Reduce File size on CAD DXF file opened in AI

CS3, Windows XP.
I get DXF CAD files from our Engineering Department. I open them in AI and save them as AI files. Then I place them in InDesign. Then I export a PDF for uploading to my website.
The problem is that every seam in the CAD drawing is 5 or 6 lines. Every screw head is shown. This makes for a large PDF file. There are several drawings in each manual so the PDF is sometimes over 20 meg. It also takes a while for the image to draw as you go from page to page.
Is there anyway (short of spending hours removing lines and screwheads in AI) to simplify the drawings from CAD? Does CS4 have any capabilities in this area?
JAG

If you have multiple identical (or, more likely, nearly identical) paths overlapping, you can probably eliminate that part of the problem with the export settings in the CAD program (which you don't specify). Look for settings to not include hidden lines (assuming you are exporting from flattend 3D models).
Most CAD programs have a collection of export options, and there are multiple "flavors" of DXF. Someone needs to know what they're doing on each end of the export/import workflow.
After getting a reasonable file into AI, try selecting all (excluding Text) and applying the Simplify command with curve accuracy set to 100%.
Once you get the details ironed out, consider recording an Action to automate the steps that work best. For example, I routinely import DXF files exported from CATIA models and the apply an Action that:
Selects all text objects.
Inverts the selection.
Ungroups.
Removes compound paths.
Simplifies paths.
Applies a uniform stroke weight with rounded end caps and joins.
Selects all.
Scales.
Selects all Text objects.
Sets font, size, and weight.
Deselects.
In a consistent workflow, importing the DXFs and doing most of the optimization (as much as it can be optimized) is pretty much a few clicks affair. Dealing with CAD files when you cannot control the export end (as when receiving them from multiple different vendors and softwares) is always a bit of a chore because of the variables.
JET

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