Brakes: Gravity vs Pressure Bleed
- Thread starter sikwan
- Start date
shortshort
Dis member
Wrong answer. You wanted the Motive pressure bleeder. Fooking awesome.
First post on Sprinter Source, so hello everyone!
I wanted to give you a bit of personal experience with bleeding. I just purchased a T1N that had sat parked for two years and had a bad master cylinder as a result. Previous owner agreed to have his mechanic replace/bleed the brakes before I took possession. Mechanic does not own a DRBIII. He/we have been unable to get any pedal feel back with conventional bleeding methods.
I do have access to a DAD, I'm not sure if it is capable of the same ABS function as the DRBIII
Jake
I wanted to give you a bit of personal experience with bleeding. I just purchased a T1N that had sat parked for two years and had a bad master cylinder as a result. Previous owner agreed to have his mechanic replace/bleed the brakes before I took possession. Mechanic does not own a DRBIII. He/we have been unable to get any pedal feel back with conventional bleeding methods.
I do have access to a DAD, I'm not sure if it is capable of the same ABS function as the DRBIII
Jake
Aqua Puttana
Poly - Thread Finder
First let me extend you a hale and hearty welcome to the forum.
You should be able to use the DAD on a T1N to cycle the ABS pump during the bleed process. vic
Gulf SV
Kevin Burns
For all of you looking to just bleed the system, I use Speed Bleeders. 
I have not installed them on the Sprinter yet, but they have been used on all of my other vehicles including my race bikes. Crack the bleeder, and pump away until fluid is clear. Just keep an eye on m/c fluid level. It is so easy you'll never dread the job.
Vic, does the DAD process completely flush the system? Do you still need two people? I suspect the process is fully documented in the service manual? Inquiring minds....
I have not installed them on the Sprinter yet, but they have been used on all of my other vehicles including my race bikes. Crack the bleeder, and pump away until fluid is clear. Just keep an eye on m/c fluid level. It is so easy you'll never dread the job.Vic, does the DAD process completely flush the system? Do you still need two people? I suspect the process is fully documented in the service manual? Inquiring minds....
Aqua Puttana
Poly - Thread Finder
It flushes the system. I had two people. I don't remember the entire procedure.
Here's some info from the DAD sticky. Apparently some people have had problems accessing the program.
https://sprinter-source.com/forums/showthread.php?p=93191#post93191
Clicking the arrow after the quote name will take you to the quoted posting. vic
Aqua Puttana
Poly - Thread Finder
Doktor A supplied the DAD units. Contact him.
This is a canned response.
Doktor A is Andy Bittenbinder. An excellent mechanic/designer who specializes in Sprinters (and Porsches, and Saabs, and… ). He is generously willing to share his vast knowledge to those in need.
A most important phone number to keep handy.
I have it saved to my cell phone and written in grease pencil under my hood.
"Call my Sprinter Hot Line 412-366-6165. Doktor A".
Have a pad of paper handy when you call him.
Be certain to leave your phone number with area code each and every time you leave him a voice message.
He lives in Pittsburgh PA area. That is the Eastern Time Zone so show some courtesy as to timing your calls.
Aqua Puttana
Poly - Thread Finder
The DAD is Doktor A Diagnostics
It is a fleet purchased aftermarket scan tool which Doktor A supplied at a great low price until the supply dried up. If memory serves it is related to the Carsoft technology. It accesses via K-line communication and will work on 2001 - 2006 (NAFTA) T1N Sprinters. It may also work on Euro models. I'm 100% certain that it will not work on any NCV3 models (CAN bus accessed).
If you can believe this...
"It is the Chrysler(Dodge) factory scan tool. It stands for Diagnostic Readout Box. The DRB III was is used for vehicles up till the 2006 model year."
http://www.ask.com/question/drb-scan-tool
Actually the 2006 reference is incorrect. Many post 2006 Dodge/Chrysler vehicles (non-CAN bus access) still use the DRBIII tool. Newer generation CAN bus vehicles respond to the StarScan, Wi-Tech or StarMobile tool . I know that the 2007 Sprinters can use those tools. I don't believe later model Sprinters do. (Where is Jon Caples when you need him??)
vic
Last edited:
sailquik
Well-known member
Compstall,
DRB-III stands for Diagnostic Readout Box (in Chrysler/Dodge speak).
The -III means it's the latest version (There were DRB ...DRB-I and DRB-II before they came out with the DRB-III).
You will also need the correct interface cabling.
Might want to check with Dr. A on this.
He's the only one I know who really can run all the tests with a DRB-III so I'm sure he knows what specific cabling and
interfaces are needed for Sprinters.
Roger
DRB-III stands for Diagnostic Readout Box (in Chrysler/Dodge speak).
The -III means it's the latest version (There were DRB ...DRB-I and DRB-II before they came out with the DRB-III).
You will also need the correct interface cabling.
Might want to check with Dr. A on this.
He's the only one I know who really can run all the tests with a DRB-III so I'm sure he knows what specific cabling and
interfaces are needed for Sprinters.
Roger