w126 self-levelling valve
 

Registered: Jul 2004
Location: South Australia
Posts: 1
Question 126 self levelling rear suspension valve

My 1982 280SE is riding too high at the rear making the drive shafts clunk merrily.
The self levelling valve was changed for a re-kitted one but this made no difference. The original is now back in the car.
Hydraulic fluid is certainly being delivered around the system.

Opening the bleed nipple lowers the car and, by using the lever, the system will raise the car easily but it will not come back to a reasonable level.
One suggestion was that the distribution plate within the valve body is installed back to front but my mechanic says it is installed correctly.
Any clues?
PatC.

You've tried disconnecting the connecting link and you can raise the car by operating the lever on the valve, but it won't lower? At all?

Gilly

W126 Self-levelling valve
 

That's correct

I wonder about the levelling valve. If you can only lower the car by opening the bleeder screw, i don't have a clue what else could cause it besides the valve. is it possibly installed incorrectly? The arm on the valve I believe can rotate 360 degrees. You can't install it backwards because of the hydraulic lines, but maybe upside down? Or a line on the wrong port? A real stumper. I may have an intro manual on this model, but probably not alot of suspension troubleshooting info.
When rtying to lower the suspension, maybe try some different valve positions. This bothers me because it sounds familiar, almost seems like there were some other parts MB made us buy because they modified the valve.

Gilly

Thanks Gilly, if anything else comes to mind?
Regards,
PatC.