After talking to myself for a year about replacing the front sway bar bushings and reading countless posts for my 126/1987 Euro 300SE, I finally rolled up my sleeves this morning to do this universally regarded PITA job. The end result – I was not able to properly bleed the system and have no brakes….
Another reason to do this job was that the car seemed ( I thought) to loose a bit of brake fluid. So I thought this would give me a chance to check inside the booster for signs of brake fluid.
All seemed to go well. The passenger side bushing was no big deal, and as painful as the driver side was( lying on my back under the steering wheel -trying to access the bolts on the Booster carrier was no picnic. The CD ofcourse is misleading in a way. It just notes – “Remove carrier bolts” etc. Nothing about access or pain.
In any case the master cylinder came out easy, but the Booster gave a fight in the engine compartment. The CD says to not tip it, when removing, rather pull it out straight .I found that impossible to do. There just isn’t enough room to manuver. That done I observed some moisture in the Booster , but no fluid to speak of, so I decided to go ahead and reinstall and use the same Master Cylinder & Booster.
With everything out of the way, replacing the bushing was a breeze. To add insult to injury I must admit that the old bushing did not look too bad. Better than the passenger side.
I then replaces the seal between Booster & Cylinder. (It was positioned in a recess on the cylinder, so that is where I put the new one – Not like the picture on the CD where it seems to have a lip that hugs the Booster opening) Cleaned the reservoir ( what a pleasure to see clear liquid) and replaced it’s grommets. Everything seemed to fall into place. After filling the reservoir with new brake fluid I planned to bleed the brakes as I have done before –The old Gravity way.
The right rear wheel went well , but the left rear did not. Some fluid came out and then there was none…
When My better half stopped to inquire whethter I intend to spend the rest of my life under the car I decided to request help with Pedal pumping. I skipped the left rear but did the other wheels OK – adding fluid occationally to the reservoir. but still no fluid out of the left rear. Is it possible for only one line to have trapped air ? If so , How do you force it out ?
Finally I started the car and tried the brakes myself. Wow. What a disappointment. I have no brakes at all. They pedal goes to the floor and Only a lot of hissing from the booster.
So I am seeking advice here. I am not sure if my problem is the bleeding process, or more severe- Could I have damaged the cylinder with the pumping, or the booster somehow, hence the hissing ?
Also does the running the engine build up vacuum instantly, or does it take time? I had naturally removed the vacuum line to the booster during the R/R. and wondering whether lack of vacuum could that have anything to do with it ?
Oh, I realise I did not bench bleed the Master Cylinder – Didn’t really have the extra lines to do it.
Well, here I am almost proud of all the work I acopomplished today.....

Thanks in advance.