hydraulic suspension safety question - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

astrosquid · #1 11-10-2003, 12:08 PM

I'm a first time 84td wagon owner,Iwas told the hydraulic system was fine,when I got the car home,I noticed the system was really low.So iwent out and bought a liter of CHF 7.1 Ol fur zentral hydraulische systeme for $18.00 and watched it piss out on the ground from somewhere around the rear axle,wich was awesome,but I had to go up to rhode island that day...so I did .The car felt allright,a little squishy but not bad...its a 3,000 pd car right?So my question is does anything catastrophic happen with the system that has yet to happen,or can I drive around for a while before I fix the ruptured line or whatever it is???I mean do the rear wheel wells suddenly drop down on the tires like Prez De Gaulles Citroen after it took like 40 bullets or am I O.K.for a while??

rickjordan · #2 11-10-2003, 02:43 PM

First, your car weights a little more the 3,000 pounds, try 3,850. Second, is there any fluid at all in the hyd. res.? I would get under the backend of the car and eyeball where the hole is and see if you can temp. repair it. For the fluid, go to the top of this screen and click on Fastlane and order the fluid. It is made by Febi/Bilstein. Also if you haven't already, buy yourself a Haynes manual on the "MB diesel 123 series", this will help you with various things on the car. They don't go into too much detail for the leveling system, but it does tell you how to test it and how much fluid you will need.

placo1 · #3 11-10-2003, 03:29 PM

The Self Leveling System (SLS) typically has a Tandem Pump as part of the system. The tandem pump not only operates the SLS but also operates your power steering. I'd be concerned of dry running the tandem pump causing seal failure. Tandem pumps typically cost upwards of $1200

so you might want to take care of this soon.

rickjordan · #4 11-10-2003, 09:13 PM

Unless MB changed things around for 1984, the hyd sys has it's own pump, as is on my '83 TD. Now, my '87 has one of those tandem pumps, but not the '83. Follow the hoses form the hyd. fluid res. and see where they go, you should find a pump that is located on the front of the engine, near the power steering pump.

astrosquid · #5 11-10-2003, 11:31 PM

Well I guess I'll fix the leak,fill it up and go from there.I dont think its a tandem pump as the power steering is fine,alittle too good maybee.(my other car is a 70 bmw 2800 cs with variable assist)
thank you again for the advice
sam