Sagging Suspension

[chopsaw]

Hi all, being a 'virgin' to the club, please excuse my question if its already been asked. So here goes!. Being a collector of all this good, I took the plunge this week and bought a 200TE Estate Auto 1992 with 164K on the clock. Full MB service history to 94K, then a good independant dealer service to present date. The car is imaculate and drives great, but I notice the rear of the car is well down compaired with the front. I beleive that the W124 was fitted with some kind of hydraulic suspension, but even with the engine running the height remains the same. I have had a quick look under the rear and I can see some coil springs and what looks like a pair of rubber cones. I am pretty handy with cars so if its something I can do myself I will have a go (and I'm a tight git having 6 kids). Can anyone point me in the right direction so I can return the car back to its former glory and looks. Cheers. CHOPSAW

 

[clive williams]

I've got self levelling on my W124 (500E) and a swapped in system is going to cost you megabucks for new kit or expensive for suspect kit. You need pump, accumulators and special shocks (£180 ea). Its not worth it. If you want to level the ride then use say Munroe Ridelevellers or if you can get them Air Lift springs (check the web Stateside), which fit into the spring and are inflated from a convenient location on the car. I have some of these on a Rangey and they work well and are easy to fit.

evilC

 

[chopsaw]

Thanks for the info Clive, I will look into these alternatives. But I really want to keep the old girl as near standard as possible. Cheers again. John.

 

[turnipsock]

There is an arm that attachs to the rear suspension that controls the level. I suspect you may have a problem with this.

If you jack up the car you will see it towards the right hand side.

 

[andy_k]

check the hydraulic fluid level - reservoir at the front of the car under the bonnet (right hand side as you look at it).

It should be about 3/4 full if it's empty fill it to the mark with MB hydraulic fluid - no other fluid will do the job and see if that makes any difference.

If not you need to find out if

a, the system is leaking

b, the pump is functioning - you may have to remove it to test but removing the pipes and running the engine for a couple of seconds will give you a messy but quick result

if the pump is working then the return valve is probably suspect

If the ride is very hard then you can bet that the accumulator spheres need replacing

Check the rear springs aren't broken or tired

at the end of the day it's a process of elimination, if you don't know how these systems work then it may well be worth you dropping the car into an independent garage which may just work out cheaper than replacing parts until you find the broken one

Sorry I can't be any more help

Andy

 

[chopsaw]

Thanks again for the detailed replies everyone. There is plenty there for me to check out over the next few days. :wink: the ride is a little hard Andy_K but not that it would cause me concern. Are there any specialist dealers trading in these parts that you could recommend, or is it MB main dealer only for these cars. Thanks again. CHOPSAW

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Had a 300TE which had same self levelling suspension as yours. The only problem I had was that the hydraulic pipes from the pump (which is part of the power steering pump) corroded at the fixing points to the body of the car as they tracked back to the rear axle. So worth checking these if you intend to keep the car. Any good garage should be competent enough to sort out your problem.
Hope this helps!

 

[chopsaw]

Thanks for the info Malcolm, I will look out for this also as soon as the ****** rain stops :sad: Cheers. CHOPSAW

 

[Scop]

Hi Chopsaw

Did you find out what the problem was with your suspension ? Mine is displaying the same characteristics. My indie suggested that I load the car up and switch the engine on to see if it rises. Mine did rise but not much After switching off the ride height at the rear now seems higher than before, in other words normal. (I wonder if it will have sunk again when I drive home later). The car does drive well so I don't think that the spheres/struts are worn out (yet).

Having called the indie, he reckons the problem may well be the ride height sensor. its booked in the week after next so I'll update then.