hydraulic leak

[limerence]

Hi Guys,

I have a 85 300TD Wagon and it's got a hydraulic leak. Not a wrencher so any advice on where to look for it would be great. From the stains on the ground, looks to be on the front right of the car. Are there any diagrams anywhere that can show a noob how the hydraulic system flows so I can trace it and look for leaks?

And not sure what you call it, but the hydraulic fluid reservoir looks almost empty. I know there is the expensive MB stuff. But is there a cheaper alternative to use until the leak is fixed?

Thanks,
John

[kerry]

High pressure hose goes from pump on front of the head over/around the engine and attaches to a hard line on top of left front fender. Probably a leak in that line. I have a thread on here explaining how to repair it inexpensively.

[vstech]

yeah, if you have a pair of good pliers, and a few open end wrenches, you can replace the high pressure hose with some gates 4000psi 10mm id hose from napa... easy peasey.

[limerence]

Thanks guys.

If I wanted to change the hydraulic hoses throughout, are they all the same size where I can just buy a longer length and cut up to size as needed? If so, how long should I get?

vstech - do you have a part number by any chance? i tried looking on napa but no luck. tried elsewhere and found this: Hose by Vendor | Gates | Gates M2T® MegaFlex® 2-Wire Braid Hose - SAE 100R16 - Hydraulic Hose

Is it the one that has part numbers starting in 4657?

Thanks for the help guys. This is my start into trying to do it myself. Hopefully I won't mess anything up.

[kerry]

Repairing hydraulic hose for SLS hydropneumatic suspension on TD

Rest of hoses are not the same size.

[limerence]

Originally Posted by kerry

Repairing hydraulic hose for SLS hydropneumatic suspension on TD

Rest of hoses are not the same size.

shucks... that would be too easy.

Thanks for the help Kerry.

Will try to take a pic of my engine bay, if you can tell me which hose your thread is referencing, I can hopefully try to start by changing that one first.

[Codifex Maximus]

Also:
Check low pressure hose from reservoir to pump for cracking and weeping. Replace as necessary.
Check reservoir make sure filter is good and that twist on cap is not screwed on weird - can and will leak fluid.
Check reservoir for defects or damage.
Check nitrogen spheres and probably just replace them if they are old or original.
Check hydraulic shocks for leakage. Expensive.
Check actuator for leakage.
Check actuator arm and adjuster for proper operation.
Visually inspect all hoses plastic or metal for damage.

I agree with Kerry - probably high pressure hose being prime suspect.

High pressure hose should have banjo style fitting onto pump. Replace hose with equal or better rating - both ends should be reusable.

[limerence]

Hi guys,

Was under the weather last week so no time to look at the car. Snapped a picture today. Could someone show me which hose I should be looking at?



If its not visible from the top or a better angle is needed, please let me know. Thanks!

[Codifex Maximus]

Right at the crook where the radiator hose comes out of the radiator, you will see the hydraulic pump. There should be two hoses going into this pump. One hose has a banjo style fitting - the high pressure hose. The other probably has a metal fitting attached to a low pressure clamp on hose that goes to bottom of the reservoir (on the front passenger side). Might be a good idea to replace both hoses.

The high pressure hose should have banjo fitting at the pump. Being careful not to damage the fittings, unscrew the bolt into the banjo fitting. Follow the high-pressure hose back to where it attaches to a metal hose. Carefully disconnect. For the fittings, there is an outside over the hose end piece and an inside the hose piece with the banjo fitting. Screwing the inside piece into the outside piece with the hose in the outside piece, widens the hose and crimps it to the outside piece. Also, during replacement, you may need to twist the outside piece off and on as there are threads which grip the hose. Other end - follow to connection will be similar but no banjo fitting - it is designed to attach to a metal hose. Be very careful when working with these pieces that you don't damage the end pieces or the metal hoses they attach to.

NAPA Auto parts usually has hose that is compatible and even better than the original hose.

Good luck!

[vstech]

the hose with the red line is the high pressure hose, the blue circle is the pump. the bottom of the pump has the braided low pressure return hose that is assembled with hose clamps.

[limerence]

Thanks guys. Will try to look at it on Tuesday.

Anything to be aware of when taking off the hose? (Nothing going to be spewing out?)

If I dont run the car and take off the hose for a couple of days, any issues there?

Thinking about taking the hose off this week and will probably put it back this weekend when I go to Napa.

[Codifex Maximus]

I don't think I would run the wagon with the high pressure hose disconnected. Might run the pump dry and cause damage as well as grit and dirt getting in where it shouldn't be.

[limerence]

Sorry, I meant that I would have it off but the car would not be running. Just wanted to make sure tht was ok

[Codifex Maximus]

Originally Posted by limerence

Sorry, I meant that I would have it off but the car would not be running. Just wanted to make sure tht was ok

When I wrote that reply, it was getting close to the end of a 13 hour night shift for me. Coffee time!

[limerence]

Kerry,

Been reading through the thread that you posted. Your instructions seem semi easy for a noob but the pics and responses make me a little nervous. Haven't done it yet but will go in for the initial assessment tomorrow morning to see what I am up against. I like to read as much as I can beforehand.

Question. Looks like the pictures from JT20 show that the hose is threaded as well?

Also, since no one as responded to a cheap temporary hydraulic fluid alternative, I'll pick up the one from ********az. How much to buy?