Self leveling suspension

[Peter 300TE]

I have a bad leak of hydraulic fluid from my self leveling rear suspension on my 1991 estate. Its being investigated however I suspect its one of the shock absorbers.

As the car has Sportsline suspension does anyone know if the the self leveling shock absorbers are the same as standard ones?

Thanks

 

[andy_k]

They should be the same "shock absorbers" isn't really an accurate description they are hydraulic struts. If one is leaking then you can change it without having to do the pair. You can buy either from the dealers or aftermarket (places like Euro Car Parts) the latter is cheaper but are reputed not to last as long.

You will need to buy the fluid to top the system up from your dealer and also if you are doing the job yourself you'll need a pack of copper sealing washers which fit at the end of the flexi pipes.

It's not a big job but a bit fiddly and there is a knack to doing it - if you need any help then drop me a line

HTH

Andy

 

[Bolide]

Sportline rear self-levelling suspension

That's an interesting question - well, for some of us anyway! If the rear spring rate was different on a Sportline estate it could be done by using suspension spheres with a different pressure setting. I'll check part numbers when I have time & try to find out

Mercedes were pretty thorough about developing modifications and it wouldn't surprise me at all if there were detail differences. I'd hazard a guess that the self-levelling struts were the same, though

The direct answer to your question is: call a dealer and ask them


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[yvrbenz]

Symptoms of SLS failure

Generally speaking:

SLS strut failure manifests itself as a leak. Sometimes it's significant, sometimes not.

Hydrogen cell/accumulator failure has a few different symptoms.
1) sudden sagging of the rear-end (no jokes here! )
2) very hard ride
3) untracable "clunk" from the rear

in each case the diaphragm/bladder inside the housing has developed a leak and collapsed. The cells are what gives the rear suspension its compliance: gas/air can be compressed, liquid cannot.

 

[Peter 300TE]

Thanks for the responses. I will try the dealer for an answer, though to be honest the local dealer is not always the most helpful....i'll have to learn to be more assertive!

Andy thanks for the offer to help with tech advice. I am going to spend a bit more time this wekend looking at it. I may have a go however to be honest my old bones get a bit cold nowadays so it may have to go in to be fixed.

I have now browsed the other threads and picked up the confusion between shocks and struts for the SLS. Thanks for the pointers.

Peter

 

[Peter 300TE]

update

After spending some time investigating I fould a small hole in one of the fluid pipes. Have replaced and taken car for MOT.

Passed again first time (has three years on a row now) and I know remember why i bought mercedes in the first place

Thanks again