...so, attacking the next issue on my lovely 300TD.
I whitewater kayak a lot, and if any of you are familier with this sport it isn't the most car friendly. I regularly have 2-3 35lb boats on my roof racks, sometimes up to 5 on shuttle runs. Then, if there are 5 boats, there's a good chance there's 4-5 people inside. Lots 'o weight. My rear end sags horribly. Now, when I fill the hyraulic fluid, it leaks out of the rear end about as fast as it goes in . The Mech. said just to let it run out, and he thought the struts would need to be replaced. I've looked at it, and it isn't the struts that's leaking at all, it's coming from somewhere near the accululator. Anyways, I could try and fix the SLS, or I could get some of those non-SLS HD Bilsteins I just saw on discountmbparts.com. Does anyone have any experience with these? I'm not concerned with my car riding like a truck, if that would solve the problem and support all the extra weight a little better. I know most people are going to be like, just stick with SLS, it's better. But I'd rather just ditch it and have a rougher riding car that can handle the weight. Any input?
Will

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84 300TD 4 speed, green

This has been addressed ad nausaeum in earlier posts. I suggest you search on "SLS", "hydropneumatic", "accumulators" and "struts" ...lots of good information.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

thanks, will do. couldn't find anythign earlier but I'll check again...

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84 300TD 4 speed, green

Sounds like you really need the self leveling. Here's an article on fixing it.

http://body.articles.mbz.org/level/

Cool, thanks. Actually, in looking at it today, I think my only problem is one of the lines (return or main I don't know) is leaking. When I fill the car with oil and let it run, I can see where it drips out, and it's before it even gets to the spheres. I think everythign is all right because the car doesn't ride rough or anything, it just sags baddly. Any tips on fixing that line? It's really hard to get at because it's behind some piece of the suspension. Do you think if I took it to a brake place they could replace it? I've had that done with blown brake lines before...
will

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84 300TD 4 speed, green

bump...

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84 300TD 4 speed, green

Those lines can only be acessed by removing a cover panel in the cargo area that is just behind the rear seat (search the forum and read, it's all in here). I would not trust a brake shop with that system or, for that matter, the interior of my car.

BTW, if your ride is good but the rear sags, you probably have a positioning valve issue. If the linkage or connection to the positioning valve is loose or adrift, the ride height will not be adjusted properly but the ride quality will probably be OK.

Once again, do the searches, read the content. It's all here.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

The lines running under the car? Hmm, I'll look at it.
Will

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84 300TD 4 speed, green