Bleeding Brakes
 

2002 ML500

I just put new pads and rotors on my car and now the pedal goes down to the floor. I didnt break the brake lines. How can this happen? I was told that by pushing in the piston I created air pockets in the ABS system. Well to make things short, is there any special way I need the bleed the brakes? Any thoughts.

To install new pads I connect a hose to the bleed valve and route it to a container. I then open the bleed valve and push the piston back with my fingers. Makes retracting the piston much easier. (Do the rear fixed calipers one side at a time.) If you don't open the bleed valve all the fluid has to be pushed through the M/C compensating port, which is only about .020" in diameter.

It's not clear what you did "wrong". Pushing the piston back without opening the bleed valve is okay. It just takes more force and there's a chance that the reservoir can overflow.

You're going to have to start bleeding and see if you can get the pedal back.

Make sure you know the dividing line between the front and rear reservoirs so you can read the level. Many let the rear reservoir run dry because they don't know how to read the level. When filling the reservoir it is often necessary to wiggle it back in forth in order for fluid to flow over the dividing baffle and into the rear reservoir.

Duke

Same thing happened to me. Even though the brake lines were not opened somehow the mater cylinder suddenly became defective. If you find on opening up the bleeders, you are unable to bleed the system, it's no doubt the master cylinder.







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