SLS or new suspension
 

Hey I just purchased a 190e 2.3 16Valve with only 60K on it. It's a little rusty, so i am embarking on a resto project. Been looking for one for a while!! My question is for anyone interested, is do i stick with the stock suspension, or do I convert to one of the new Spring shock combos out there? I researched a little, and sounds like the SLS was a bit of a marvel, but that was 1986! Also is the SLS power sucking because it is run by the exhaust cam?? Any info will be appreciated.

that marvel was around in the 50s actually. But that's mercedes for you (well actually, citroen).

Plenty of guys ave done the swap, plenty have left it in.

-CTH

So is the system actually that good?

Not sure what good or bad is. I have left mine in. I replaced the shocks 7 years ago along with the accumulators. The accumulators went out last year and I replaced them again but other than that I have had no issues. I do not track the car so I do not know what 'performance' I am giving up by not replacing them.

Parts are expensive. Accumulators are listed at $156 a piece but I am sure they can be found for less.

I just like the fact that I can carry a heavy load (took home about 600 lbs of tile) and the rear did not sage. Went down the road flat and level. I also have a thing for trying to keep my car as stock as possible.

You love it when it works, curse it when it breaks.

yeah..ditto...it's nice to load up the back end and when you turn the car on, it just raises up level and you go down the road like there's nothing back there. I just fixed mine and when it was broken the ride suffered alot. I also like to keep everything stock (except for the becker unit, which is gonna have to go :cool:).

I like mine. Rides great after I replaced the spheres.

Last year before I replaced the spheres it was horrible. I am 6'3" and I was bouncing my head off the roof like a pin ball. I finally broke down and replaced them. The ride difference was like night and day. I have had no problems with the system other than wear and tear issues.

My SEC still has its SLS and the ride is very smooth and theres no sagging in the back. My 300TD had its SLS replaced with gas shocks. It rides very hard. You can feel every ump in the road, but it seems to take corners very well.

I never considered that the system might take power away from the drive train like that.

My car has been sitting as far as I can tell for sure for about a year or two, and the back end is sitting low, but no leaks evident anywhere in the system. When I get my new ignition installed in my car this weekend ill fire it up and and see what happens!!! Is it normal for the car to sit low after that period of time? On another note, I have been reading posts about replacing ignition, and mine has had the tumbler drilled out, and is in position 2. Will this make it easy to replace the ignition? and any info or previous post will be appreciated!:)

Does anyone have a pic of what the Mercedes hydraulic reservoir, aka, the equivalent of the Citroen suspension sphere?
I have lots of Cit spheres, since I can check and regas them for Citroenists.

I'd like to see if there was compatibility beyond the Bentleys and RRs.
Thanks,
s

Go up to the top of this page. Click buy parts. Click fastlane. Look up a 16v suspension accumulator.

The size is may be 6" 7" from bolt to bolt and maybe 4" or so in width (doing this by recollection and looking at a ruler so take it for what it is worth). They bolt up onto the chassis and the hydraulic lines are 5mm +/- compression nuts. Very easy job to replace them.

One hint though. The one on the drivers side has a bracket that it screws into that drops in through the trunk. Lift up the spare cover and you will see a flat bracket in the rear left corner. I put a brick on in to hold it down while I got the bolt started.

OH yea, crack the hydraulic fittings slowly to bleed the pressure off. My first time I just took a wrench to it and popped her open. This was 8 years ago or so and I am still getting hydraulic fluid out of places on me and the car that I did not know I or the car had.

Keep it, it's a great addition and helps resale if you end up at that point as the car isn't modified.