I recently had one on the rearh hydraulic shocks on my 300TE go out (leaking fluid from the shaft to seal point. So I removed it, and found that these shocks can be taken apart and one can get to the rubber seals and aluminum ring, etc, that seal shock and keep the fluid from leaking out.
I have looked everywhere on the internet and it seems like know one has ever thought to attempt rebuiling one of these, it seems that rebuilding might be something to consider due to the face that these seal shoudl be cheaper to obtain than to have to buy a new shock at about 400 dollars each.
These shocks are not that hard to take apart, when removed they are unpressurized unlike regular shocks so taking them apart does not pose a safety hazard like a regular shock would.
So since one can take these apart and get to the seals, why not make a rebuild kit for them. I guess everyone likes paying 1200 to fix a suspension, I personally would look for a more inexpesive fix, and since the shock is already broken, I cant make it any worse by taking it aparts, worth a try to fix, it looks fixable to me...
So I am wondering if anyone knows where to get these seals? Or has had these rebuilt or rebuilt them.
hi, i havnt heard of a kit for these but im not that clued up on this area but if there isnt a kit why not think about buying a 'spares or repair shed'? you can pick one up that is a runner for less than £100 - if you compare that to the cost of replacing two front shocks and springs your already way above £100, no brainer to me?!
good luck with this though, im interested to know how you fix this so dont forget to post your solution please?
cheers
Ben
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merc 300 ce, amg bodykit, 17" amg alloys, lowered, Azul Azurite blue 98000 on the clock and two tone leather!!! (click a picture to see a larger image)
With 2 88TEs I'll be watching this thread with interest. I've certainly never heard of anyone rebuilding the cylinders. The bellows seals on the cylinders on both my cars are shot and hanging in pieces. I managed to find a tattered bit of bellows with a part number and even the bellows is not available from MBZ.
As for the rubber bellows, I too have looked for these and cannot find them, but I was thinking to use the bellows for the standard shocks as you can but them, or maybe from a w126, as I have a 560SEL which I have a set of extra shocks, I do not actually think the w126 has rubber bellows and the standard shocks but I need to check... But regardless, my point is that since the bellows are only to keep dirt and grime out, one could pontentially use any thing that is about the same shape and size and that has the elasticity that the original bellows has to protect the struts.
So I am just going to try to find something that I can use in place of the bellows, as the rubber bellows on both of my struts are destroyed.
... and I think I would just need the two rubber o-rings, and the round rubber (green) flat ring to fix this... also maybe the metal ring on the top piston which resembles an engine piston ring, though after looking at the top piston when I got it apart, I do not think the ring or that piston plays too significant a role in sealing the strut as there are those seven holes in the piston which the washers when installed do not seem to completey seal the piston which I do not understand, but it seems to allow for a certain amout of fluid flow past the piston, making me think that the lower cylinder with its o-rings has the task of sealing the strut.
I think "they" are a bunch of evil automotive manufacturers who are allow conspiring to make everything unrepairable so people either have to buy new expensive parts or some just give up, and get rid of what really is a perfectly good car to go buy an expensive new car, we all need to rise up or something... this is unfair!
A junk bin of unused rubber and teflon seals may yield some bits you can use. Like from a transmission rebuild kit for example. Half the seals aren't even used and shops often keep them altogether in a "grab bin".
I went to Tacoma Hydraulic (A seal house) and found the exact o-rings and the scraper as that green ring is called. I have found that any seal house / hydraulic company that does seals and o-rings can provide you with pretty much any diameter and size o-ring and scraper you want. The o-rings were about 20 cents each, and the scraper is 6.00 each.
I replaced the o-rings and the scraper by prying the old ones out with a small screw drive and gently pressing the new ones in with my thumb. I then put everything back together and have run the car and so far nothing seems to be leaking. I still need to take it for a drive to see if it works. But so far so good.
I think if it were to still leak, my next idea is to get a slightly thicker scraper, I would assume that over time, the piston shaft might wear and so I think an oversized scraper would compensate for this.
Aaron
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