ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SERVICE ITEMS THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE PERFORMED IS HAVING THE COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUSHED. SPENDING $60-$75 CAN SAVE $$$$. HAVE THE FLUID FLUSHED AS SUGGESTED IN EVERY MAINT. MANUAL!!


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MERCEDES BENZ MASTER GUILD TECHNICIAN
ASE MASTER TECHNICIAN
27 YEARS M.B. TECH

Remember if you are flushing the brake system and are pumping the brake pedal to push the fluid out of the calipers, do not push the pedal any farther than it normally travels. I have seen the "over extention" of the pedal to cause the master cylinder to fail internally, old seals against rough a surface tears the seal.
Flushing the fluid is a good idea and should be done every other year.

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MB Medic
14 year MB tech
7 year shop foreman @ independent MB/Volvo shop

If use a power brake fluid bleeder to do the job.... you won't damage the brake master
cylinder quick & easy.

Use a EEzibleed pressure bleeder,homemade or from IPD(Volvo parts mail order supplier,www.ipdusa.net or com)ATE cap therefore works for both Volvo and 300E.Works great even with ABS.
Tom

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Tom 1992 300E 2.6

Here's a question for you. I have always reverse bled the brakes on my cars (ie. hook up a pressure line to the bleeder port on the brake caliper, and pump fluid into the system that way. When I mentioned that to the tech. at our pre-track inspection, he looked at me as if I had two heads. Is there anything wrong with this method,and can it be done with a late model M-B?
(Of course all the fittings,lines,etc. have to be clean, and the brake fluid tank level has to be lowered.)

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Bruce R. 98 SLK
MBCA
Greater Washington Section

Always use fresh brake fluid!! If the can has been open for 6+ months(lid on) then you should buy a new can for flushing. M.B. recommends DOT 4 (+) brake fluid.

Brake systems are important so follow this post.

If anyone missed it here or has not seen it, the shop manual on CD ROM says to change brake fluid every year, preferably in the spring. It says once a year in several places. It seems excessive but for the cost of brake components, an ounce of prevention...

Steve
(85 500SL AMG Euro)

This is a must-do. I changed my '88 Honda Accord's fluid yearly for 8 years, and even with 280+k miles not a single brake part has failed or been replaced. I follow this recommendation religiously, and strongly suggest you do too. Brake fluid is hydrophilic (loves water), and absorbs as much as it reasonably can. That's what darkens the fluid.

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Best regards, Michael
'92 500E
'88 300TE

HINT: While doing your brake fluid change, try to find a supplier for ATE/dot4 fluid to use because it comes in both amber color and blue. By alternating colors at each flush, it makes it easier to know when all the old color is out and the new is in. This gives a complete flush....down the pipes!
TobiasMB
300SE, 300CE, 190/5.0

Tobias and Others:

There are many suppliers for these brake fluids. ATE, which is the OEM for Porsche and MB brakes, offers a blue and a gold brake fluid in litre metal cans. One can get them from Zims (www.***********) and other sources used by the Porsche club.

Also look up www.**********.com and

Gentlemen -- An excellent dissertation on brake system maintenance. Suggestion -- how about doing a similar one on Benz engine cooling system maintenance, to include: periodicity, what to use as the flushing agent, antifreeze choices, any additional additives, etc. etc. I understand that M-B sells an excellent citric acid flushing fluid, however believe it is also quite expensive (something like $60 per bottle). So what would be the recommendation of when and how often should one use this flush ?? Thanks.

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Gentlemen, if I may.......

We get our brake fluid from ATE and all the cans say ..Change Yearly.
BMW Service Indicators have a yearly check that self times and brake fluid flush is an Annual check.....Coolant biannually.

Next caliper you build check the muddy crap on the piston....solvent wont wash it offf...its mud...thats settled in the most forward meander.

Change brake fluid every year...its cheaper than caliper kits, w/cyls and brake material....and safer.

Directly out of the Manual it says to do the brake fluid service yearly except for the 129 and 140 (As of MY 1993) which are done every 2. I think that 2 is often enough (personal opinion)

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Benzmac:
1981 280GE SWB
1987 16V
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
SERVICE MANAGER FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM