I have a 1980 300TD and was wondering if I could tell the SLS is working properly. No leaks. I don't have to add any fluid. It seems to handle nicely, but it looks like it sits lower in the rear than the front.

there's one way I know of, Start the car and have a few people pile into the back and see if the hind end comes up to level itself out

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hum.....
1987 300TD 311,000M Stolen. Presumed destroyed

When I want to check mine, I get the Mother-In-Law o sit in the back...

She's a BIG woman!

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http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...0TDnoplate.jpg

Alastair AKA H.C.II South Wales, U.K. based member

W123, 1985 300TD Wagon, 256K,
-Most recent M.B. purchase, Cost-a-plenty, Gulps BioDiesel extravagantly, and I love it like an old dog.

W114, 1975 280E Custard Yellow,
-Great above decks needs chassis welding--Really will do it this year....

LMAO....thanks. I did that and didn't really notice anything. I know people have posted that if its not working the car rides hard. This car doesn't ride hard at all.

The wagon will ride hard if the accumulators have failed. They really don't have anything to do with the ride height.

There is a rod between the SLS valve and the rear sway bar that can be adjusted to set the height. Measure the height from ground to bumper at the front and back to see if they are the same.

Tired subframe bushings can also affect ride height. In fact, I'd look there first if it's out of spec.

Here are a couple threads about your SLS system. If everything works and there are no leaks but it's sitting low, then either the SLS valve is not set correctly, or the springs or subframe bushings are tired. Does the car settle over night at all? If so your valve is leaking.

SLS System - How it Works:
Self-Leveling-System - How it works, and troubleshooting the system

Adjusting Ride Height:
Properly Adjusting your SLS Ride Height

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probably accumulators - they can be removed and checked to see if the bladder is broken. I got a new pair off ebay for ~150. Mine had an internal leak in the proportioning valve also. Rebuild kits for the valve were available from a forum member. both accumulators and valve rebuild were pretty easy jobs - detailed write ups on both procedures are available. Until I rebuilt my valve the rear was always sagging. Exercise restraint in the temptation to mess with the valve arm length - unless someone else messed with it before you - i dont think you should have to mess with it either.

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1996 E300 110,000
1985 300TD 212,000
1980 300D 238,000