Die Bremsen auf meinem W116 machten mich wütend!

We all know that we need to change our brake fluids, but I learned something recently on the old W116 that you might find of interest.

Since I changed my M/C when I replaced the front calipers, there was no problem with stroking the M/C the full length of its travel. I bled initially with a vacuum pump and finished up with a helper.

However, I then discovered that the dual piston (inboard & outboard) caliper is fed from the same side (INBOARD) as the bleeder screw is on!!!!

This means you NEVER flush the fluid out of the OUTBOARD chamber of the caliper.

Armed with 2 screwdrivers, I opened the bleeder and forced the outboard piston all the way in and was rewarded with the most murky trash I have ever seen in a system. Repeatedly, I would pump up the brakes and force the pistons back with the bleeders open until the fluid ran clear.

Not all Benz will have this type of caliper, but beware of those that do and bleed the outboard chambers, Front & Rear!!!!!

Tschüß

P.S. Yes, even a pressure bleeder will not evacuate the outboard chamber. You must force that piston back by hand with the bleeder open to purge it.

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Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership

I'll have a look at my W123 ATE calipers and see if that's also the case

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

absolute Wahrheit

I watched w126 limo few days ago getting this gunk out,so...
the SEC is having caliper surgery soon

.

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w126 500SEC gen II euro, powered by OM617 turbo stolen from 84 300SD 2.88 diff,EGR blinded
next wish/project: w114 coupe OM603 powered

The rear calipers of a W124 are like that too.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

Great tip!!!

-J

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

ATE calipers, front and rear, are the same way on the W126. I chose to rebuild my calipers when I did my brake work. That is a sure way of getting all the junk out.

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1991 F250 super-cab 7.3 IDI. (rebuilt by me) Banks Sidewinder turbo, hydroboost brakes, new IP and injectors.
2003 S430 - 107K
1983 300SD - Tanoshii - mostly restored ~400K+.
1983 300SD - Good interior. Engine finally tamed ~250K.
Monark Nozzle Install Video - http://tinyurl.com/ptd2tge

Agreed....

I replaced my fronts, but re-used my rears.

Either way you need to bleed them like this or you will never purge the Outboard chamber completely....FWIW

__________________
Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership

Bert - Will this caliper configuration create an air pocket making bleeding more difficult or just make flushing the junk out more labor intensive?

Pictures of the different chamber configurations between manufactures?

Thanks,

Chris

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1985 300D, 250k
1980 300SD, 180K

I will keep this in mind when I flush my W126 brakes soon....

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

seems like an odd design mistake doesn't it?

No matter what you do, it will be harder to bleed, and trap all the debris in the brake system. I wonder why they did this, usually I haven't found obvious design/cost compromises on my old MBs, but maybe this is one

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

It prevents you having to install a floating caliper, so there are no slide rails to get stuck or worn.

-J

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

Im talking more about the location of the bleeder. A designed in brake system pocket that doesn't flush essentially.

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

I agree. It's always filled with junk, even after pressure bleeding. Forcing the piston back with the bleeder open is the only way...

__________________
Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership