Aftermarket Options for W123 SLS struts? MB parts no longer available
 

Mercedes UK just confirmed that the SLS hydraulic rear struts were no longer available. This is rather concerning as I'm not sure where to source replacements from.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

1985 Mercedes-Benz 300TD Base Wagon - Suspension, Shocks & Springs - Page 1

$332.25 from Pelican Parts.

Phew! I was worried there! Its scary that MB is discontinuing service items!?!

In fairness, I think it would be more appropriate to applaud the amount of parts still available for these surviving cars, the youngest of which are now 31 years old.

I have regularly sourced relatively obscure parts the next morning from the regional warehouse in my part of Canada and even more obscure within a week from Germany. Given that the w123s are all but invisible now in Canada, that is remarkable service from an automaker. If there is another that equals it, I haven't heard about it.

Speaking of the SLS shocks, I have always been puzzled as to why no one ever seems to have made an effort to rebuild them (various people have made cottage industries out of other specialized things for these cars).

To be fair, the also shocks rarely ever leak. Used ones are a good option.

Dude99 is correct. The SLS shocks very rarely fail. They are also a rear chore to remove. If the rear of your wagon is bouncy more than likely the accumulators have failed; a simple check is to disconnect the fluid line from each accumulator and stick the eraser end of a pencil into the opening; if the eraser touches a soft resistance that means the diaphram in the accumulator is good; if the eraser pushes all the way through the diaphram has failed.

If your SLS system leaks down or will not rise, the usual suspect is the height control valve which can be rebuilt. They leak both internally and externally so even if you do not see an external leak, it may be leaking internally. All of this is based on the assumption that the SLS pump is working properly.

I did share your opinion of MB's support of the W123 chassis. However, when something like a lower radiator hose is no longer supplied, a relatively simple maintenance part, I begin to worry.

The SLS pump functions but emits a VERY loud grinding and high pitched squeeling noise when activated.

My Euro Sedan/ Saloon struts were confirmed as leaking today. The strut is different to the Wagons and has part number A123 320 1113.

I'm having a hard time sourcing them from the UK- any leads on where I can find these in the US?

Update: Found an Ebay listing that appears to sell the OEM BOGE struts (not MB). Any other source for these?

Can we please call them hydraulic rams? They aren't shocks.

Nobody would know what anyone is talking about and they're more than simply a hydraulic ram. It's a whole system for absorbing shocks (shock absorbers, imagine that!) and leveling the vehicle. Don't act like everyone keeps saying the N-word, that's silly.

-Rog

The official nomenclature used by the designers and Mercedes engineers for that part of the "hydro-pneumatic auxiliary suspension" is "spring struts" for which the 123 Body and Chassis FSM 32.3-501/3 F2 uneqvivically states "In addition to level control they are simultaneously serving as shock absorbers"

if this was not factual what other mechanism in that system is effecting the "damping" inhibitions that "shock absorbers" traditionally do? In other words on the 123 Chassis vehicles rear suspension what mitigates, corrects or counter balances the bouncy-ness of pure spring action?

At this stage, I'll call them just about anything provided I can find a set. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

MB part number lookup yields this page with cross reference numbers:
1233201113 ; 1233200513; 1143201413; 1143201313;

A 1143200713 google look up yields SACHS 102059 sold here.

SACHS 102 059 is another source in addition to the BOGE 36-B02-0 sold here

Hopefully they are still available:)

The SLS rear shocks are available on Ebay all the time.