65' 230SL Front Brake Disc Question: Allen Bolts?

[ABikePeddler]

I am replacing most of the brake system on my 65' 230SL (4-speed manual) including new rotors, ATE calipers, front pads, hoses and Super Blue DOT 4 brake fluid.  When I removed the front rotors I just ASSUMED I could slip on the new rotors but of noooooo..... Zee Germans have decided to make a brake system on this car to rival the complexity of the mighty Bugatti Veyron!  (insert rolling eyes here)  The rotor ends up being a two piece affair with the face of the rotor (where the wheel would mount to) being affixed to the rotor by 5 large, hard to access and VERY TIGHT allen bolts. So it seems replacing the rotors is not so much a DIY job or am I missing something.  I assume to separate the face of the rotor one would need to take them to a mechanic/machine shop.  Let me know if there is a trick. I searched and searched on these forums for any mention of this, um, issue but found nothing. Even the Techinical Manual doesn't mention anything about these two piece rotors...

Thanks for any advice...

[IXLR8]

Hi Bike--

Take off the entire disk and wheel mounting hub.

Go inside the disk cavity with an allen wrench and pop the bolts loose. I seem to recall that I placed the assembly in a vise and used a short pipe for leverage on the allen wrench. It turned out to be a much simpler job than I first feared.


the other Joe

[ABikePeddler]

Go inside the disk cavity with an allen wrench and pop the bolts loose. I seem to recall that I placed the assembly in a vise and used a short pipe for leverage on the allen wrench. It turned out to be a much simpler job than I first feared.


the other Joe

Thanks Joe.  I figured as much.  I was hoping not to hear the dreaded "vise" in your response as I do not have one.  To access the 10mm allen head bolts did you use a allen head socket?   

[w113dude]

ABikePeddler,

If you are going to work on your car in the garage, purchasing a bench vise would be a very wise investment.

[ABikePeddler]

ABikePeddler,

If you are going to work on your car in the garage, purchasing a bench vise would be a very wise investment.

agreed.I would also need however to buy a proper bench for the vice. Somewhat amazingly, in my 100 + count history of car ownership, I have never had the need for a vice. I do 90 percent of the work on all my cars including my modern stuff. I guess it's time for a trip to Harbor Freight. Thanks for the clarification on what needs to be done to separate the brake discs.

[stickandrudderman]

Use new bolts when re-assembling.

[ABikePeddler]

Use new bolts when re-assembling.

Good point!  Is MB the best source for replacement bolts or is there a better (less expensive source) such as AutoHauzAZ.com I should look? 

Thanks for the help!

[Jonny B]

Check with our buddy Dave Gallon, he can find this kind of item, and may even have some in his stock.

[wwheeler]

I just replaced the rotors on my W111. I used a vise to get the bolts off (use penetrant oil). Make sure all faces are clean and the two should fit back together with very little clearance. It is not a press fit.

Tightening the bolts to 82 Ft. lbs is another story. I didn't want to put my newly refinished hub/rotor in a vise. So I used some bolts with the same thread size as the wheel lug bolts and threaded them into the empty holes. I drilled some holes in a long piece of wood that was the same pattern as the wheel lugs. I used the board with the bolts in it to keep the hub/rotor assembly from turning while torquing. The board was held down to table with large clamps.