XYZ Racing Hollow Front Brake Kit — Mercedes Benz CLK 230 W208 (1996-2003)

On paper the W208 CLK 230 Kompressor looks like a car that should stop well: a rear-wheel-drive coupe with a supercharged 2.3-litre four producing 193bhp and serious low-speed torque. In practice the factory front hardware was developed for the CLK’s actual brief, rapid motorway cruising and comfortable long-distance running, not the sustained braking loads the Kompressor’s torque delivery sets up when the car is driven with any real intent.

The XYZ Racing front brake kit for the Mercedes Benz CLK 230 W208 (1996-2003) addresses that gap with a pair of larger front calipers and discs for the leading axle. Three pad compounds, Street, Sport and Racing, let you configure the front to match how the car is actually used, and you specify compound and caliper finish when you order from the options above.

What this brake kit does for your 1996-2003 Mercedes Benz CLK 230 W208

The W208’s front-biased weight distribution, with the Kompressor engine sitting well forward in the nose, concentrates braking force through the front axle on every stop. On a demanding road or at a track day that loading is sustained and repeated; the factory hardware copes at moderate pace but runs into thermal limits when the driving turns aggressive. The Sport compound delivers sharper initial bite without needing elevated rotor temperatures to reach its window, which suits the CLK 230’s mixed-use reality better than a full race pad. For circuit sessions the Racing compound handles heat cycles that would fade a road-grade material, while Street keeps things quiet and low-dust for daily running.

The hollow-vane disc vents air through the rotor body to manage heat, and the lighter two-piece floating disc trims rotating and unsprung mass at the front corners. Discs are offered drilled or slotted at the same price.

About the XYZ Racing Front Brake Kit

The kit is a direct front-axle fitment for the CLK 230 W208 across its full 1996 to 2003 span, structured around a three-tier pad programme: Street for owners who want quiet, low-dust improvement over factory feel; Sport for harder fast-road or occasional track use; and Racing for dedicated circuit work where standard-grade compounds would struggle. The caliper is hollow-body forged as standard, paired with two-piece floating discs and braided lines for a firm pedal.

Caliper finish is set at order. Included colours are Red, Yellow, Gold, Black and Anodized Black at no extra cost, with Custom Color matching any Pantone for 150 pounds. Premium polished-forged finishes cover Titanium, Polished Gold and Polished Silver, and the candy range adds Candy Teal, Candy Blue, Candy Red and Candy Orange. Centre bells can be two-tone in five anodized colours or titanium. For serious track use the optional Hollow Racing caliper deletes the dust cover, is rated to 1000C and carries a two-year warranty.

Fitment for the Mercedes Benz CLK 230 W208 (1996-2003)

This front kit is confirmed for the Mercedes Benz CLK 230 W208, covering the full production run from 1996 to 2003, and addresses the front axle only. The W208 was sold in both coupe and cabriolet body styles, both sharing the same front suspension and brake architecture. Verify current rotor diameter and caliper specification on your car before ordering, particularly for early pre-facelift W208 examples.

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Select your compound and caliper colour from the options above, and configure a front pair for how the W208 gets used.