no brakes until pumping brake pedal, then it brakes ok until you have to brake again. you have to pump the brakes each timr.

brakes have been bled, no leakes all seems to be working.

what could this be?

Charles Kimble

My guess is the piston seals in the master cylinder are shot. If so, time for a new master cylinder.

Did this happen after bleeding the brakes using the pedal method?

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

No, bleeding the brakes was trying to fix this problem

CK

Bad master cylinder, replace pronto as it will soon fail to pump up, leaving you with no brakes at all.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!