I just picked up this 81 TD wagon and the rear end is sitting mighty low. The hydro oil tank is empty and underneath the rear end looks a bit messy (as if the leak is in the back). Should I fill the tank and see wher the leak develops? What grade hydro oil do I use? Thanks.

Fill the tank if for no other reason than your pump is running dry without it. ONLY use a mineral based hydraulic fluid, anything else will ruin the entire system (the seals will disappear like a scene out of the old sci-fi movie Andomeda Strain.) It is available by the quart from Fastlane and at the dealer and you'll need a couple of bottles if the system is empty. The system will self prime with the engine running, asuming your pump is still good, and if you have a leak you should be able to find it fairly easily. At idle the system operates at minimal pressure so don't expect to see a whole lot of fluid squirting out, probably just a dribble. Hopefully you have a loose fitting or blown hose. Otherwise it may be the shocks which are expensive or the valve which fortunately can be rebuilt with a parts kit from the dealer. The accumulator "spheres" may also be bad but they don't often leak. These suspensions are great when they work and generally very trouble free but when they have problems they can get expensive.

By the way, be VERY careful if/when you get under the car with the engine running. I usually block both sides of both front wheels.

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LRG
1987 300D Turbo 175K
2006 Toyota Prius, efficent but no soul
1985 300 TDT(130K miles of trouble free motoring)now sold

You CAN work on this yourself, but dieseldiehard is right, be careful. When I've worked on my rear suspensoin I put the rear wheels on ramps so the car is pretty well off the ground even at full down mode. If your car is sagging in the rear you know what I mean. The systems are not that complicated but do use common sense whenever you get under a car.

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LRG
1987 300D Turbo 175K
2006 Toyota Prius, efficent but no soul
1985 300 TDT(130K miles of trouble free motoring)now sold

My rear hydropnumatic suspension does not work at all. The fluid is full but the back is riding on springs alone (it bounces 4-5 times when I press on the bumper). I was thinking of replacing the hydro shocks with normal ones, is this possible? If not, what might be wrong with my stock suspension?

Hi all,
I also have a leak in my hydraulic system. Mine drips during idle on the right rear of the car, just in front of the right rear tire. There seems to be some kind of fitting there, on the left side where there is no leak, it seems to be a rubber piece that the metal tubing runs into. Is that one of the seals that can be replaced?

While driving with a full liter of hydraulic fluid in the car, the back end raises up and looks perfect. So my system seems to be working except for the leak. After a couple hours of highway driving the entire back end on the right side under the car drips with the hydraulic fluid. Am I right to think that under pressure the oil sprays around? Or could there be multiple leaks, even though at idle it leaks at one place only?

Thanks for the help.
Floydo

I am getting ready to replace the shocks and spheres on my '84. Unless you have another non sls car to get the parts ofof, the sedan rear shocks are not the same.

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My Truck.. 2007 DODGE, 5.9 Cummins, 6spd stick, 4X4. My car..1977 240D, OTHER WHEELS...1955 VW Oval window bug, European Delivery (Holland) with a 1700cc, 2 barrel, Porsche drum brakes. 1939 WILLYS Pick-up. 1967 Triumph 200cc Tiger Cub. 1976 Honda 550F 4cyl Motor Cycle.

Floydo,

You probably have one leak. The rubber hose and/or fittings could be leaking. Be careful with the fittings as they can be easily stripped. If this leak has been a problem since you got the car my bet is the PO stripped a fitting. If it's a new leak then I'd guess your rubber hoses need replacing. It's pretty unusual for the spheres themselves to leak unless the underside is really rusted in which case I'd also suspect the metal lines. By the way the system is under a fair amount of pressure but not enough to really spray around. You'd be surprised though how much oil can get flung around just by the air under there or if it drips on the axle. Good luck.

__________________
LRG
1987 300D Turbo 175K
2006 Toyota Prius, efficent but no soul
1985 300 TDT(130K miles of trouble free motoring)now sold