i have a 1979 280sel six cyl twin cam im going to replace the self levelling with standard shocks and springs from a same model that hasnt got self levelling the pump is worked off the exhaust cam i know how to take off the pump its the gear inside the cam that drives the pump that im not sure of does this have to be removed or can it stay there?if it needs to be removed how do i go about it ?any help would be greatful

David:

I've had a '77 450 sEL Euro model for the pasty year (same W116 chassis).

How do I know if I have the self-levelling feature? Can you give me 2 or 3 definitive things to look for?

And if I have mit, how can I check it's function, etc?

Thanks for any detailed tips you can give me.

Bob

bob yours is a 450sel i presume its a v8 mine is a six cyl 79sel yours would have self levelling just because its a sel cant help you much more than that i know the six cyl system but not v8

David (and other Benz friends):

So...if it comes with the car, where is it located? How does it function? How do I check if it's working?

I'd appreciate any help and details. Thanks.

Bob

Very few 450SELs had leveling suspension and no US models did, except the 6.9 which had full hydraulic suspension.

If you had the suspension it would have a reservoir in the engine compartment and it would have a round pump mounted to the fixture the distributer is mounted in. If you don't have leveling you will have a stamped metal plate with 4 screws covering the pump drive.

If you had a 6cyl and wanted to remove the pump, you would pull the pump, pull the metal coupling piece and find a V8 to steal the metal cover plate from as all of them have it.

__________________
Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

Steve:

You're an encycolpedia.

Since mine is a euro, if it had it, where would the resevoir be located?

Iwould have said the left front corner behind the headlight as that is where the 6.9 had it, but this picture shows it on the other side.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

Steve:

Thanks again, and for the efforts in posting the illustration.

I appreciate you're taking the time to do this.

Will advise.
Regards!!

Bob

PS: My daughter's now FINISHING her 3rd year at UF. And I STILL haven't gotten up to see you.

Shame on me!!

Maybe soon...