While this car isn't a MB diesel, it's a Peugeot but the brakes should be similar. I haven't driven this car in over 3 years and all the brake fluid has leaked out of it. After starting the car and stepping on the brake, the pedal goes to the floor but won't come back up when I take my foot off, even if I try to pull it up by hand. I was going to add fluid and bleed the system but that's hard to do if the pedal won't come up. What is causing the pedal to stay down? I assume it's vaccum but why won't it release? Do I need a new brake booster or is there a check valve somewhere that is bad and allowing vacuum to constantly keep the pedal down? Is there a big spring in the booster that may have broke preventing the pedal from returning up? It has a conventional vacuum booster and mechanical vacuum pump.

Is the piston in the master cylinder seized up?

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Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record

After the car is turned off and the vacuum bleeds down in a few hours I can pull the pedal back up so the master cylinder is not seized.

those peugots all suck.

sorry, couldnt resist the obvious pun.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.