'86 420 SEL
 

I am the new owner of a 1986 420 SEL (european model). The car only has 109,000 original miles on it! I have a few things that I need to address on the vehicle, however and I am not sure where to start. The rear "air ride" suspension system has what appears to be a leak so the back of the car sits low. Does anyone know where the main system housing is for this unit? I would like to trace the lines to see if there is a repairable leak in one of them but need to know where to start. Also, I have issues with the vechicle wearing down front tires. The tires are going bald on the outside while the inside still has tread. The vechicle seems to go down the road straight so I am questioning alignment. I am wondering if it has to do with the rear suspension issue or if it is cheap tires that aren't holding up to the weight of this awesome vechicle? Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Brandon

Does the car actually have a hydraulic (it would not be air) suspension system? If it does there will be little spheres in the back and a arm/valve connected to the subframe and chassis....also, there would be a hydraulic oil reservoir/tank under the hood with lines etc...

If it does not have those things, it just has a normal suspension....and sitting low can be caused by tired springs (common) compressed spring pads (common), dead shocks, and a worn differential mount and subframe bushings. I gained about 2-3" back on my car when I replaced my rear springs/spring pads/shocks.

The car has a hydraulic system. I can get the system to inflat the rear suspension by pushing a button, however there is a slow leak. Thanks for the tip, I will look under the hood for the hydraulic oil reservoir/tank and try to trace the lines. Being new to the Mercedes family I am not an expert yet on all of the "in's and out's". So, if anyone lives near Grand Rapids, Michigan and can recommend an honest, trustworthy mechanic to work on my new ride let me know!