gearbox leaking at rear

[robbie21mcn]

hi folks i have an 300sl 1990 and the car has ran fine sicne i bought it last august. however i went to check all levels on the car like i do from time to time and had just noticed my hydraulic fluid bottle was literally on the deck with no fluid in it. i swiftly went to halfords and got some fluid and put it in up to the level and thought nothing more of it. a day later i noticed i had fluid leaking from the rear and that the bottle has went back down to the floor. is there an overflo at the rear that the fluid could be escaping to and why is it leaking from the rear? it has now stopped again about 1 litre from the maximum level and i dont want to put a litre in for it to go everywhere. please help

 

[television]

this will be the 772.4 or 5 box, if you wipe it down, not a nice job I know, but you should see where about's it is coming from, let us know please and welcome to the forum

 

[robbie21mcn]

got under neath and spotted it was the pipes at the side of the car as shown that lead into the gearbox. the box itself has no leaks around it as shown. is this a big job to renew the pipes??? do they have to be renewed from the front all the way back? and also do i need to watch i dont get fragments into my gearbox?? please advise. last thing i want is my gearbox to die a death.
:-(

 

[kth286]

robbie

I think you are talking about the self levelling rear suspension top up bottle - yes ?

It is likely that a pipe has rusted in the rear of the car and allowing this fluid to leak out.

Needs to be on a lift and the rear fully checked out by a Merc specialist that is familiar with THAT generation of car.

No general garages for this job, and no Merc main dealers.

Let us know how you get on as it will help other people.

 

[television]

Yes David is spot on, he knows these cars well

 

[robbie21mcn]

these pipes are connected to the fluid reservoir under the bonnet next to the wahser bottle tank. i thought that they were linking to the gear box as it is hydraulic fluid that they carry to the rear box no???????

 

[rapide]

leaking brake fluid

I have not seen an sl with self leveling rear suspension, it just looks like a rusted brake pipe! you must be topping up the brake fluid resevoir! I take it thats what you purchased! regards rapido.

 

[robbie21mcn]

no these pipes are connected to a reservoir under the bonnet which i thought was gear box oil since they run up to the back near the gear box?????

 

[television]

ADS was as option on all 129s

 

[rapide]

leaky pipes

always learning! well if its got self leveling rear end then as david says get it up in the air and check out which pipes are rusted through and get new fitted i would also check brake pipes if under body rusty fittings are an issue , all the best Rap.