hydropneumatic shocks '87 560SEL
 

Rear niotrogen cells are gone after 125,000 miles, both rear shocks are leaking. Must I replace the rear shocks with the hydropneumatic replacements and replace the nitrogen cells or can I just put in a set of traditional shocks?

'87 560SEL 126,000
'86 30SDL 188,00

Someone has posted about doing this before.
 

If my memory serves me right, it can be done.

Do a search on Hydropneumatic suspension and you will probably find the thread.

You will have to change the springs if you go to plain shocks. The nitrogen cells provide considerable spring, too.

I'd look around for a set of used struts -- they usually only go bad if the accumlators go "flat" and the car is driven too long with the rear suspension locked up from no strut travel. I lucked out, the ones on my TE weren't bad when I got it.

Peter

jcciem,

I do believe that the conversion can be done as prevoiusly described but I'd suggest just replacing the original equipment. The nitrogen cells are very easy to replace and not very expensive (probably around $150 for the pair on any of the decent online sites). I replaced mine at the beginning of the summer.

The shocks are also not too hard from what I've read here but that's not something that I've needed to do yet. Do a search and you should find several very good and detailed descriptions. If you come across one by thomspin (SP?) it will be excellent - he does a great job of documenting MB repairs.

So why stick with the original? The hydropneumatic system is designed to maintain the proper suspension height and attitude under almost all driving and load conditions. Given the performance that is possible with the 560, this can be important especially if you frequently travel on windy or less than ideal roads with several passengers or stuff in the trunk. I noticed a marked improvement on my car after replacing the cells - the car handled the same at speed through curves regardless of how many people were with me.

jlc

the stock w126 420sel did not have the hydraulic compensated rear suspension.

so, you can replace the 560sel hyraulic stuff with what was stock original equipment for the 420sel.

some people report that they prefer the 560sel without the hydraulic nonsense.

i consider making the change, but i would want to drive a converted 560sel before doing so.

on another benz board, do a search, because it has been written about. or check out my past posts. there you will find the link to the msgs that discussed this issue.

if you make the switch, let us know what you think after some miles of driving it that way.