How To Bleed Brakes 96 Es300

[Gold ES]

Anyone have step by step for bleeding brakes after replacing master cylinder. Pedal goes to the floor. Car has anti-lock brakes. Anything special I should look for or disconnect?

[gbhrps]

I assume that you bench-bled the master cylinder before you put it on the car. If not, this is most likely where your problem is. Generally you put the new master cylinder in a bench vise, put the provided plastic plugs (or in some cases plastic plugs with rubber tubing that go back inside the fluid reservoir, fill it half way with fresh brake fluid, and using a rod or wooden dowel, slowly push in the valve assembly of the MC, using short/one inch strokes until the fluid flows without any air bubbles, and your push strokes become firm, and generally can only move inward about an eighth of an inch or so. If after mounting the bled MC and reconnecting the brake lines, you still cannot get fluid movement at the farthest bleed screw, you must have a leak somewhere else in the system. Its been several years since I bled the system on my wife's 97 ES ( we have since have moved on to an 04 ES), but I don't recall having any problems with the ABS system, or having to do anything special because of the ABS during a system bleed. It was all very straight forward. You bleed the farthest wheel from the MC first, then the next farthest and so on. With someone in the car, have them push the pedal to the floor and hold it there while you open the bleed screw and then close it after the pulse of old fluid and air bubbles passes. ( You have to have some clear plastic tubing on the bleed screw and have its other end empty into a one litre bottle or similar) Then have the person in the car let the pedal up and then repeat the procedure until there are no more visible air bubbles when they push the pedal down. Then its on to the next wheel and so on. Be sure to top up the MC between wheels. HINT: Use a good six point socket on the bleed screws when you open them for the first time. This will prevent damaging the bleed screws if they are seized somewhat. Slide your plastic tubing through the box end of the wrench you'll use for locking and unlocking the bleeding screws and then slide the tubing onto the bleed screw and then slide the box end wrench down the tube onto the bleed screw, and then start your bleeding procedure. When you finish each wheel, use that six point socket to tighten the bleed screw one final time, but take care not to over tighten them or snap them off. Good Luck.

[Gold ES]

Thanks. I did not install MC yet but will be tackling job tomorrow. Its been a while since I replaced MC and other car did not have ABS, which was my main concern. Great step by step instructions. Thanks again.