W201 Changing Brake Pads with ABS

[alanbp]

I was looking for a bit of advice changing the pads on my W201 (1993 1.8) fitted with ABS

When I last changed the pads 3 years ago - I levered the piston back into the caliper using a small lever between the disc and the old pad.

When everything was back together, and I got in the car to pump the pedal up solid - it seems to travel to the floor then get harder as expected, but after a while the travel returned a few times then eventually rectified after about 10 minutes ( I was test driving by this time) I thought I had damaged seals somewhere in the system so it was a bit nervewracking!

I am looking to change the discs soon and will have to do this again - is it OK to push the pads back when ABS is fitted or do I have to slacken the nipple?

Also on the subject of pads - I have been getting judder from speed since I Had a wheel bearing changed at the rear, and have replaced the disc on that wheel, cleaned up the caliper slides etc, one of the pads was very weak and the friction material fell of the backing plate when I just tapped the pad lightly to remove it - does this suggest overheating?

The front pads are probably 30k & 10 yrs old so are probably due changing as I am getting judder on heavy braking.

Many thanks in advance

 

[SilverSaloon]

i've pushed the pistons back in using the lever technique and using a G clamp on various cars now with ABS and not had a problem or needed to free the nipple off slightly.

i believe on some vauxhalls you need to clamp the pipe and then bleed the brakes afterwards as otherwise the seals invert but not as far as i've read or experienced on Mercedes.

 

[television]

There are different schools of though on this,,many say that if the car is under 10 years old then its OK to lever the pistons back. Over that age there could be a risk of pushing any debris back into the expensive ABS pump, therefore clamping and undoing the bleed nipple is a better way to go, and certainly the best way. This also saves the problem of taking some fluid out of the top up tank if its full