The Ponton uses six wheel cylinders (two per side up front, one per side rear), and owners repeatedly warn a full brake job can quietly consume $1k-$2k even doing the work yourself. The fixed-heel shoe design requires each shoe to be arc-ground to its drum, and SE cars used finned aluminum front shoes; several owners recommend pulling the drums to evaluate on any new purchase.
Drum brakes: six wheel cylinders and arc-ground shoes make brake work costly
Mercedes-Benz Ponton · mechanical