OWNER 1993 400E in Signal red, possibly sketchy car

[gsxr]

1992 400E's use thinner 22mm rotors and different calipers. It's possible like your car has the 1992 front calipers... OR, you got the wrong pads (thinner pads are used with the 25mm thick rotors).

Did you have to Dremel the caliper to make the 25mm rotor fit? If so, can you post a photo of the face of the caliper? The numbers on the front will confirm if they are 22mm or 25mm.

Also, what brand / part number pads did you buy?

 

[93-400E]

The caliper says ate 39 2162 and the rotor was too thick. The pads seem fine in there, just the caliper was too thin. I really should have taken pictures but did not. And they are akebono pads 005420012041

 

[gsxr]

Yep, those are the wrong calipers, you have the 22mm thick version.

The correct 294x25mm calipers have numbers 57 and 58 on them. Look for a good used set in a junkyard or on eBay.

 

[93-400E]

Fun fun, any idea how? I know 9/92 is a transitional phase for these but it seems odd.

 

[gsxr]

Fun fun, any idea how? I know 9/92 is a transitional phase for these but it seems odd.

A previous owner or shop likely replaced the front calipers with the wrong ones... or, they had an earlier car and swapped for some reason. EPC says all 1993 USA model year 400E should have the larger brakes.

 

[emerydc8]

FWIW, I had a 1993 400E than was made in the fall of 1992 and it took the smaller brakes.

 

[gsxr]

FWIW, I had a 1993 400E than was made in the fall of 1992 and it took the smaller brakes.

Interesting data point - thanks for sharing, Jon! It's possible that early production 1993 USA model year 400E's came with the smaller brakes, and that the EPC is wrong... wouldn't be the first time. Oddly, the EPC also shows Euro-spec 034's never received the 22mm-thick front brakes.

Either way, I'd upgrade to the 25mm-thick brake calipers. Here's a pair for $100/pair with a "make offer" option... no affiliation, etc etc:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/177216009825
https://www.ebay.com/itm/187357863082

 

[TimL]

Dave, if I recall it correctly, the 400E in Germany always had the larger brake discs. Let me see if I can dig up one of the contemporary tests from a German car magazine to see if my memory serves me well.

 

[gsxr]

Dave, if I recall it correctly, the 400E in Germany always had the larger brake discs. Let me see if I can dig up one of the contemporary tests from a German car magazine to see if my memory serves me well.

Tim, yes, the Euro-spec 034 appears to have started production with the 294x25 brakes. Around the facelift timeframe (MOPF2), Euro 034 then got another upgrade to 320x30mm front brakes, AND also 16" wheels & tires. USA and Japan markets never got the 320mm upgrade though.

USA only, for reasons I'll never understand, started out with the dinky 295x22 brakes which promptly warped at warp speed, which prompted MB to upgrade USA/Japan 034's to the thicker 25mm size.

 

[93-400E]

I ordered those calipers