@@MikesMercsandothercars Any time a pro describes a job as tricky, or easier said than done, it means it will take me 8 hours. My existing shoes were in fine shape, just a little glazed. I scuffed them with some 120 grit and installed the new rotors. Excellent video!
I use to own a SL450, 1973, and a Slc450 1978 in the past, and a few more after that. Finally went back to the good old days. Currently own a E300D and a Sl320, both 1995.It’s amazing how well they engineered these cars. I just did my emergency brakes on my Sl320. Looks like not much has changed. Well done👍
Thanks for your comment - yes I am always amazed by the build quality of the earlier SL's. It is incredible to think that the Fiat 238 van we just bought is 1980 whereas the red 280SL I'm woreking on is actually 1976 - they are worlds aprt in build quality , innovation and design. Mike
@@runnerhoss When (if) things get back to normal I'll definitely be doing a US trip....not least because it is so much cheaper to buy SL parts such as soft tops and seat covers etc. See you then!. Mike.
Thanks for your comment - generally, all the tools and parts are listed right at the end of the videos. The spring removal tool is listed at 11.52 and came from rBay "thetoolacademy" and cost £5.67
Another great video Mike but you have made it look really easy! I have the brakes apart on my 1974 450 SLC as I decided to sort the handbrake whilst waiting for some trimming to be done. Got them all apart but getting the springs on and the new shoes back on is a real struggle. You have made it look easy but on mine the spring tension is huge, so the springs done easily stretch (mine is a Brembo kit) and getting the first spring (the fat one) behind the handbrake piece is hard but once done the spring won’t stretch to hook onto the shoes. There is a bracket type thing you can see on your video which the bandbrake mechanism buts up against (looks like ot ois there to stop that moving sideways) and it looks like it is held by 2 allen bolts but serves no other obvious purpose so I was wondering about undoing it give more access. Have you ever had to do that and any thoughts? I am a bit reluctant as i did the same with the bracket holding the shackles behind the hub in order to get the seized brake pipe off the flexible hose and it has been a pig to get back on because one of the bolts sheared. Thanks, John
Hi John Sorry to hear you are struggling with those springs. When dealing with huge spring tension, there is a method to spread the spring shown at 5.57 in the video below: th-cam.com/video/o1GeNSt-poA/w-d-xo.html My advice is don't remove bits unless you really have to. Let me know if the 'bend and wedge' method works for you. Mike
Ok, so....ive managed to do the nearside !!!!!! Gone to do the office side to find the backing plate is rusted so bad the retaining springs have nothing to go to. I had to bend and break it out and then use molegrips to get the torx bolts out.
I think its just a very fiddly job full stop. Your video has helped though. the nearside went well til I saw the dust shield on the off-side.@@MikesMercsandothercars
Well done on getting one side done. I had to replace the dust shields on that red merc and that was a job and a half...and costly too! Let me know if you get round to doing the other side and post any tips - they may be useful for other readers.Mike @@justinneal5751
Will do Mike. Ive seen other people on YT cut these with an angle grinder at a specific point that allows them to slot over the hub, thus negate the necessity to remove the wheel bearing which is something I cant contemplate having to do. Will report more next weekend@@MikesMercsandothercars
@@Kellysg126 Wow - that is the first year of production. Did you know that the Mercedes 107 SL was the 2nd longest production shape of any car (beaten only be the Mercedes G wagon. Mike
This video helped me to decide to scuff up my existing parking brake shoes and reuse them. Thanks!
…….do you mean because the job looked complicated? Mike
@@MikesMercsandothercars Any time a pro describes a job as tricky, or easier said than done, it means it will take me 8 hours. My existing shoes were in fine shape, just a little glazed. I scuffed them with some 120 grit and installed the new rotors. Excellent video!
@@winstonsmith3685 Yes, a good philosophy....if it ain't broke don't fix it. Mike
I use to own a SL450, 1973, and a Slc450 1978 in the past, and a few more after that. Finally went back to the good old days. Currently own a E300D and a Sl320, both 1995.It’s amazing how well they engineered these cars. I just did my emergency brakes on my Sl320. Looks like not much has changed. Well done👍
Thanks for your comment - yes I am always amazed by the build quality of the earlier SL's. It is incredible to think that the Fiat 238 van we just bought is 1980 whereas the red 280SL I'm woreking on is actually 1976 - they are worlds aprt in build quality , innovation and design. Mike
Thank you your method works not like some other methods I've saw on here I couldn't do .
