1988 528e brakes

I picked-up a '88 528e that has not been run or started for seven years. I put in a used
fuel tank, two new fuel pumps and fuel filter. I just started with the brakes and I
have a problem that is driving me nuts. I replaced the master cylinder, (bench bled) and
I went to bleed the brakes and......nothing! No fluid. I took out a couple bleed srews to
see if they were plugged and they were not. The pedel feels firm at first but then does
a slow dive. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks-BuffaloBruce

Originally Posted by buffalobruce

I picked-up a '88 528e that has not been run or started for seven years. I put in a used
fuel tank, two new fuel pumps and fuel filter. I just started with the brakes and I
have a problem that is driving me nuts. I replaced the master cylinder, (bench bled) and
I went to bleed the brakes and......nothing! No fluid. I took out a couple bleed srews to
see if they were plugged and they were not. The pedel feels firm at first but then does
a slow dive. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks-BuffaloBruce

I'd start by replacing the rubber hoses. Then try bleeding with one line off at a time to see what comes out. I've done some brake jobs on cars that have been sitting for years and the gunk that formed inside the lines looked like little "snakes". It clogs them up and makes it practically impossible to bleed properly. The calipers may also be contaminated. Personally, I would replace or rebuild all of them; you'll like your car alot better with the brakes working exactly the way they were designed.

I recently did my brakes all the way around. I also replaced the front calipers as the metal to metal contact had damaged them as well. Previous owner had driven it for some time with no pads. It took me about a week to bleed all the air out of the system. I took it for a drive and bled it. I also parked it at different angles to let the air move up and out. In the process I flushed about a bottle of fluid though the system. The lines on this car are all over and trap air like crazy. It just took time.

Once you get the snakes out (seen that) try bleeding by pump-pump-hold and then release the bleed screw and retighten after the spirt of fluid. Repeat - P P H release - retighten. A sort of pressure bleed. If you have ABS the you may have snakes in that system too.