Alastair,

Thanks for the information and this was a very big help!

Michael

How long do the accumulator spheres usually last? As long as a regular shock absorber would?

__________________
Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

Replaced mine last year at 165K. I'm guessing they were original.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I replaced mine at about 170k. I also would assume mine were original.

__________________

I did mine at 295 k- but it needed them since I bought at 267.

they are said to go about 100-150K, as long as a bilstein shock. you'll know it if you need them.

__________________
1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

I have worked on Citroen hydropneumatic systems on their cars from 1953- 1996, but never on a Benz SLS system.

My questions:
where can I see a pic of the hydraulic spheres?
Are the spheres rechargeale?
what hydraulic fluid is used? LHM? VEEDOL? 5646? is it mineral or vegetable, I'm betting mineral since the old bentleys and Rolls cars used Citroen parts exclusively and MB may have waited until the patents expired to set up their own.

I bring this up because my friends and I rebuild and re-gas the spheres. I'm saying this because it sounds like the MB spheres can be rebuilt too, or Cit spheres, properly gassed, can be substituted.

Citspheres and diaphragms take up to 2500 psi and have pumps and accumulators as well.

I need some info, please.

Feel free to send pics, drawings and descriptions to cw4dtu@wideopenwest.com.
I also need to know the thread dimensions of the sphere. On the Cits it is 36mmx 1,5 I believe. Plus I can make thread adapters using my lathe.

Feel free to send me stuff.

Thanks,
S

__________________
Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydropneumatic_suspension

Strelnik:
Many years ago, someone posted here that the Citroen accumulators can be recharged and suggested that the MB ones might be also. To my knowledge, no one has ever done it. Can you describe the procedures for recharging? It seems to me that the MB accumulators fail when the rubber diaphragm fails. Can you replace the rubber diaphragms?

Someone here posted a picture of a cut open failed accumulator within the last year or so.

kerry

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Many thanks for the detailed explanations. I do have a question regarding the valve - but I think I already know the answer...

Is there a "sticky" point on the valve near the "normal" ride height position? When I disconnect one or both of the suspension pull rod ends and manually raise and lower the suspension via the valve arm, there appears to be a sticky point somewhere around 4 or 5 o'clock. If I am anywhere near this sticky point when I set the ride height, the SLS will either not adjust to load at all, or will hyperextend to maximum ride height (with the valve squealing "eeeeee"). Basically, the SLS will not respond properly to ride height. However, if I set the ride height either well above or well below the sticky point, it responds properly to load. The problem then, though, is that the ride height will be either too high (but not maxed) or too low. It appears that the sticky spot is the sweet spot where the optimal ride height should be. But my SLS won't properly adjust in that position!

So has anybody else observed this sticky point on the valve arm? Or is my sticky spot just another sign that I need to rebuild the valve..

Thanks!
Ted

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-1985 300TD - 324k mi on chassis. MB "Tauschaggregat" 617 motor + 4-speed conversion
Alaska Roadtrip 2009
-2002 E320 Wagon - 197k mi
-1998 E320 Wagon - 310k mi - retired

I'm not positive, but if I had to guess, I'd say your valve is bad.

__________________
Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

I've noticed something similar. The valve wears in the standard position and begins to fail in that position while operating ok in other positions. When I replaced my accumulators, my valve starting working much better without doing anything to it.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13