menappi

My brakes seemed a little soft (definitely working fine though) and I recently replaced all my pads so I wanted to bleed my lines and flush some new fluid through them. I'm trying to keep costs to a minimum and I have extra time to do this myself so I'm wondering if it's possible/ok to use the traditional old school handheld vacuum pumps to get this done? I'd rather not invest in a power bleeder and don't mind spending an extra hour doing this - will I be ok?

Two more questions:
1) What's the easiest to find/most readily available brake fluid I should use, and
2) Are there 4 nipples only that need to be bled or are there 2 on both front calipers? I was reading multiple accounts so I wasn't sure.

2008 C350

Thanks guys.

LCPLPunk

DOT 4 for your car and unless Mercedes is different than every other car on the road, each caliper should have a bleeder bolt.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...ing_Brakes.htm

Carsy

I found a lid with the same size & thread as the brake reservoir & fitted an air nozzle to it. I use my home compressor to apply about 20 PSI to the reservoir & bleed each brake caliper in the correct sequence taking care to refill the reservoir often to prevent air ingress. I find 500ml will flush the system. It is useful to find a brake fluid with a different colour which helps to indicate when fresh fluid has arrived at the bleed screw.

. This link may be interesting :-
http://www.vaglinks.com/Docs/Misc/BM...ureBleeder.pdf

I cannot see any problem using your vacuum method except that it could be tedious.

JC

cvx5832

If you're talking about a MityVac-type vacuum pump with the bleed adapter then yes I recommend it. If you're talking about the hand crank brake bleeder from Harbor Freight or AutoZone rental then I don't recommend it.

The vacuum at the nipple is the way I did my last 3 brake bleeds and I really like it. Easy, clean, convenient :

<img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5824/23704868845_5eb8cb6ce0_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="image">

The method is universal :

<img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/719/23322491400_c39b427053_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="image">

Some like/recommend the LV fluids but I like good ole TYP200 in CA :

<img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5690/23596352442_dc7cd8515c_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="image">

menappi

Originally I was thinking the hand type vacuum pumps but for the price I'm seeing I might as well just buy a pressure bleeder or build my own like the link above.

Any idea where I could buy a brake fluid reservoir lid off the shelf, locally? Can't imagine they sell Benz ones at Autozone but maybe one from a different make/model might work?

cvx5832

I go to AutoZone regularly to dump oil. The last time I was in the AZ around here all they had for brake bleeds were the rental hand-grip type vacuum pump and the small catch containers for 2-person bleeding.

You don't say where you're from but for stuff like this I just Amazon it, especially if you have Prime.

LCPLPunk

I think the cheapest way is to jack the car up, remove a wheel, loosen the brake bleeder bolt and let it drain, making sure to keep the brake fluid reservoir filled.

Once you start seeing clear fluid come out of the caliper just tighten it back up. Using this method requires some time, but you essentially just need a wrench to loosen the bolt and something to catch the fluid.


*Do NOT press the pedal if you use this method.

Carsy

Mine came from a metal insecticide can in the garage!!.

Check a few lids that are the right size to see if the thread is correct.

A car wreckers might be the answer too.

menappi

Wait...the lines will purge themselves just buy opening the bleeder bolt and letting gravity work? Reservoir cap on or off?

cvx5832

It's called a gravity bleed. And that method didn't work for my C300.

LCPLPunk

How come it didn't work? Did the fluid not come out?

Was the cap off the reservoir?

cvx5832

Have you tried it yourself?

Carsy

On my older vehicles I have always bled the brake system by a second person pushing the pedal down lightly ie say 1/3 travel & then I nip the bleed valve shut on the pedals return. I have never had a problem.

I have a question. Why cannot this method be used on modern vehicles?

C3Duece

speed bleeders allow one man to pedal bleed the system.

cvx5832

I think the 1-man systems have just gotten popular lately. Nothing wrong with the 2-person method.

On the W204 I've done that, gravity, motive bleeder and the mityvac vacuum method. The last one is my favorite.

edgalang

+1 on the MityVac Bleed. Very easy fast and clean. 1 DIY would pay for the cost of getting the mityvac.

LCPLPunk

cvx, no I haven't, that's why I was asking..

I've done it on a bunch of cars and a few bikes and it's always worked.

cvx5832

I understand! There's something specific on the W204 ABS system that prevents a good old fashioned gravity bleed. With the cap off and the bleeder cracked it just sits there doing nothing. Even on a Motive bleeder at +5psi you can't get anything at the far wheel. I think mine didn't start moving until +10psi.

It's only been 9 years since the W204 came out. In time I'm sure we'll figure out exactly what prevents it. I for one am curious.

LCPLPunk

Wonderful.....

I've always wanted a real brake bleeder system and now it looks like I might have to get one.

edgalang

Dont forget, you can use it for topside oil changes too (which was the original reason I got one).

menappi

I just build a DIY version of the pressure bleeder, the only thing I need to get is the darn brake fluid reservoir cap and Benz wants $20 for it, lol. There's tons of aftermarket caps at Autozone/Oreileys for other car makes, just no Benz.. Anyone know of an identical make/model that would fit? I've even seen videos online of people using PVC end caps with certain threads and I would do that but I just don't know what size to get. Maybe I should just take the cap down to Home Depot and screw it onto some pipes and find out..

95Sinned420

Cost at minimum would be to use the two-person method, the "old school" technique where the second person pumps on the pedal and you open/close the valve. Just keep the reservoir topped off. Very easy, you should already have all the tools (1 wrench? lol). Cost will be the cost of fluid.

Demvang

I used the power bleeder by Motive Products

Quick tip: apply Teflon tape to the connection screw thread to avoid air leak.

capt_paul

It's Dot 4+ brake fluid, not Dot 4

LCPLPunk

Wow, learn something new everyday. Didn't know DOT 4+ even existed.