Okay, I was wondering if any of you guys could help me. I have noticed that my rear end on my '82 300 TD wagon looks fine after I have finished driving. However, after some time goes by when I come back sometimes the drivers side has dropped down a couple inches. Also, when I drive, sometimes I hear what must be the leveling pump making some noises that sound kind of like Darth Vader breathing or something. I don't know if this means that I have a leak on the system or what. Does anybody out there know what I need to check/fix?

Also, when I go over bumps the rear end feels real stiff and not very cushiony. Is this somehow related to the Leveling pump thing, or is this something different.

Search on 'SLS' and 'hydropneumatic suspension'.

You most likely have an internal leak in the level control valve and bad accumulators. Replace your accumulators first. That may solve all your problems.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I dont know about the Darth Vader. Ask Han.

There is a leveling valve near the diff. that leaks back to the reservoir over time. There is a gasket set available to fix this, but you must search for it. - not easy to come by.

if the rear of the wagon is empty, dropping it off a bump should feel pretty stiff. Thats a good thing. When it starts bouncing around as if all cushioning has failed, then it is the accumulators that have failed. These are more readily available and cheap enough to replace.

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"Luke, it is always the accumulators!!"
Rough ride, very stiff and bouncy is usually accumulators.
Very mushy and rear end too low is usually the accumulators.
I've had both failures.
After you replace them and your arse still sags after sitting then your rear valve needs rebuilding.
All this is assuming you have hydraulic fluid in the system currently of course.
Saggage on one end I guess could be a failed accumulator on just that side, but you always replace them in pairs. They are your shock absorption...
As stated, search SLS, self leveling suspension, wagon suspension, etc......

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

If you need to rebuild your SLS valve, Biodiesel300TD (Andrew) has them.

Here's a write-up for the rebuild and the discussion about the o-ring kits:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=195914

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Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys

Mine sounds like someone's letting air out of a squeezed balloon when the rear raises up a few inches from a load. But that's from the back. Now I wonder if the Darth Vader sound is normal.

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