thanks for the advise bro...
quick update: i loaded up the rear as best as i could and bled through the bleed nipple at the top of the controller valve... as expected fluid came out... not really sure how much air was expelled in the process... but the amount of fluid that was expelled wasn't much. (i did this with the engine off)... checked the fluid in the reservoir... no change. i then added fluid thinking that the reservoir level might need to be "higher" than the hoses of the tandem pump in order for the pump to get primed... started the engine and watched for the level in the reservoir to go down... still no change.

tried bouncing on the rear... which was now spongy... like bouncing on springs alone. no change in the fluid level... it's like the fluid isn't getting to the struts/system.

possible blockage?

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85 190E 2.3(SOLD)
86 230E (-->300D) sold
87 300D (-->300TD) sold
68 250S w/ a 615 and manual tranny (RIP)
87 300TD (SOLD)
95 S280 "The KRAKEN" (Turbo 2.9 602 transplant) traded
86 190E 2.3... current project