Hi all,
Happy New Year!
I spent a very enjoyable Holiday doing some much needed repair to the 86 300sdl. The first thing I did today was replace my rear brake hoses. I replaced the front hoses a few months ago and decided to complete the project. A very easy replacement except I could not get my wheel bolts off. They had rusted to the hub. Much fun ensued and I finally resorted to using my Air wrench and I finally broke them free. After I cleaned the threads I used some anti-seize on the bolts when I put the wheels back on. Of course I DID NOT use my air wrench to tighten the bolts after the install. My rear hoses were the original hoses made by Pirelli, and dated 1986. Ouch!!! I should have replaced them years ago.
While I was under the car I found my rear two exhaust hangers missing and the one up by the differential hanging on by a thread. I replaced all three and the muffler now sits the way God and Daimler Benz designed it to.
I then turned my attention to the sinking brake pedal I was getting at stoplights the past 3 weeks. I installed a brand new master cylinder. It was not difficult at all and I did NOT bench bleed it. I installed it and left the brake lines a little loose and poured brake fluid into the reservoir VERY SLOWLY and sure enough the master cylinder bled itself. Once I got the level to where it needed to be I tightened the lines and then bled the system. I did not get very much air into the system because all it took was three to four manual bleeds of each brake caliper and I was all set. Of course I started Right rear, then Left rear, then right front and then left front. My brakes are great now!
Of course the new pads and rotors 3 weeks ago also are helping.
I celebrated the rest of the afternoon by washing it and it looks great, ready for Church on Sunday!
Thanks to my wife for letting me wrench on New Years Day!

__________________
John
1986 300sdl
1985 380se