Hi all,

I want to do a brake fluid drain and purge on the SDL. This is the first car I have done this on that has ABS. What is the procedure for getting the fluid out of the ABS system? Do I just do it the old fashioned way of open the bleeders on the wheels and pour & pump the new fluid or is there a trick to it?

I should be using DOT4 on this car, right?

Thanks!

Joe

__________________
"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

I bleed mine the old fashion way, just pump the pedal and open the bleeders on the calipers.


The only difference with ABS is you need some pressure to open it, I don't think something like a Mitty Vac style bleeder will cut it.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Thanks for the info. I bought the MV bleeder kit and never use it. I just stick a hose on the bleeder and run it into a jar to catch the fluid. So just pumping the brakes will clear the ABS circuits. That is good to know. I was envisioning having to trip relays or something like that to get the fluid out of those lines and the ABS pump.

__________________
"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

Bleeds like any non-ABS system.

One caution, some have bled using the pedal-pump method and have subsequently found that their master cylinder needs rebuilding. The common wisdom on this is that the seals are pushed beyond their normal operating stroke where they're happily worn in, and become damaged. It might be prudent to avoid pumping the pedal down further than its normal travel range if possible.

For this, the mityvac might be a better method, I've even pressurized the reservoir to push fluid through when my Brother's quattro had an issue (long story involving an inner-tube from a sew-up tire and a small air compressor).

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Yeah I heard that as well, but I have been bleeding my brakes this way every spring for 5 years and my master cylinder is fine. I figure if bleeding the brakes causes it to fail it was due anyway.

You don't want to run it dry though, bleeding the MC could be a royal PITA.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

been there -- done that

I will watch the MC and not go to hard on the pedal. I like the idea of forcing fluid into the system via the reserviour, but I don't feel like fabbing anything for that.

This car does take DOT4, right? I was surprised that my 1999 Suburban takes DOT3

__________________
"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

Yeah AFAIK all MB's use DOT4.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

This is the fluid you wanna use....






Thats good fluid.

__________________
-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

Where do you find Super Blue?

Thanks,

Joe

__________________
"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

Hatties favorite place, Amazon.com....

http://www.amazon.com/Super-Blue-Racing-Brake-Fluid/dp/B0007SN6F6


Actually, my local autozoo stocks it, but the one by my school 60 miles away does not....

__________________
-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

DOT 4, huh? And what would happen if I poured some DOT 3 into the reservoir?

__________________
daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

DOT 3 is fine, anything above that will be fine too.

__________________


1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

I use generic DOT 3. That's all you need. The fluid pictured above is great and I run it in my 911 which I autocross. It's a bit overkill for our diesels though.

Scott

__________________
Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

Yes, DOT 3 or 4 - I prefer 4 and even like synthetic blends, but be careful...

DOT 5 is silicone based and is not compatible with DOT 3 or 4.
I heard there is a DOT 6, but have no information about it.

I put DOT 5 in my 65 Mustang because the fluid doesn't absorb water. This causes the pedal to be a bit spongy, but I can put up with that if it will help the wheel cylinders not to rust on a car that sits more than it is driven...

DOT5 is NOT to be mixed with DOT3/4.

__________________
02 S500
92 500SL
92 400E (Sold)
87 300E (Sold)
83 300D Turbo (Sold)
75 300D (Sold)
74 240D (Sold after 20 years)