2k for the front, 2k for the rear plus labor. After seeing the real cost of this to be honest I'm not prepared to drop 5k on upgrading the brakes. If I found them for 3k used and all perhaps but still it's a bit high. It would be nice and all but the stock brakes work fine and yeah maybe they don't look as nice but the cash is not burning a hole in my pocket enough to pull this trigger yet
.
