S124 300TD Suspension Problem

[tomghannon]

Hi All,

In a bit of a quandry here.

Had to bring home some floor tiles on Saturday in my estate with a total weight of 850kg. When I got home I noticed the car sitting very low at the back and when I looked underneath there was a steady dribble of oil/fluid from underneath the car, about 300-500mm forward of the back wheels.

I suspect I may have ruptured a pipe somewhere. The car is sitting correctly and having driven it yesterday (unladen) I don't notice any difference in ride quality or any other ill-effects.

Can anyone shed any light on what this might be and how difficult it will be to repair.

Thanks.

 

[Dieselman]

This sounds like a burst SLS fed pipe. You need to get underneath and have a look. The pipe is cheap, but a bugger to fit.

 

[mattc]

when the SLS pipe corroded on our (uunder a clamp - great places for holding grit and moisture) estate I repaired it using ASD connectors from the SL. Cost about £6. cut out burst section, used 2 the connectors and a bit of spare pipe I blagged off IBW to effect the repair.

It obviously depends where the leak is but given you describe it as ahead of the back wheels I think thats on a striaght section so thats an easy repair.

you might need a bit of the fluid to top up the reservoir - check in the front passenger sid eof the engine bay what the SLS oil level is on flat ground with engine off.

 

[Dieselman]

when the SLS pipe corroded on our (uunder a clamp - great places for holding grit and moisture)

My brake pipe burst a few weeks ago for exactly the same reason, even though the pipes had been rustproofed.
To say the timing was inconvenient was an understatement.

 

[tomghannon]

when the SLS pipe corroded on our (uunder a clamp - great places for holding grit and moisture) estate I repaired it using ASD connectors from the SL. Cost about £6. cut out burst section, used 2 the connectors and a bit of spare pipe I blagged off IBW to effect the repair.

It obviously depends where the leak is but given you describe it as ahead of the back wheels I think thats on a striaght section so thats an easy repair.

you might need a bit of the fluid to top up the reservoir - check in the front passenger sid eof the engine bay what the SLS oil level is on flat ground with engine off.

Thanks,

Is the pipe rubber or steel? Pardon my ignorance but what exactly are ASD connectors?

Also, what is the correct specification for the SLS fluid? The leak was relatively steady for a while but has since stopped - possibly because it has run dry.

 

[mattc]

see this old thread LINK

pipe is steel (6mm IIRC) so you might want to get a mini pipe cutter as this gives a much better cut than a hacksaw. The connectors come with some really nifty internal pipe supports for when you tighten them up

edit - get ZHM fluid from ECP at half the price of the MB spec stuff - and it is the same manufacturer.

ASD was the trick suspension on better specced SL's from the R129 series i believe.

fluid will pump out whilst engine on as its pressurised. I "think " it depressurises once turne doff hence the leak slowing alot...or else the reservoir is empty!

 

[Dieselman]

What pressure will copper pipe stand, anyone know?

I expect the SLS is operating at about 100Bar maximum.

 

[tomghannon]

see this old thread LINK

pipe is steel (6mm IIRC) so you might want to get a mini pipe cutter as this gives a much better cut than a hacksaw. The connectors come with some really nifty internal pipe supports for when you tighten them up

edit - get ZHM fluid from ECP at half the price of the MB spec stuff - and it is the same manufacturer.

ASD was the trick suspension on better specced SL's from the R129 series i believe.

fluid will pump out whilst engine on as its pressurised. I "think " it depressurises once turne doff hence the leak slowing alot...or else the reservoir is empty!

Thanks,

Where would one get the connectors and pipe you speak of?

 

[mattc]

mb parts desk

 

[bolide]

Had to bring home some floor tiles on Saturday in my estate with a total weight of 850kg. When I got home I noticed the car sitting very low at the back

850 Kg.... wow!

Nick Froome
the independent Mercedes Estate specialists

 

[tomghannon]

850 Kg.... wow!

Nick Froome
the independent Mercedes Estate specialists

Yeah 850kg....paying the price now though

 

[mattc]

Yeah 850kg....paying the price now though

dont beat yourself up - the pipes seem to corrode anyway. I bet when you get to look at it properly the thing failed due to long term corosion; not rupturing due to too much pressure.

I bet you knew the tiles were in there when you were driving it..was the steering a bit light by any chance??

 

[Dieselman]

The pipes can't rupture due to too much pressure as the pump has a maximum pressure it can deliver.
The spheres and rams are more likely to suffer from an overload situation, but the back of the car will drop before that is reached, unless the spheres are about flat anyway.

 

[tomghannon]

dont beat yourself up - the pipes seem to corrode anyway. I bet when you get to look at it properly the thing failed due to long term corosion; not rupturing due to too much pressure.

I bet you knew the tiles were in there when you were driving it..was the steering a bit light by any chance??

Yes, the extra weight was quite noticeable and the steering did lighten up nicely I must admit. Having said that, the car seemed well capable of handling it with no grumbling from either the engine or gearbox.

 

[tomghannon]

mb parts desk

Thread resurrection!

Does anyone have the MB part no for the connectors for the SLS fluid pipe. Can source the pipe ok but having trouble getting my hands on the connectors.

Thanks