Pagoda SL Group
W113 Pagoda SL Group => Drive train, fuel, suspension, steering & brakes => Topic started by: mdsalemi on December 16, 2023, 14:44:02
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On page 19 of this issue, which arrived recently in my mailbox, a person named John Smith of Big Redd in Worcester UK https://www.biggred.co.uk discusses the brake calipers on "older Mercedes" without further elaboration as to model of Mercedes, or kind of brake (Girling or ATE, for example).
The sidebar says, "If you enter your Mercedes in a Concours event, the calipers would need to be electroplated because the judges will be marking them on originality."
In the text of the article, he states, paraphrased, that when new the calipers will have had "an electroplated finish...this looked like gold in the 1960s...silver in the 1970s..." I note with curiosity he doesn't mention whether cadmium, zinc or other plating. Just color.
It's probably no surprise that Big Redd is in the brake caliper restoration business. They offer electroplating services (though they farm that out; they do the caliper rebuild, not the refinish) he warns that if going the electroplate route, you need to have them "copper coated" at an additional cost of £150.
As I have only seen nasty originals (unrestored and many years old) as well as restorations done here in the USA, I can honestly say I've never seen a Pagoda with plated calipers. So, what's the deal? Anyone seen a Pagoda when new? Were our calipers plated?
FWIW, when I restored my car I sent my calipers out for rebuild locally. They came back looking pretty new, but with the caliper body being left as raw cast iron. I found this material called Calyx manifold dressing, which is basically a graphite grease that you rub into the raw cast iron. It lasts a very long time on brake calipers, not so much on manifolds! When applied and buffed (similar to shoe polish) it provides a very natural medium gray finish. No clue as to whether or not this finish appearance is accurate!
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I think the Girlings on my 230SL were painted black, but I have no proof of them being factory original. Just a data point.
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I have some factory new calipers which look to have a very light gold cadmium plating. The plating is a light gold/silver color, that reminds me of a nickle or platinum color.
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I have some factory new calipers which look to have a very light gold cadmium plating. The plating is a light gold/silver color, that reminds me of a nickle or platinum color.
New ATE calipers, (which have a photo at Autohaus AZ) run between about $300 for the fronts, and $360 for the rears. My guess is while it's easy and relatively inexpensive to get your old calipers rebuilt, (many have done it themselves) if you want to add a refinish to the casting, particularly a plating, you may well just get new. The plating will run up the cost significantly.
The photo at Autohaus AZ shows a gold finish, which today is probably a zinc plate/phosphate wash.
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Rebuilding them is easy depending on their condition. Spend some time on You tube first. I am sure there are lots of videos and good tips. Most shops do not rebuild them anymore because of high labor costs and high liability for rebuilding brake parts. You may want to contact a company to do yours, it might be very inexpensive. You can find rebuilt units exchange at different auto parts stores. However the finish will not be the same and you might have to give up your originals as cores. Napa Auto Parts Stores still list them rebuilt with exchange starting out at around $69.00 ea. fronts only. You most likely have to settle with a non original finish and possibly another manufacturer.
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As I have only seen nasty originals (unrestored and many years old) as well as restorations done here in the USA, I can honestly say I've never seen a Pagoda with plated calipers. So, what's the deal? Anyone seen a Pagoda when new? Were our calipers plated?
FWIW, when I restored my car I sent my calipers out for rebuild locally. They came back looking pretty new, but with the caliper body being left as raw cast iron. I found this material called Calyx manifold dressing, which is basically a graphite grease that you rub into the raw cast iron. It lasts a very long time on brake calipers, not so much on manifolds! When applied and buffed (similar to shoe polish) it provides a very natural medium gray finish. No clue as to whether or not this finish appearance is accurate!
Michael,
This topic has been discussed many times here and the yellow plating consensus was reached as far as I recall (without getting into what plating exactly was it). This was based on eye witness accounts, but backed up by factory pictures. E.g.:
https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=27314.msg195950#msg195950
https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=27158.msg195297#msg195297
Ad there is also the most important argument: they look awesome this way!
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Paweł, is that a Porsche apron I see on that brake worker? ;)
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Well spotted! Could be!
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Could a judge distinguish between plating and spray paint?
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Could a judge distinguish between plating and spray paint?
Done correctly maybe not. Eastwood (probably others too) make a set of spray paints designed to replicate the look of cadmium plating. Unlike plating the paints are not sacrificial coatings so they will probably last longer!
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I used to rebuild the brake calipers myself, even found a source for the little round rubber (maybe neoprene) seal washers that went between the caliper halves (but hey are out of business now).
When I did the brakes on my 280SL project I sent the calipers to PMB Performance (https://pmbperformance.com/). I called them first and they advised that part of their rebuild process includes plating. They came back very nice. I think the cost was about $150 each but that's been a few years back. Other forum members have also used them.
They focus on Porsche but recognized mine immediately. They also rebuilt my brake force compensator (I think its called something else) too.