lkchris

Here's a new article from Mercedes regarding bleeding brakes on models equipped with Sensotronic Braking system:
https://www.mbwholesaleparts.com/Sta...SBSeptST07.pdf

konigstiger

Actually this information was initially released 12/04 and revised: DTB P-B-42.46/46c AUG05. Good info though.

W Cole

Im confused, that PDF doesn't really explain how to bleed them. I was under the impression they could be bled just like a normal car??

lkchris

Good thing your impression is now different because they can't be.

W Cole

I've read that they can be. Can anyone confirm either way?

vettdvr

PFD basically stated,,

But really big computer $$$$, follow what we say, and your brakes are free of air,, or,,, just go to MB and pay less $$ and let us do it because you should not and probably don't know how to do the MB wand trick to bleed the brakes.

My 89 Lincoln had electric brakes very similar to MB and to bleed the brakes there was a specific procedure that the average person could do.

It was basically turn the key on to energize the electric/pump and depress the brake pedal for ?? seconds, while opening the rear brake bleed screw. The fluid would then flow out under a steady stream for 10 seconds. Close the bleeder and repeat. But apparently the MB uses the computer to do the thinking for you.

SmashF15C

vettedvr, are you also a member on the CF? I have a Y2K that I love, great to drive in the German summers.

Smash

lkchris

I can confirm that I can read and when I read what Mercedes says it says they can't.

Why would reading something NOT written by Mercedes have any relevance or credibility whatsoever?

Reminds me that Alaska airlines mechanics must have "read somewhere" they didn't have to use the elevator jackscrew grease specified by McDonnell Douglas on their DC-9. One of them's now in the Pacific just off LAX.

MARK CUMMINS

SBC cars CAN be done old school WITHOUT the SDS aka Star

I have done it on several cars as friends at the Dealer also do it that way ..Without waiting to use the sds to bleed the brakes

vettdvr

Corvette Forum,, yes.

I will be in Germany next summer on vacation. Octoberfest?

vettdvr

?? so what procedure did you use if you didn't use "Startrek". It would be helpful to everyone to know how to do it with out a "Trycorder or Scanner".

W Cole

Thanks for chiming in Mark, you were the one who told me about this before. So no special tricks? Just crack the bleeder and depress the pedal?

W Cole

Unfortunately, I find the mercedes benz literature to be far less reliable than the information available on this forum. Of course they don't want you bleeding your own brakes or even changing your own pads/rotors for that matter. They want the $$ in their pockets.

vettdvr

This would sound reasonable to me. When the brakes are applied there is pressure in the system and opening the bleeder should let the air out. At least that's the way it worked on my 58 ford.

dacollector

dumb question, so when i do my rotor and pad change, the sbc plug is off and the keys in the house, when all is said and done, i plug it back in then pump the brakes to bleed them?

W Cole

Unless you crack the bleeder valve, then you shouldn't have to bleed the brakes. Most people I know just jam the pads against the rotors with a flat blade (if you're replacing the rotors anyways why not). And then use a C clamp to compress the piston additionally if needed.

dacollector

so how about if you are changing pads, rotors, and new brake fluid? do you (at the end of pad & rotor change ) plug back the sbc unit, pump the brakes to bleed the fluid to change it to new?

W Cole

Yes, that is correct. I haven't bled the brakes on a w211 so I can't confirm 100%. Let me know how the brake bleeding goes, I should be attempting to bleed mine this weekend.

Nickthegreek

I'm very interested to hear if anyone has successfully bled their brakes using the traditional method cause I'm now off the warranty and gonna be doin maintenance myself now. And if you did, did you unplug the SBC or plug it back in???

I would think that if you plug in the SBC and pressed the pedal to bleed that you would create a high pressure stream of brake fluid and lose most of the fluid in one press but I'm just making an educated guess

MARK CUMMINS

[QUOTE=Nickthegreek;2493335]I'm very interested to hear if anyone has successfully bled their brakes using the traditional method cause I'm now off the warranty and gonna be doin maintenance myself now. And if you did, did you unplug the SBC or plug it back in???





Yes you CAN Bleed the SBC brakes WITHOUT the SDS aka star....Its been done

Nickthegreek

do you have to unplug the harness to the SBC brakes though or do you leave the harness plugged so it can build pressure???

vettdvr

Just info. When doing the pads measure the rotors and if they are not warped and within specification don't change them. MB also says not to turn them.

My rotors have 70,000 miles on them 3rd set of pads for the front and only 50% wear remaining. I will run them to 100K miles and if they are below spec then I will replace them. So don't spend the $$ unless you just want new rotors.

RobertG

Has anyone tried gravity bleeding?
I performed this method on many different vehicles over the years, the advantage of this method is that it allows you to bleed or change the brake fluid as a 1 person operation. The only negative to this is that it takes few minutes longer then with a helper pressurizing the system.

vettdvr

No but given the pump system on the E500 and not a conventional I would be a bit concerned about doing gravity.

I do however open the bleeder when installing new pads. But I only open it when I have a clamp an pressure on the caliper piston so it is a positive pressure. When opening the bleeder fluid comes out until the piston hits the bottom of the bore, then with pressure still on I tighten the bleeder. At least this way I do purge the old fluid on pad changes. Jim

Nickthegreek

dam vattdvr, that's a good idea. That way you don't have to worry about too much pressure building up from the pump. Never thought of that