Hydraulic Piston problems for soft top - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

RSWoodley · #1 08-04-2006, 05:46 PM

Anyone know of a good place in the USA to order new pistons for raising the soft top on a 95 SL320? They are leaking badly. Or is there an easy fix?

iwrock · #2 08-04-2006, 08:38 PM

Is it the big ram that makes the top go up, or one of locks?

RSWoodley · #3 08-04-2006, 09:20 PM

It is not the one that locks it it is the one that makes it go up. The one on the passenger side is worse than the one on the driver's side. The driver's side one is doing all the lifting but also leaking.

kip Foss · #4 08-04-2006, 10:25 PM

Look in your local phone directory for hydraulic repair shops. They are in contact with all the hyd. manufacturers in the world. The ram you have was not made by Mercedes. They can tell you what company made it and probably get it at half the MB price.

TheV12pwr · #5 08-04-2006, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kip Foss

Look in your local phone directory for hydraulic repair shops. They are in contact with all the hyd. manufacturers in the world. The ram you have was not made by Mercedes. They can tell you what company made it and probably get it at half the MB price.

Kiddin' right??

bobterry99 · #6 08-05-2006, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSWoodley

Anyone know of a good place in the USA to order new pistons for raising the soft top on a 95 SL320? They are leaking badly. Or is there an easy fix?

A good place to order replacements is from Rusty Callen at www.*************** and from Phil here at mercedesshop.com.

RSWoodley · #7 08-05-2006, 09:29 AM

bobterry99- Thanks for the info. If the ones that are leaking are the ones they list on www.*************** I will save a ton of money on the fix. How entailed is it to replace the pistons? anyone know roughly how many hours?

waybomb · #8 08-05-2006, 09:49 AM

I've changed the windshield header pistons, the pistons above the wheel wells, and the ones in the trunk. Maybe an hour each, if that long. Buy some MB hydraulic fluid too. You can get it all from Rusty, or from the sponsor of this forum page! Figure about $150 per cylinder.

You can get them rebuilt as well, but your car is down while you do. And I've heard the piston rods are a bastard size and it takes a while to get the correct seals. Just what I've heard. And, if the piston rod is damaged in any way, the seals will fail quickly. I vote for buying new cylinders.

RSWoodley · #9 08-05-2006, 03:25 PM

Way Bomb. Do you have any suggestions on the best way to change them. Procedural I mean. Also where is the best place to buy them. The part numbers for the ones that are leaking are
Right side -124800 0272
Left Side - 129800 1772

waybomb · #10 08-05-2006, 06:32 PM

Just read the whole thread - I'd love to help you, but I've only had to replace the locking cylinders.

bobterry99 · #11 08-05-2006, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSWoodley

How entailed is it to replace the pistons? anyone know roughly how many hours?

I don't think it is very difficult. You will need to remove the coverings over the storage compartments behind the seats as well as the rear wall. If you email me I can send you the procedure.

RSWoodley · #12 08-06-2006, 10:26 PM

BobTerry Thanks for the info on procedure. It should be very helpful I have the DVD manual and it looks pretty much the same, however yours seems easier to read. Thanks again my friend, Be Blessed
Ross

Hawaii · #13 08-07-2006, 02:59 PM

Perhaps someone could but the procedure info here so we can all find it, I've been searching for two weeks to find out how to get into the area of the big cylinder.
Jeff

dennis300sl · #14 08-07-2006, 03:14 PM

I can rebuild the any of the cylinders for your top for $30 each + $10 total shipping. If I don't have the correct seals in stock, I can get them usually within 3 days. You will still be able to drive the car but you will not be able to use the top hydraulically while the cylinder(s) are out, but you can still operate it manually with the tool in your tool pouch.

Dennis

bobterry99 · #15 08-07-2006, 03:32 PM

This can save some people a huge amount of money.

Dennis, years ago I had a cylinder that needed to be replaced not because it leaked externally but because it was weak. Would your rebuild address something like this?

The only thing about having a cylinder out of a car for any length of time is that M-B insists that the hydraulic lines must be capped, and they sell plugs for especially for this.