Brake Shoes on 230SL

[George Des]

Can some one tell me the correct order of installation of the rear brake shoes on the 230Sl. Does the front shoe go over the trailing shoe or vice versa. Took my nearly completed resto out for a test drive around the block and heard a scraping noise from the right rear. At first though I may have screwed up the bearing installation or that the lug bolts on the MB mags may have been too long. Pulled the rear wheel and brake drum and immdiately saw the problem--the rear outsie edge of the leading shoe is rubbing the inside of the brake drum. It occured to me whn I was installing the shoes way back when that i was not quite certain if it was front shoe over back shoe or back shoe over front on the lower pivot bolt Befre I pull it all out and reverse them I thought I'd check with you guys first to save me some needles work if this isn't the problem.

Thanks Guys--George Des

[ja17]

Hello George,
Yes, these must be installed in correct order. Look closely at the shoes, I believe they are off-set near the pivot. Correct order of installation will align the shoes on the same plane.
The factory mags have longer lug bolts. Do not ever use the long lug bolts on steel wheels.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[n/a]

George,

I was just working on my brakes today on my 230.  The rear shoe was over the front shoe on the left hand (driver's) side of the car.  I took a picture, but don't know if you can really tell much from it.
Please pardon the brake fluid, this was my leaking brake from my other post.

Download Attachment: rearbrake.jpg
21.28 KB

Best,

Dan

1965 230 SL Euro 4 speed
2004 230 SLK

[George Des]

Dan--Thx--that explains why my shoe is scraping on the side. I'll go down and change it over. As I said in my post, I couldn't quite remember the order and all the manuals are mum on it.

George