Hey all...

I replaced the front calipers and pads on the front of a '74 240d. I used the pump-and-hold, 2 person method of bleeding the lines and now have jet streams of brake fluid coming from the front bleed screws.

Well, there are still absolutely zero brakes (i.e. the pedal goes to the floor). I decided to bleed the rear lines and they are barely dripping out fluid, even after 6 or 7 repetitions.

How is it that the front brakes are shooting out fluid but not working? Is there air behind this jetstream?

And I have checked both halves of the MC reservoir...

Your not going to get any hydraulic pressure if your calipers are streeming fluid. Can't you get it to stop?

There's a partition in the fluid tank which seperates the front from the rear brakes. You need to make sure there is enough fluid in the tank to go over the partition when bleeding the rear brakes or pour fluid directly into the back of the tank during your bleeding operation.

Danny

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1984 300SD Turbo Diesel 150,000 miles

OBK member #23

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I think what he's saying is that hes getting a stream out of the bleeders when he pumps them and opens the bleeder...

You may have either a bad wheel cylinder (doughtflully on both sides), or bad lines (hard or soft)... if not, u might have a bad master cylinder... When you pump the brakes to build up pressure (so u can open the bleader), is the rear side drawing in fluid?

Thanks alot
~Nate

When I did the SDL, I had a lot of trouble getting the rears bled. Turns out I had let the reservoir get way too low and got air in. I was really surprised how full the reservoir needed to be to make sure the rear compartment had fluid in it.

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I think we've all done it on the SDL.

I'm going to rephrase your statement because it's important:

"I was really surprised how full the front compartment needed to be to make sure the rear compartment had fluid in it."

I'm pretty sure that the rear compartment is full up... it is nearly impossible to see, so I pulled the screen and rubber gasket-thingy to check on that side of the reservoir... it was pretty full. It is possible that at one point it was low, but that isn't the case now.

Sorry if I misled... the fluid is streaming after the brakes have been pumped and held and I loosen the bleeder bolt... this is what puzzles me. How could it be getting this type of pressure but not engage the front brakes?

Nate, when you asked whether the rear side is drawing in fluid, are you referring to at the reservoir?

Also, the rear part of the master cylinder does not squirt as much fluid as the front section.
A lot more bleeding strokes are needed for the rear.

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1985 300D California w/cat. (257,000 + Miles)
1980 300SD (208,000 + Miles)

The only way I have been successful was to pressure bleed the system.

If you have ABS, you need to pressure-bleed the brakes.

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Reid
Past ('59 220Sb, 2-'59 190's, '92 300D 2.5T)
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'04 E320 4Matic Wagon
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