230 sl brakes

[PK]

just bought a 64 230 sl and while drving it home, the left front brake locked down enough to create heat and shaking. fluid in master leaked out of top of fill cap. where do i go from here?

[ja17]

Hello PK,
The first thing to consider is replacing the rubber brake hoses front and rear. These  are usually the most common cause of brake lock-up or pulling!

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[A Dalton]

  yes... and there is a simple test to find out , as you can not see the restrictions in the hoses..
 Jack up each wheel and press hard on brake pedal.. release .
 Turn tire by hand , if tire is locked or heavy drag, open bleeder .
 If tire frees with open bleeder , the hose is blocked and not letting fluid  back to master res. [ holding caliper piston from returning ]
 If wheel is still locked with bleeder open, you have a frozen caliper.
 This will save you a lot of time diagnosing.....

[PK]

thanks for the tips. i've started to look on line for sources for parts. any recommendations on reliable sites. while price is a factor, i want this car to be right.

[Benz Dr.]

Say, you guys are getting pretty good at this diagnostic thing ~) I might be able to take a vacation this summer knowing that everyone will be so well taken care of...... good answers.

Dan Caron's
 SL Barn
benzbarn@ebtech.net
 slbarn.mbz.org

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by Benz Dr.

Say, you guys are getting pretty good at this diagnostic thing ~) I might be able to take a vacation this summer knowing that everyone will be so well taken care of...... good answers.

Dan Caron's
 SL Barn
benzbarn@ebtech.net
 slbarn.mbz.org

...I don't know about these answers, Dan...I've bled many a brake on many a car the old fashioned way as these guys describe, always with a helper, always a slow process.  THEN I've seen it done automatically in a matter of moments with the machine that does all 4 at the same time, w/o a helper.  Wanna guess which is my preferred method now?

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[PK]

quote:Originally posted by A Dalton


  yes... and there is a simple test to find out , as you can not see the restrictions in the hoses..
 Jack up each wheel and press hard on brake pedal.. release .
 Turn tire by hand , if tire is locked or heavy drag, open bleeder .
 If tire frees with open bleeder , the hose is blocked and not letting fluid  back to master res. [ holding caliper piston from returning ]
 If wheel is still locked with bleeder open, you have a frozen caliper.
 This will save you a lot of time diagnosing.....

[PK]

quote:Originally posted by A Dalton


  yes... and there is a simple test to find out , as you can not see the restrictions in the hoses..
 Jack up each wheel and press hard on brake pedal.. release .
 Turn tire by hand , if tire is locked or heavy drag, open bleeder .
 If tire frees with open bleeder , the hose is blocked and not letting fluid  back to master res. [ holding caliper piston from returning ]
 If wheel is still locked with bleeder open, you have a frozen caliper.
 This will save you a lot of time diagnosing.....

....did as you said, wheel turns easier but still seems to drag on rotor. same for rt front. on to hoses.

[A Dalton]

PK

 Another little trick for ya.
 When you replace the hoses , take a hack saw and cut the old ones at the rubber , about 1" from the end fittings . Then plug them with golf 'Tees" and throw them in your tool box.
 You now have fittting plugs for any time you have to do work that requires taking brake lines off [ like front end work, etc.]
 The perfect fluid plugs..for cheap !!!!

[A Dalton]

<...I don't know about these answers, Dan...I've bled many a brake on many a car the old fashioned way as these guys describe, always with a helper, always a slow process. THEN I've seen it done automatically in a matter of moments with the machine that does all 4 at the same time, w/o a helper. Wanna guess which is my preferred method now?
>

 I believe you don't know about these answers cuz you don't realise that we are not talking about brake bleeding.. this post is about a
possible hose restriction test. No mention or discription of  brake bleeding techniques in this post... ..

[rwmastel]

quote:Originally posted by PK

thanks for the tips. i've started to look on line for sources for parts. any recommendations on reliable sites. while price is a factor, i want this car to be right.

Our database of parts and service suppliers:

http://www.sl113.org/data/show_table.asp?table_name=usr_parts_and_service_suppliers

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[PK]

quote:Originally posted by rwmastel

quote:Originally posted by PK

thanks for the tips. i've started to look on line for sources for parts. any recommendations on reliable sites. while price is a factor, i want this car to be right.

Our database of parts and service suppliers:

http://www.sl113.org/data/show_table.asp?table_name=usr_parts_and_service_suppliers

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

Thank You!