I am a new owner of a 91 300te 4matic (190,xxx miles) and from the looks of it I need to add a some oil to the sls. Someone recommended the Hydraulic Suspension fluid list below?
All I know is that I needed a liter the other day as well. The stuff costs $18 a liter! Imagine what dealerships must charge...
Can one of the more mechanically inclined list readers tell me - in layman's terms - how this hydraulic leveling system works in the wagons? Does it detect a load and correct for it? How does one kow if it's not working, or not working properly?
Last question - if and when it goes, is changing over to a more traditional shock system an option?
Thanks!
__________________
Scott in MD/DC
94 E320 Wagon (Just getting broken in)
95 C280 (RIP)
87 190E (Sold)
"There is nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes"
Yes, jgilbert, that's the stuff you want for the SLS.
As far as SLS operation, you have a pump mounted to the back of the power steering pump. That pumps fluid to a valve located at the rear axle. When the body is at the correct ride height the valve blocks fluid flow and the fluid returns to the pump reservoir.
If you load the cargo compartment with stuff and the back of the car lowers, the valve opens a bit to allow pressurized fluid to enter the working part of the SLS system. That includes the hydraulic cylinder located at each lower control arm and a sphere or accumulator for each side of the car.
So from the control valve picture 2 tees leaving the valve. One top of each tee goes to a hydraulic cylinder; the other top of each tee goes to an accumulator.
The accumulator is a sphere that has a diaphragm dividing it in half. The top half is charged with high pressure gas while the lower half is filled with hydraulic oil from the SLS pump and lines.
When the control valve directs oil into the working part of the SLS, fluid flows to the hydraulic cylinder and the accumulator simultaneously. The pressurized fluid forces the gas in the accumulator to compress and also causes the hydraulic cylinder to extend (so the rear of the car rises). The hydraulic cylinder is not a shock absorber and it does not provide any damping. It is the accumulator that does the damping when the pressurized gas compresses and expands in response to suspension movement.
To test the system simply start the engine and let it run. Open the rear hatch and load the cargo area or have 2 people sit on the floor. The body will rise to return to the proper trim height.
There is no easy way to convert a TE to conventional shocks. At least not one that I've heard of. Too bad because the hydraulic cylinders sell for $500 each.
Vielen Dank, Apple of my Eye... sounds like another feat of German over engineering to me. And with a tank of hydraulic fluid that holds 2 liters, when you are 1 liter or so low, the system is less effective? BTW I must have gotten my fluid at bargain basement prices - $18 !
Linear Mode