Thanks...for letting me know. Appreciated. Mike
@MikesMercsandothercars thank you Mike 😊
Thanks for posting this, it really illustrates how to do this job well.
Thanks for your comment - I'm glad the video went down well. Mike
Great video as usual
Thanks - I appreciate your positive feedback. Mike
Great detailed explanation. Tempted to try on my car.
It is one of those potentially scary jobs that looks quite complicated but 'Once you know how' is relatively simply, cheap and satisfying. Mike
@@MikesMercsandothercars Thanks. If you’re ever back in Santa Monica I’d like to show you my 450SL. 🙂
@@runnerhoss When (if) things get back to normal I'll definitely be doing a US trip....not least because it is so much cheaper to buy SL parts such as soft tops and seat covers etc. See you then!. Mike.
Excellent. Thank your
Thank you!
On my 74 230 I just used a long needle nose pliers, did not need the special tool !
Mike do you have the link for the spring remo al tool I didn't see the link
Thanks for your comment - generally, all the tools and parts are listed right at the end of the videos. The spring removal tool is listed at 11.52 and came from rBay "thetoolacademy" and cost £5.67
Another great video Mike but you have made it look really easy! I have the brakes apart on my 1974 450 SLC as I decided to sort the handbrake whilst waiting for some trimming to be done. Got them all apart but getting the springs on and the new shoes back on is a real struggle. You have made it look easy but on mine the spring tension is huge, so the springs done easily stretch (mine is a Brembo kit) and getting the first spring (the fat one) behind the handbrake piece is hard but once done the spring won’t stretch to hook onto the shoes. There is a bracket type thing you can see on your video which the bandbrake mechanism buts up against (looks like ot ois there to stop that moving sideways) and it looks like it is held by 2 allen bolts but serves no other obvious purpose so I was wondering about undoing it give more access. Have you ever had to do that and any thoughts? I am a bit reluctant as i did the same with the bracket holding the shackles behind the hub in order to get the seized brake pipe off the flexible hose and it has been a pig to get back on because one of the bolts sheared. Thanks, John
The part (bracket) I mean is part no. 65 on the rear axle suspension parts diagram if that helps
Hi John
Sorry to hear you are struggling with those springs. When dealing with huge spring tension, there is a method to spread the spring shown at 5.57 in the video below:
th-cam.com/video/o1GeNSt-poA/w-d-xo.html
My advice is don't remove bits unless you really have to.
Let me know if the 'bend and wedge' method works for you.
Mike
@@MikesMercsandothercarsthanks Mike, will give it a go and let you know
All sorted. The answer was obviously leave it a week and have another go in a better mood. Springs pulled into place with long nosed liers
@@jonnybigpotato4263 Yes - I often find that 'sleeping on it' yields a solution. Mike
I'm just about to have another go at this on my Vito. Its next to near impossible 😞
Good luck..what makes it so hard on the Vito? Mike
Ok, so....ive managed to do the nearside !!!!!! Gone to do the office side to find the backing plate is rusted so bad the retaining springs have nothing to go to. I had to bend and break it out and then use molegrips to get the torx bolts out.
I think its just a very fiddly job full stop. Your video has helped though. the nearside went well til I saw the dust shield on the off-side.@@MikesMercsandothercars
Well done on getting one side done.
I had to replace the dust shields on that red merc and that was a job and a half...and costly too! Let me know if you get round to doing the other side and post any tips - they may be useful for other readers.Mike
@@justinneal5751
Will do Mike. Ive seen other people on YT cut these with an angle grinder at a specific point that allows them to slot over the hub, thus negate the necessity to remove the wheel bearing which is something I cant contemplate having to do. Will report more next weekend@@MikesMercsandothercars
Is your merc a late 70s merc?
The red merc in the brake shoe video is a 1983 280SL 5 speed manual. The silver merc in other videos is a 1976 4 speed left hand drive manual. MIke
@@MikesMercsandothercars ah i see. I have a german 1971 LHD
@@Kellysg126 Wow - that is the first year of production. Did you know that the Mercedes 107 SL was the 2nd longest production shape of any car (beaten only be the Mercedes G wagon. Mike
@@MikesMercsandothercars wow! Thats pretty cool!