Brakes / Bushings 1964

[ssamuelson]

 Hi guys, I just purchased from the original owner a 1964 230SL and love it.   It was a Daily Driver and of course has some "issues" and could use your help.   

BRAKES.    I think the brakes sometimes and I mean occasionally, does not release properly.  For instance I pull into a slanted uphill driveway, click into neutral and release the brakes.  It will not roll back even if pushed, and then it just releases, after about ten seconds.   Does this sound like a Master?  It does not pull when I think it is stuck and I am on the gas, just forward resistance.

BUSHINGS.   I thought I had a wheel bearing problem because the wheel free play was HUGE!.  I took off the wheel and where the spindle meets the upper a-arm, what looks like a bushing and adjustment for the camber just floats back and forth on both wheels.  I have not tried tightening the bolt because I think there could be a bushing in there?  The bolt does not move, looks very tight.  But the spindle appears to float back and forth on the tight bolt.  Do I need to replace a part, or just take it to the alignment shop for camber adjust, and proper tightening of said bolt?

[kampala]

SSamuelson.

Congratulations on your new 230sl!  

Regarding the brakes --- you may consider that your flexible rubber brake hoses (one at each wheel) need to be replaced.  What sometimes happens is that these hoses get old and swell up on the inside --- so when you apply the brakes, the fluid gets forced through the hose but once the foot is off the brake, the fluid cannot retreat through the swollen hose easily so the caliper stays stuck until some fluid eventually makes it through the hose and the caliper will release.  Some hoses have a date printed on them so that would also be a clue.   Easy to replace if that's the cause.  Best of luck.

[ssamuelson]

Thanks for the suggestion of checking the rubber brake hoses for wear and hardness.  Unfortunately, the hoses were fairly new and flexible.   I took the 230 out yesterday and could not get out of the neighborhood before the brakes would not disengage.      I have not been able to isolate exactly which brake (or all of them) do not disengage, but for some reason I feel it is one of the front brakes.    Before I purchase a new set of Calipers in the hope that this will solve the problem, has anyone else had this problem, or have another suggestion why the brakes stay engaged?   

[hkollan]

Hi,

Did you take off the brakehoses to check if they where blocked? If not try to drive around the block a few times and
you should quickly recognize based on the temperature of the wheels  which brakes are not releasing.
And yes I and many others have experienced this issue even with good looking brakehoses.
As Kampala suggests replace the rubber hoses first, they cost a fraction of new calipers, then check if the problem persists.
Replacing them (and the brakefluid) on a newly acquired car, unless you have ull maintenance history is usually a good idea anyway.

Hans

[ja17]

Welcome,

Sounds like your upper link pins, bushing and kingpin may have wear. Usually the problem is the combination of wear in all the three things. Wear occurs from lack of grease usually.  Parts become seized and rusted. Although some parts may seem good and tight, when you dis-assemble and clean the rust out of the assembly, wear becomes apparent.  Suspension work is dirty and difficult in most cases. Review all the information on the site and check in with us.

[ssamuelson]

Update FYI

As recommended, I replaced the brake hoses on both front brakes.  Unfortunately, the brakes continue to "stick".    My next step is to replace the front Calipers.    I will keep you all posted......