Please help!!! 2.3 cdi brake issue

[Tom mcloughlin]

Hi everyone, hoping someone can help me!! I just purchased a 2004 cdi sprinter 2.2 engine, it has just had new front discs and pads fitted and new rear discs and pads also fitted, the brakes are terrible with no bite and too much peddle travel, all the pads are correctly fitted, the lines have been bled but brakes are still rubbish so I replaced the master cylinder/servo and and abs unit but still no joy...if anyone can help I would much appreciate it!!!

 

[mioba]

What brand of disks and pads

 

[Tom mcloughlin]

What brand of disks and pads

I don't know mate,the previous owner fitted them

 

[EmilysDad]

I don't know mate,the previous owner fitted them

maybe he fitted the cheapest he could find

 

[Tom mcloughlin]

maybe he fitted the cheapest he could find

Funny you say that,a mate said I should change the pads(even though they are new) he reckons they are glazed over so no bite to them,I might try that and hope for the best

 

[Dean Fletcher]

Funny you say that,a mate said I should change the pads(even though they are new) he reckons they are glazed over so no bite to them,I might try that and hope for the best

I had some once that took a good few miles to bed in after that they were OK.

 

[Tom mcloughlin]

I had some once that took a good few miles to bed in after that they were OK.

Yeah I know what you mean, I've been going down hill's and bedding them in and braking as much as possible so I'm hoping they'll stay to bite

 

[Dean Fletcher]

Yeah I know what you mean, I've been going down hill's and bedding them in and braking as much as possible so I'm hoping they'll stay to bite

I imagine they will come round eventually mine took at least 200 miles of short trips.

 

[Tom mcloughlin]

I imagine they will come round eventually mine took at least 200 miles of short trips.

Cheers mate, finger's crossed

 

[mioba]

My guess is they they were fitted to sell the car on - so probably cheap as he could find. maybe ask?
If you are concerned get them tested at an MOT place or a merc Indy and get the lot replaced with original.
Do they need bedding in!
Brakes are safety critical so just no point wasteting time here, get it seen to ASAP.
Replacing the master
cylinder/servo and and abs unit is just a waste. Were they even tested for faults?

 

[Tom mcloughlin]

The previous owner changed everything so yeah silly throwing money at the problem like he did, I'm going to rack up some more miles first as it may just be that,I have no fault codes or abs lights on the dash so that all seems ok that end

 

[vincentfishing]

when you changed abs unit, did you bleed abs unit with a diagnostic tool that does abs bleeding if not, this could have been original problem(air /dirt pushed back into abs by pad changes done badly)I am pretty sure the only way to bleed the system and include bleeding abs(which if newly fitted will need bleeding) is with a diagnostic that activates all the abs internals while bleeding

 

[Tom mcloughlin]

when you changed abs unit, did you bleed abs unit with a diagnostic tool that does abs bleeding if not, this could have been original problem(air /dirt pushed back into abs by pad changes done badly)I am pretty sure the only way to bleed the system and include bleeding abs(which if newly fitted will need bleeding) is with a diagnostic that activates all the abs internals while bleeding

Really,does this year need such a tool??

 

[vincentfishing]

I dont think it matters what make car or model you have, the abs is full of 'valves' i believe, so once air is in it you have to activate all the valves to release the air while bleeding the system, the only reason i came across this was i changed pads in a car i had and didnt clamp off the brake pipes while pushing pistons back in, i ended up with long travel on brake which failed mot, after lots of bleeding failed, did some searching on web and found out about activating abs with diagnostic tool whilst bleeding brakes, Other 'remedy' suggested was driving down dirt track fast and slamming brakes on to activate abs and force air out and rebleed, repeat it a couple of times. maybe you could directly ring/ ask an independant merc garage and ask if abs bleed is required ?

 

[Tom mcloughlin]

I dont think it matters what make car or model you have, the abs is full of 'valves' i believe, so once air is in it you have to activate all the valves to release the air while bleeding the system, the only reason i came across this was i changed pads in a car i had and didnt clamp off the brake pipes while pushing pistons back in, i ended up with long travel on brake which failed mot, after lots of bleeding failed, did some searching on web and found out about activating abs with diagnostic tool whilst bleeding brakes, Other 'remedy' suggested was driving down dirt track fast and slamming brakes on to activate abs and force air out and rebleed, repeat it a couple of times. maybe you could directly ring/ ask an independant merc garage and ask if abs bleed is required ?

 

[Tom mcloughlin]

That makes sense to me actually,I know it's just trapped air but I've bled and bled and bled so trapped in the pump would explain it if the valves are closed like you say, I'll try your suggestion of slamming on to activate the abs,I've asked a few garages but they seem to have no info and the only main mercedes garage I asked are off the charts with their prices,but cheers for your knowledge mate

 

[vincentfishing]

Might be worth reposting a thread entitled ''Anyone on forum in (your area) that can do an abs bleed '', you might get lucky

 

[Tom mcloughlin]

Might be worth reposting a thread entitled ''Anyone on forum in (your area) that can do an abs bleed '', you might get lucky

Yeah I'll get it sorted eventually, I just got to find the right man (or woman) for the job, it's just a proper pain as it is