Near Miss this morning ...

[Cees Klumper]

On the A2 motorway on my way to a client in Utrecht this morning, I was in the middle of what almost became a pile-up: one of those sudden slowdowns that sends everyone into heavy braking. I had to really slam the brakes, doing around 60 MPH, and under heavy nose-diving and sliding on all fours, came to a complete stop close to the car in front of me. Luckily, the guy behind me had kept enough distance as well, so all was ok! But it was a very near-miss.

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[Richard Madison]

Cees:

Good to hear all is OK.

You might want to take another look at the video of Jim Villers "Add-Ons" talk and listen to the part about Kevlar brake shoes...more stopping power with less pressure.

Richard M

[Cees Klumper]

Thanks Richard - and, yes, I will look into these brake pads. Plus I will be replacing my rear brake hoses soon -  replacing the front ones last summer made a noticeable difference.

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[J. Huber]

Hey Cees, glad you are here to tell about it! I have had to brake hard a few times over the years -- but you know, the brakes do work in these cars. Sure a bit of a nose dive, but with good tires they get it done. As always, good advice for everyone is to keep an eye on brake wear and to replace the hoses every few years....Be safe all.

James
63 230SL

[Bob G ✝︎]

Cees:
I heard that replacing your stock capilers with 280SE 3.5 calibers and vented rotors helps braking performance. Beleive me I hate the brakes on my 280SL they are way out dates and take a lot of efford to stop the car. If I had the money I would go with the sedan set up and some carbon fiber brake pads.
Way cheaper than a nose replacment. Glad you are OK.
Bob Geco

[Kemal]

Hi Cees,

We all need to take care with these 40 year old cars good brakes or not.
Perhaps you thought for a second you were driving a Boxter !!('[:0]')

 Good to hear you're both Ok.(' ')

A trip to France wouldn't be the same without you !!!(' ')

Best
Kemal

280SL
Manual LHD 69

[bpossel]

Hi Cees,

Glad your ok!

Several years ago, my local MBCA club held a defensive driving event.  I took my 113 through the orange cones and through the hard (emergency) braking routine.  All of this was to help teach you about your specific car and its limitations... It taught me a lot about my 113!

Anyway, my 113 seemed to stop VERY quickly.  A bit of a nose dive, but worked great!  Of coarse I had replaced all 4 calipers, rotors and master cylinder prior to the event...  As Bob G. stated, cost of brake materials is cheaper than a new nose, or more importantly your safety...

After reviewing the video from this summer, I think I will get the Kevlar pads as I reassemble my 113 this spring.

Take care and stay safe.
Bob

bpossel  (Memphis, TN.)
'71 280SL  /  '97 E320

[France]

Hi Guys,

Given that the two are designed as a pair, discs and pads, what does the Kevlar do to the discs??  Eat them alive?  And the 280SE 3.5 was double the weight of the Pagoda; are we talking overkill?

I will look at replacing the hoses when I get back to FL next month...right after the Amelia event.

Trice
1968 280SL US, signal red/bl leather, auto, kinder seat
Sarasota FL; Alsace France; Switzerland
Think of your Pagoda as a woman with a past...stable now including a 92 911 Carrera 2 Tiptronic

[Benz Dr.]

Your need to stop is greater than your need to go. Even if it's only 5 MPH.

I don't ask if you want to have any brake work done. I just do it if the car is old and things look marginal. I'd rather have someone mad at me for fixing something ( ? ) than mad at me because they hit a tree....

Dan Caron's
 SL Barn
benzbarn@ebtech.net
 slbarn.mbz.org
  1 877 661 6061

[rwmastel]

quote:Originally posted by Bob G

Beleive me I hate the brakes on my 280SL they are way out dates and take a lot of effort to stop the car.

Bob,
Do you mean it takes a lot of pressure on the pedal, or it takes a lot of time for the car to stop, or what?  If your problem is pedal pressure, you probably have a bad vacuum booster.  When I replaced mine several years ago, the pedal became very sensitive.

Rodd
Pagoda Technical Manual
please contibute: http://www.sl113.org/wiki/pmwiki.php
1966 230SL
2006 C230 Sport Sedan

[abe280SL]

So I guess the antilock breaks didn't kick in....  Seriously,  now that we are all use to antilock breaks where you just stump down as hard as you can....one has to relearn how to break on the old cars where on a rainy day you  stump and release slightly to keep the tires from locking up. ALso when I drive my car I really keep my distance from the car in front of me since I know that the performance is not going to be as good as the modern cars.
Glad things are okay,
abe

abe
1968 280SL Auto
Signal Red w Beige Int

[hands_aus]

Cees,
Good to see you made it home OK!

I have had the brakes calipers rebuilt and 4 new hoses, pad sets and disks fitted to my 250 sl and it stops like a new 40 year old car.

Bob Smith (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto

[psmith]

The cost of a new grill star and grill surround (and bumpers for that matter) help me keep a very safe distance from the car in front of me!

Pete S.