There has been some recent discussion about switching from the Hydro. System to conventional shocks. In the course of talking about it we realized most of our conclusions were theoretical. We hadn't heard from anyone who had done the conversion. So if you have made the switch, or drive a car that has had the conversion done, please let us know how the job went and what the ride is like. Thanks.

This thread reminded me of the 1960's poster that said " What if someone gave a war and no one came " LOL...

If no one ever posts that did it ... what does that mean ?

If ( for example ) one person posts and was not happy with the results.. what does that mean ?

If someone posts not happy with the results does that mean it was a bad concept or that it was not executed well ?

Just some items to take up our time and keep this on the first page long enough to perhaps attract the attention of someone who has done it....

The only cases I have seen on the Mercedesshop forums was documented in the Hot Rod section, I believe, and they were done on 190E 2.3-16 models. There are apparently some aftermarket suppliers of what is needed but I do not think it is that cheap or easy to do.

On my (now the older son's) 190E 2.3-16 I noticed he was riding a little low in the back and thought the system was dead. Turned out the ride height control valve was frozen and over time the system leaked down a few inches. So, on Saturday we got it up on ramps and sprayed the lever and whole area with a rust/penetrating oil and freed the lever up. When we started the car the lever, now loose, flipped to the all the way up position and the car rose about 6 inches. Once it was free we played with it for a while, going all the way up and all the way down, checked for leaks and reset it in the adjustable peg coming off the car body. Now it rides correctly again, and I would imagine, handles like it is supposed to handle.

I would be inclined to keep the existing system functional. Spending almost as much or the same on new springs, shocks, custom mounts, pads and so on, and then trusting my own math that the solution would work is hard to justify for something that in the end doesn't work as well. Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

Yeah, leathermang, we were building our case but there turned out to be no court. How about if we forward all results to you for interpretation. You seem to have a grasp of the matrices the could develop. Assuming, of course, that anyone responds.

" Assuming someone responds" Sure that sounds good to me.. and RLeo is also interested in this project...

Jim does not have a wagon.. so he does not count on this one.. but if I needed someone to do math on a project I would trust his for sure...
I need to get under my wagon and RLeo's and compare...

Get out your sliderules. This one is shaping up to be a real bear.

UH OH... BIG Problem... did you know that NO ONE produces Sliderules anymore ? A victum of computers....

Haven't, wouldn't. wont.

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1980 300TD-T (82 Turbo and Trans) 159,000 Miles "Jackie-O"
1983 300SD 272,000 Miles "Aristotle"
1987 Jeep Wagoneer Limited - keeps the MB's off the ice and out of the snow
1994 BMW 530it