Car is my '83 300TD and the rear stays firmly planted on the ground at all times. (Yes, I searched and have learned much).
The PO (actually the PO's mechanic) stated that there was a fluid leak in the self leveling "on top of the diff somewhere". I have had no leak since I got it home (yes, the reservoir has been full). First I bled the system, then I disconnected the valve by the diff to see if the linkage was stuck. No response from the system moving the switch manually. The pump is pumping enough to bleed the system and if you look in the res w/ it running it's pumping enough to be bringing it back to the res at more than a trickle, but not what I would call "high pressure" (it is a return line).
My question is: How can I determine whether it is the pump or the valve? Is there a pressure spec for the pump? I think I may have be able to jerry-rig up a guage from my fuel pressure set. I know the valve is an easy rebuild and I don't even want to price out a pump...
Thanks!
-M-

__________________
Currently:
1972 350SL Euro 4spd
1973 BMW R75/5
1981 BMW R80GS
1995 FZJ80 with OM606 Conversion In Progress

Not really part of the thread but- did you buy 'ol Betty off ebay? Somewhere near Boston? Just curious!

Yes, That's her.
You know her? She an ex of yours?
Any dirt on her I should know?

__________________
Currently:
1972 350SL Euro 4spd
1973 BMW R75/5
1981 BMW R80GS
1995 FZJ80 with OM606 Conversion In Progress

You had me by 100 bucks! I hope she was worth it! j/k! It was an awesome deal BTW did you drive her as-is to WNY? I am not too familiar with these cars but the adventurer in me said go for it!(if I had won) I had called some local indies plus the 2 dealers here and they all said I could not drive her anywhere ever with a bad leveler! i think it was

Yep, Drove her all the way back to Fredonia NY (45mi west of Buffalo). Got there, checked her out, new fuel filters and air filter and we were on the road. One caliper in the rear was toast (grinding a little the whole way) and one front locked up somewhere south of Albany ("do you smell brakes?" ... "SMOKE!") but it managed to free itself up. Had EZPass, so no real need to stop if you can hold it . 27mpgs all the way home, not bad for a car that was sitting for a few years and just took off. Thanks for not pushing the price up!
Cheers,
-M-

PS: We unhooked the rear suspension hydraulic lines and and just ran the pump through the reservoir. Worked great, but I think the POs ran it too long w/o fluid and the pump's shot anyway. Or it's the switch. Hence this thread...

Any Ideas Out There?

__________________
Currently:
1972 350SL Euro 4spd
1973 BMW R75/5
1981 BMW R80GS
1995 FZJ80 with OM606 Conversion In Progress