111 brake upgrade

[GDJ]

Greetings all...

wondering if anyone has explored upgrading brakes on a 111 coupe?
I am thinking of perhaps a stock MB parts swap...off a W140 or something similar.
Any ideas appreciated.

[psfred]

You've got about the same brakes now as a W126, I'd not think you'd get any better.

You will have to check to see if the calipers will bolt on. If not, you are out of luck.

Peter

[300SDog]

Wait a minute.... what year is the 111 Coupe?

If memory serves me well, MB brake systems on that chassis changed at '63 and again at '68 or '69...... with different makes of calipres throughout the vintage, introduction of cross braking master cylinder, dual reservoir, etc.

Are you tryin to go from drums to discs...... what kinda brakes does the car now have?

If you're thinking of ABS brakes..... the idea sounds insane with bizarre sensors, relays and electrical rats' nest that nobody can comprehend.

[psfred]

I don't remember seeing anything in the W111/113/108/109 manual on drum brakes, so I assume that the W111 had four wheel disks -- I believe that no car imported into the US by MB had drums after 1959.

Peter

[300SDog]

Actually, front wheel disc brakes didnt occur on the 111 sedans until 1963.... and they never had 4 wheel discs. Am guessing the 111 coupe follows the same pattern.

First MB I've ever had with 4 wheel discs was the 114. Am unsure about the 108's because I've never owned one.

Conversion from drums to discs would probably require that MB produced both on the same suspension at different periods.

Success of putting modern 4 wheel disc brakes say, from late 1980's cars, onto the 111 seems bloody unlikely to me.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

The Fintail S/SE sedans were introduced in mid 1959 with power assisted 4 wheel drum brakes. Front disc brakes became standard on the W111 220SE coupes and convertibles and the Fintail 300SE from their introduction in late 1961, but not on the Fintail 220S and SE sedans until April 1962. Dual-circuit hydraulics were added in late '63. After '65, when the SE coupes and convertibles got larger engines, 4 wheel discs became standard on those models. Fintail sedans, except for the 300SE, kept the front disc/rear drum setup 'till the end.

Many years ago, I had a daily-driver '66 230 Fintail with front disc brakes and found them more than adequate.
If I decide to upgrade my '60 220S, I'm thinking about adding power steering. (I got a '63 220S power steering box, off Ebay last year) If I had to drive her everyday, in heavy traffic, I'd consider adding front disc brakes too.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[joshhol]

After '65, when the SE coupes and convertibles got larger engines, 4 wheel discs became standard on those models.

They didn't have 4 wheel disc brakes on the 108's, at least as far as mine is concerned. Front disc/rear drum
Probably 4 on the 6.3's.

I think I have a sticking pad or caliper on the 220S. Pulls to the left and makes a dry whine really faint.

[psfred]

All W108/109 after 1968 definitely have discs only. I suspect the earlier ones did too.

Peter

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Starting with the first 250S/SE models in 1965, all W108 cars were fitted with 4 wheel disc brakes. They DO have a drum brake inside the rear brake-rotor hub, for the parking brake.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[Clunker]

Click on "history" at www.heckflosse.nl/ to answer the mystery of coupe brakes. I WOULD NOT consider changing the brakes, especially if it has the 4 wheel disks. It is unbelieveable how well the car will brake if it working properly. I have only locked up my 300sel 1 time and the brakes were not functioning properly (pads were very warn rotors were VERY warped) at the time. You have to try really hard to lock up an old Merc. with 4 discs!

[wbain5280]

On the W111 rear drums, make sure the slave cylinder is good, no pits in the netal cylinder, and that the lower brake shoe mounts are free. I had a lof of work to do on my old 220SE to repair the rear brakes.