Get the Best Priced Mercedes 300D Brake Caliper

The 300D refers to cars made by Mercedes that have three-liter diesel engines, which go all the way back to 1958. The term Mercedes 300D usually refers to the W123 car produced by Mercedes between 1977 and 1985, or its upgraded model, the W124, which was produced between 1985 and 1996. The earlier model W123 cars produced either 77 or 125 brake horsepower, depending on the year of the car. They have all the luxuries you would expect in an executive car from the era, including power windows, central locking, and air conditioning.

What do a 1950s era Mercedes 300S, 300SL and 300SLR have in common with a 1984 Mercedes 300D? Aside from the 300 in their name, denoting that the cars produce three liters of engine displacement, not a whole lot. It would have been difficult for someone in 1984, looking back at those three beautiful Mercedes of the 50s, to believe that the 300D would have anything new to contribute to the Mercedes 3.0 legacy. Mercedes' claim that the 300D was "so far beyond the ordinary that it outperforms every other diesel in America, if not the world" had more than a little bit of truth to it. While it isn't quite as interesting as timeless beauty, famous performance or notable race heritage, the 300D and Mercedes Benz made good on their contribution to the three- liter dynasty.

Brake calipers are an essential component of the disc braking system, which is the most common type of braking system found in today's cars. Part of the disc brake, the caliper is a unit that contains pistons and brake pads. This assembly slows the wheels by creating friction with the rotors. Brake calipers come in two basic varieties, floating or fixed, and can be enhanced for additional braking power.

A floating caliper, also called a sliding caliper, moves in a track within its support and has pistons on the inboard side of the rotor only. Hydraulic pressure forces the pistons against the inner pad, which in turn pulls the caliper against the outer pad, creating friction on both sides of the rotor. A fixed caliper is mounted to the caliper support and doesn't move, using pistons on each side to press the brake pads against the rotor. Floating calipers are more common because they are less expensive to make and to service, but fixed calipers are valued for their smoothness and efficiency, and are often found on luxury vehicles.

What is the most common brake caliper problems?

Brake fluid leakage. A rubber seal and boot are what keeps the fluid from leaking out. Over time, with constant exposure to the intense heat generated by braking, these seals will wear out and leak. Any leaks from the caliper will compromise the pressure sealing capacity of the braking system, which will not only make a mess of brake fluid, but also diminish its ability to stop the vehicle.

What is the Mercedes 300D Brake Caliper replacement cost?

A1 Cardone brake calipers for the Mercedes 300D will run you between $40-$50 at PartsGeek.