Checking out '84 wagon

[dbgrate]

When checking out a '84 300D wagon,w/180,000,what should I know about it's timing chain?Are there symptoms of a poor one?How often is it changed or serviced?Also, how does one check the torsion/leveler?Any advice or info on these issues is greatly appreciated.Also,any other advice on a '84 wagon would be valuable,as I know next to nothing about them or their peculiaralities,if any.Thanks!!!

[lrg]

When you say "torsion/leveler" I assume you are talking about the self leveling rear suspension. You are right to want to check it out because although they are pretty bulletproof, they can be expensive to fix. The easiest way to check it is with the engine running, have a couple of good sized friends sit on the edge of the open tailgate. You should see the rear end sink slightly them slowly rise back up to where it was. The car should be level. Also, look under the car for leaks and be sure the fluid resevoir (a round, opaque tank on the driver's side front next to the radiator) is about 2/3 full. NEVER put anything other than the approved mineral oil in that tank!

There's not much you can do to check the timing chain w/o removing the valve cover. At that mileage it should be fine as long as there were regular oil changes. I'd be more concerned about any records the PO has to demonstrate that regular services were done. These cars last a long time as long as they are well cared for.

[Motorhead]

My wifes car is an '84 wagon. She loves the car. Currently, we have 206,000mi on it. The engine runs well.
The rear leveling suspension is not working well at all...the shocks($300. ea), are bad. I am going to remove the fluid asist and put standard springs and shocks in it. The early wagons, I believe, didn't have the leveling suspension. We don't haul alot of weight in it...I have my Dodge/Cummins powered for that job. '84 was the last year that a 'California' Benz was sold without a trap oxidiser. My daughter has a '85 sedan and it came equiped with the trap on it. It was also HP de-rated either because of the trap ox. or just de-rated. The '84 performed well.
If the body is good, you can slowly replace the rest as it wears out(engine,trans).

[kerry]

Do a search on self-leveling before investing in a lot of expensive parts if you have to do repairs. Someone once wrote that the nitrogen filled balls which function as the 'shock' element can be fairly inexpensively recharged by a company that recharges Citroen (??) components.

I also seem to have a vague recollection of someone writing that the self-leveling suspension cannot be changed over to the standard kind without a great deal of effort. It's not a bolt on replacement.

[Motorhead]

kerry, I have done searches on this to try to change over my wifes '84 to standard suspension but I have not found alot. I have a MBZ factory "Technical Data" book and it shows some "T" chassis' that are used for ambulances and station wagons as having standard rear suspension. It shows the part #s for the springs and shocks. They show it using a 116 chassis (300SD) rear coil spring. I guess I am going to have to look at it very carefully to see if it CAN be changed over to Std suspension.
Do you know where you might have read about the conversion NOT being a bolt on?
Any help appreciated!! Chris

[Motorhead]

kerry, I checked the TDT against a sedan and their is a difference in the shock length. I guess I will have to go the rear hydro strut replacement after all. Say goodbye to the tax return!

[sixto]

Originally posted by Motorhead
kerry, I checked the TDT against a sedan and their is a difference in the shock length.

I think the trick is to find the Bilstein, Boge or Koni part number of the TD shock in the non leveling application and see if those shocks are available. Maybe it's the longer fronts of a 116 or 126.

If the shock parameters can be approximated by the length and travel of the hydraulic strut, run the dimensions by the guys at shox.com. Maybe they can search their database of shocks by these parameters.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

[rivermasternc]

My understanding, timing chain stretch can be measured by comparing the crank angle to the cam angle. The cam has marks that line up, then the crank has a graduated scale. I'm not sure what the tolerance would be for this specific engine, but someone else may be able to help here. My 123 manuals (print) are at home. If you want to wait, send me the engine number and I'll look it up this evening.

-Scott

[kerry]

Can you tell us more about your diagnosis? How do you know it is the shocks and not the nitrogen balls or pump etc?
Mine seems to be fine at the moment but I want to know what to look for when I need to. I know that if the ride becomes very hard, the nitrogen balls have probably lost their charge.

[Motorhead]

kerry, My wifes '84TDT will come up and level. The shock absorber part is no good. The car rides like there is no shocks on it. It bounces when you go over a bump.

Sixto, Thanks for the idea! I really need to take her car out of service and take a strut out and measure it. Thanks

[kerry]

I may be misunderstanding how the system works, but I was under the impression that it was the nitrogen balls that provided the 'shock' component of the system. When the nitrogen is lost, there is no shock component at all and the system behaves as if there are no springs at all. I'm assuming the reverse would happen if a system lacks fluid and not nitrogen. Again, this is coming from a person who has never taken the system apart. But unlike a traditional spring and shock system, I don't think the fact that the car bounces is an indication that the 'shock' is bad.
I'd look at some more troubleshooting information on the system before concluding that.

[Motorhead]

kerry, very interesting thought! I can replace the pressure vessels for $75. each. That is alot cheaper than the shock. I will look in my shop manuals to see if there is any diagnosis section.
Do you think that the pressure balls have some porting in them? The system on my car is not rock hard as if the balls had no "give" in them from lack of nitrogen. Chris

[kerry]

This thread has a lot of info on self-levelling suspension:

300td

[Motorhead]

Thanks for the thread kerry. My symptoms seem to be in the struts. I found a good deal on the rear level struts...$225 ea. I will replace the nitrogen balls too. Like I said... It's my wifes car and I want her to be safe and HAPPY. Chris