I am looking for suggestions on a sagging problem on my 82 300TD wagon with approximately 200,000 miles. I assume this is the original suspension equipment since I've owned the car for about 80,000 miles of its life. I am prepared to replace shocks and springs if needed and would like some pointers to evaluate if I need to consider replacing the hydraulic units as well. Open to experienced suggestions. Any recommendations on specific shocks would also be appreciated! Thanks.

Do a search on key words like wagon, shocks, level and read up on diagnostics. The problem could be with the pump, lines, shocks and/or level sensor. If it turns out you have bad shocks, you don't have much of s selection since the shocks are also the hydraulic actuators.

Lot's of useful bits in this thread:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=23971&highlight=wagon+rear

Sixto
91 300SE
81 300SD

Check the oil level in the reservior -- if you are seriously low, the rear end can sag.

Otherwise, the usual reasons are a broken or disconnected level control valve (connects to the sway bar) or dead struts. The accumulators can go, too, but they give a seriously hard ride at normal height, not sag.

The level control pump can be bad, too.

There are several threads dealing with this subject.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Now that these cars have many years on them, the accumulators could have failed due to age, heat, etc.

But when these cars were newer, the only thing I ever saw wrong with them was the valve actuation arm would slip on the sway bar. You simply loosen it a little and move it on the sway bar to adjust height. You have to run the engine to check the height.

Good luck,

What about the spring pads? Wouldn't that be also one factor to take into account?

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... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.