Anyone know how to identify whether my '85 300SD has ATE or Bendix brake calipers? I haven't found any identifying marks on the caliper. I must be looking in the wrong place.

IIRC, Bendix has the wire "springs" pushing on the pads, while ATE has the plates. Also slight shape differences, etc. Personally, I'd go with the ATE. On one car, I have Bendix on the front and ATE on the rear. No problem. Both work. But, I remember ATE being my preference.

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1982 300CD Petrol/Black Leather

I know the bendix ones have a bigger bleed screw....I think like 11 or 12mm vs 9mm.......They have a slightly different "clip" setup for the brake pads too....they have little cotter pins in the ends of the "brake pad pins" that hold in the pads too. The ATE pins are thicker and have no cotter pin on the end...they are friction fit. The calipers themselves look slightly different but its hard to describe very well. Those characteristics should be plenty to identify them...

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

http://catalog.worldpac.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=24L15MYL824R0U50VF&year=1985&make=MB&model=300-SD-002&category=N&part=Brake+Caliper

The ATE's actually have ATE stamped on the outside of the houseing (the round part that kind of juts out). You might need to break out a wire brush to find it.

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1989 300E 144K

bendex are also stamped


ATE is the better caliper. The cotter pins holding my pads on the bendix's were rusted in place!

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-1983 VW Rabbit LS Diesel (5speed, VNT/Giles build)

Thanks, guys. The pictures and the clip were the give away, they're ATE. Now onto the rebuild!