Hi,
Dealer replaced the actuators on my 94 E500. Back end felt spongy thereafter. I readjusted the ride height via the self-leveling to the point at which it was before actuator failure.
I am not sure that I have things in spec.
Does anyone know the factory procedure to adjust rear ride height. Also, does anyone know what the average ride height should be. The only dimension I have used for this is the distance from Centre Star on of the wheel cap to bottom of fender lip vertically.
Before actuator failure the distance was 14.75". If I recreate this distance the back end feels mushy. It feels best at 15.25, but this creates too much lateral sway, indicating that it might be too high. And I am fed up playing with it...
Thanks and regards
farrukh

Spongy, huh? If you didn't already know, the SLS is self-bleeding so that couldn't be the problem.

I think the service CD explains how to establish static ride height - have you checked?

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

The height is determined by the coil-spring and pad. The self-levelling strut itself, only brings the rear back to level.

The proper procedure is to have a full-tank of gas, and two people or 250-lbs in the front seat area.

On a flat and level floor, disconnect the self-levelling adjustment rod and move the lever of the self-levelling valve so that there is no pressure in the struts. That is, only the coil-springs are supporting the rear. This the car's level height at rest.

Now adjust the self-levelling valve's lever so that it is in the neutral position (there are holes in the lever and valve body which will align when in the neutral position).

Now adjust the self-levelling control-rod so that when connected to the lever, the lever remains in the neutral position. If you do not have enough adjustment, adjust the connection at the rear-swaybar.

Remember, adjusting the rod does bring the back up, but it makes the strut harder/taller and the coil-springs do less of their work.

In fact the factory manual specifically states *NOT* to use the self-leveling control-rod to adjust the height, but to use coil-spring pads (pg.3-bottom of the first PDF).

http://www.silcom.com/~neilv/sportline/images/W124-vehicle-height-40-0300.pdf
http://www.silcom.com/~neilv/sportline/images/self-levelling-control-rod-32-0660.pdf

:-) neil
1988 360TE AMG
1993 500E

Neil,
Thanks for the note.
Did you also follow the CD to obtain the procedure you outline above?
If I perform exactly what you describe, I would get a very spongy ride on both E500 and E320T. Based upon what I have inferred from the CD, the struts perform a partial support function during driving (unloaded). Hence, if one empties the struts and then sets controller to neutral, one would be driving around on just basic pressure in the struts. On both of my cars this results in horrible driving characteristics. Both cars are also definitely level under basic pressure with control rod disconnected.
Also, Eibach's springs for self-leveling are tri-constant. The initial spring constant for the rear spring is less than that for an E420 counterpart, accounting for the fact that the struts carry some of the weight of the car (E420 weighs about the same). Otherwise the stock wagons springs are not strong enough. This is probably also explains why the wagon springs cannot be used in the E320 sedan, even though the latter weighs some 200lbs less. Eibach also explains that their E320 sedan rear springs also have a higher constant than the initial constant for the wagon.
Finally, the 4mm hole, as far as I can tell (and I have scoured that CD) is mentioned only to set the control point on the controller. Actual ride and control point can be mutually exclusive, since the controller works on a pure linear deflection and not on a 'relative level' based measure.
Pretty confusing to me....
farrukh

The wagon with 500E rear springs is set so there is minimal pressure in the rear struts, and it works well- not spongy.

The 500E is also set the same way, and no problems.

:-) neil

Neil's post is the kinda stuf that keeps us mercedesshop guys hooked-thanks for sharing amigo

Now Farrukh, get out there and get that thing right, THEN DRIVE IT ON A RACETRACK! (Can you tell I tracked my car today? The Glen. )

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

Amigos,
Some good news: finally figured this s%$* out over the weekend.
Correct adjustment procedure, according to manual is: Load rear end with 120kg. Downward deflection in frame and therefore controller will cause upward movement in controller arm (towards fill setting). However, upon rest, the 4mm hole in the controller arm should align perfectly with the 4mm hole in the controller unit. Eh voila.
Mike, thanks for your support mate. As soon as Ibanking bonus comes around, Ill give you a shout for a personal spin around some race track somewhere... :-)
Cheers
farrukh