95/E420. BRAKES. Opinions please on light weight factory brakes.

[Witt1962]

Hello Guys,
Thanks for reviewing this thread and thanks for your opinion.

PLAN.
Lightweight factory components as much as possible. The car will be my Daily Driver and I still intend to drag race it some. I already have a drag car and still beat on all my stuff, I may need to act more like a grown up. Ha.

1.) I will need to purchase the CLK forged wheels. 16x7. I don't know what year models fit the stock height 420 the best.

2.) I only want to replace the brakes once so I would like the opinions on what lightweight factory rotor and caliper will fit under the CLK wheel? Which light tires?
My current brakes are junk and my factory 15 inch wheels are beaters .
I will probably use 2 of the 15's for some soft tires.
Thanks.
All the Best,
David

 

[gsxr]

Hey David,

The CLK forged wheels will clear your stock brakes. Great upgrade, low weight. Continental DW are one of the lighter tires you'll find, with good overall grip, price, etc.

Unfortunately there are no lighter-weight brakes which will fit behind those CLK wheels. The stock 95 E420 brakes are fine for drag race use, upgrade to performance pads (i.e., Porterfield) if necessary. I would get new stock rotors and leave your current setup. Anything larger won't work with the CLK wheels, and if not road racing, you don't really need larger brakes.

 

[Witt1962]

GSXR,
Thank you for the prompt reply.

Are all the forged wheels (CLK) all the same size?
What year model ?
The drilled rotors sure look nice, even though I don't think it makes any difference in my application.
Is there a drilled stock rotor?
David

 

[Ascension]

I would just grab a set Ankibonos on stock rotors and be done with it.
No the stock rotors are not cross drilled.

 

[Witt1962]

Thanks for the quick response. I will just order stock rotors, Akebono brake pads and some kind of wheel sensor?
OK. I'm going to be pushy. Anybody have the part numbers?
My car. WDBEA34E7SC207785
95 E420
im in South Florida, and I believe Gainesville MB, and ask for Lionel is the recommended method.
Thanks again for everyone's help.
cheers,
David

 

[gsxr]

Are all the forged wheels (CLK) all the same size? What year model ?

The super-light ones, yes, there was only a single style, single size, 16x7.0 ET37. 1998 CLK320, possibly 1999 also? The look like this. Weight is ±14.0 pounds. You will have to buy the correct lug bolts, if not included with the wheels.

The drilled rotors sure look nice, even though I don't think it makes any difference in my application. Is there a drilled stock rotor?

Aftermarket, yes, you may be able to find some drilled rotors... I haven't checked availability in a while.

I will just order stock rotors, Akebono brake pads and some kind of wheel sensor?

Akebonos are a good low-dust street pad, and should be ok for dragstrip use. I've heard they're not adequate for road race use (Jono?).

OK. I'm going to be pushy. Anybody have the part numbers?

More info than you ever wanted to know is here: http://www.w124performance.com/images/W124_brakes/124_brakes.pdf

Should be rotor p/n 124-421-24-12 and pads 002-420-37-20 (Akenobo EUR-561). Four wear sensors needed, 126-540-20-17, they are $6 list from the dealer but cheap aftermarket ($1 each for Pex brand). Don't tell Gerry but if you are super careful during removal, the sensors can be re-used if they are undamaged. At a buck each it's not worth the effort.

 

[Witt1962]

GSXR,
WELL thank you Sir for pouring out all that fine information. Your wealth of knowledge is appreciated. I can now move forward quickly and get the parts to the house. My goal is driving to work on the 3rd of April (120 miles round trip) then pull over and baseline the car in the eighth. I Sincerely appreciate your time.
I will follow up with a thread when I get the car to the track.
David

 

[Gatorblue92]

FWIW you can use the lug bolts from a W123 with steel wheels if you go with the CLK wheels. Not as pretty as the correct ones but the shank is the correct length.

 

[jhodg5ck]

Alloy calipers and Ti lug bolts..... 2 piece rotors maybe...??

 

[gsxr]

The alloy calipers (300mm Brembos) are spendy... and require thick spacers to clear the CLK wheels, which would cause tire/fender interference on the E420. Two piece rotors would be sweet but the cost... oh my, the cost...

 

[jhodg5ck]

The alloy calipers (300mm Brembos) are spendy... and require thick spacers to clear the CLK wheels, which would cause tire/fender interference on the E420. Two piece rotors would be sweet but the cost... oh my, the cost...

Awwww...dave yer no fun! Ti bolts? IIRC 300$ for a set...

Alt...bring along a Li ion batt and run with that... we just got one for the track car..weighs 4 lbs...our group 49 AGM's weight in around 48!

jono

 

[gsxr]

I was eyeing the Li-ion batteries. Great for road race use, but not as good for drag racing where I run the heater fan on max for 10+ minutes after each run (~40A draw, hard on battery). Braille has Group 49 and it's only about $3k!! Huge weight savings though.

 

[jhodg5ck]

The Shorai's are a good deal....I run them in the bikes etc..

You should get one of the BIG jump boxes, they're about 150$ but they have two AGM batteries and will start a semi..

Bring that along/plug it in when you run the heater....I know about that draw...we usually jumper the aux fan @ the same time when we're trying to cool them off AMAP!

jono

 

[gsxr]

Hmmm, good idea about the jumper box. I might check into that - thanks for the tip!

 

[Witt1962]

Thanks for the ideas for high quality light components. I changed my mind after reading more on brake pads. I will spend a little more money on Porterfields. This car is suppose to be my daily driver. 2 piece rotors do sound great. The constant struggle with weight and justifying the costs. I had a drag racing 55 chevy, I use to look for ounces in 16 places. Yet, I was eating cheeseburgers. Ha.
Cheers Guys,
David