W126 rear brake hose question... help me please
 

Hi everyone. I have an occasionally sticking right rear brake on my 1988 300SEL and I was told it could be the hose.

I bought a new one, but its much shorter than the hose thats on there. The parts store special ordered this. I called and told them this one was much shorter and he said that a 12 inch hose is all that was listed for this car. The hose on the car is 16 inches long. My dad said it was longer so it would have slack since the car has independent suspension.

Two questions: Is the 16 inch hose only available from the dealer? Will the 12 inch hose be OK? Anyone running with this shorter hose?

Thanks.

Here are pics...

Hose on the car...

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...torm/015-1.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...torm/008-1.jpg


hose they sold me.... (parts guy said this was the only length hose they had for this car)

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...torm/011-1.jpg

This is a pic of one shown for the car that can be bought from Fastlane... it looks like the shorter hose....

http://img.eautopartscatalog.com/hir...300&height=300

Thanks

I just called the local Mercedes dealer and he said they had the hose in stock for $35.00. I asked him the length and he said it was a foot long, which is the length of the hose I already have purchased.

Is it just likely the hose on the car now is just way too long?

The hose currently in place is rubbing on that shield-like it's too long. Get a piece of rope/etc 12" long and make a test fit.

And while you're under there, you might want to check the fuel pump for possible leaks.

Why because that looks dirty under the pump there? I dont smell any fuel and its not wet. I get 20-21 mpg in town, so I am assuming its not like its leaking bad. Its been like that since I have bought it.

I cant afford another costly repair right now. I have the car for sale... the next owner will have to deal with that if its an issue.

Thanks. We will just put the shorter hose on and be done with it. I am guessing since it seems like only a 12 inch hose is available then its the right one. :o

The hose on the car is way too long. Proper length of the rear hoses is 12" or so. They hang right down from the chassis to the calipers.

I'd check that fuel pump....it looks like it has been oozing fuel for some time!

K. Thanks. Guess we will put on the new hose they sold me, which is 12 inches long. I wonder what the hoses that are on there (which are 16 inches) are off of?

I never even dreamed the fuel pump had an issue. Unfortunately being broke dont help any. I guess the potential new owner will have to address this. As mentioned, when I bought the car 15 months ago, it looked just like this and hasnt seemed to cause any problems... yet anyway. :o

I tell you if it isnt one thing, its another with one of my cars. :rolleyes:

However, this one has been trouble-free for me except these brakes.

86560SEL, no doubt you realize that after replacing the brake hose it's necessary to bleed the brake lines at each caliper. The sequence is RR, LR, RF and LF.

QUESTION ON BRAKES
 

IT WAS INTERESTING TO READ THAT THERE WAS A SEQUENCE TO BLEEDING THE BRAKES
MY QUESTION IS WOULD THE SEQUENCE BE THE SAME ON AL CARS WEATHER LEFT HAND DRIVE OR RIGHT HAND DRIVE
i AM IN AUSTRALIA
THANKS GUYS

I will be interested to know if that solves the prob. Never heard of a hose causing the brakes to stick.

No, it depends on which caliper is farthest from the master cylinder. So on a right hand drive vehicle it would be RL, RR, FL, FR

It was the case with my '76 450SEL 6.9. I've heard of other incidents.

The OP's brake fluid was dark and nasty as it could get as well, which I'm sure wasn't helping matters much.

Thats right. I am going to also change out the brake fluid ASAP. I am going to install the hose when I get a chance as well. I may have the car traded for another car after this, so I want to move quickly.

Thanks again.

It can also depend on the ABS system on the car. For example, on cars with Teves Mk60 ABS you bleed the wheel closest to the master cylinder first. Why? That I don't know, but that's what the service manual says.

A too long hose might get pinched, not letting fluid return to the master and keeping the brake stuck on.

The service manual says to do the brake fluid every year on the W126. Later cars are every two years, probably due to improvements in the rubber lines so as to let less moisture in.

-Jason