230 SL Brake Drums

[rjmarco]

Has anyone sourced replacement or rebuilt brake drums recently?  I'm told that mine are warped and can't be re-machined locally.  K & K Manufacturing looks like a source for rebuilt drums but wondering whether there are lower cost options. 

Regards and thanks,

Rich

[mdsalemi]

Rich,

One of our more popular vendors is Authentic Classics in New York. They have the remanufactured drum for USD $775 and that includes a $200 core charge bringing the net each to $575.

https://www.authenticclassics.com/Brake-Drum-Remanufactured-190SL-230SL-OTHER-p/auth-002434.htm

[rjmarco]

Hi, Mike.

Thanks for your prompt reply and help.  I did exchange emails with Authentic Classics this morning.  Those drums shown are no longer available unfortunately.  I was advised that the cost of refurbishing got to be too much. 

Regards,

Rich

[mdsalemi]

Unless I’m mistaken, I believe that these drums were used on other vehicles of the era. So surely somebody is selling them. Have you tried the classic center?

Another thought is to convert to disc brakes all around. I don’t know the procedure but I am sure it’s possible since the later cars all have disc brakes.

[rjmarco]

Hi, Mike. 

I did check with the MBZ Classics Center and new drums are available from Germany at ~$2,400 each.  With that cost, it's a good idea to research a conversion to discs all around and keep looking for rebuilt drums in the market. 

Thanks,

Rich

[stickandrudderman]

The drums for the 230 are aluminium whereas the ones for the saloons that used the same axle were cast iron. They are interchangeable.
Converting to disc brakes requires either an axle from a car with disc brakes or serious fabrication skills.

[rjmarco]

Thanks, Stick.  Very helpful. 

Rich

[mdsalemi]

The drums for the 230 are aluminium whereas the ones for the saloons that used the same axle were cast iron. They are interchangeable.
Converting to disc brakes requires either an axle from a car with disc brakes or serious fabrication skills.

At $4,800 a pair for Alfin drums, goodness--that may go a long way towards a brake conversion...or something else. What? I don't know. There were a lot of 230SLs made and this has to be a problem that's been solved in the past for less than $4,800.

[rjmarco]

Thinking the same.  Will keep digging. 

[dirkbalter]

  I'm told that mine are warped and can't be re-machined locally. 

Not sure who evaluated your drums. Considering the price of new ones, I would probably get second opinion. Some shops are quiet quick with these statements assuming replacements are cheap.

 

[rjmarco]

Thanks and good thought.  My car is completely drivable and lightly driven so this will be something for the next brake inspection in a year. 

[Jonny B]

Buds Benz shows refurbished brake drums at $350 each
https://www.budsbenz.com/catalog/230-250-280-sl/k-brakes, then scroll down a bit, on the left side.

KKMfg also has them listed, but at ~$1000 each!!
https://www.kkmfg.com/catalog_loader2.php?page=113Brakes2.xml

Did a quick search on eBay and found quite a number
Here is one - eBay item number 224782429196
As you might suspect there quite a few for sale out of Germany.

[rjmarco]

Hi, Jonny.

Thanks for the help and research.  I have to check with both Bud's and K&K to see whether they are selling refurbished drums.  I suspect one is and one isn't but need to be sure. 

I appreciate the reminder about Germany.  I checked eBay.de and with the help of google translate found:

Mercedes 190SL, Ponton W180, W111, 230SL 113 Paar Alu Bremstrommel break drum

"Concentricity checked, glass beads cleaned, measured, glass blasted, cleaned, checked and dimensioned"

This shows 1,290 euros for a pair.  Potentially good option.

Rich

[Pawel66]

Have you asked them?
https://www.niemoeller.de/en/w113/w113/B042/351/c33060-brake-drum-aluminium

Not the cheapest option you have, but fairly reliable.

Or these guys:
https://oldtimer-ersatzteile24.de/Bremstrommel-Alu-fuer-Mercedes-W111-W113-W121

These are new.

[rjmarco]

Thank you, Pawel.  Very helpful.  Rich

[Benz Dr.]

Standard brake drums are 320 mm ID and they can be machined to 322 mm before being over sized. I have several in my collection of used parts.