W126 self leveling struts

[c107]

What is everyone doing for self leveling struts on the w126 and other models of the era (W123, W116 etc)? Mercedes Australia equipped the lions share of the cars with self levelling suspension, and my understanding is that at least the W126 struts have been NLA for a couple of years now.

From what I understand, the classic centre has indicated that Sachs destroyed the tooling so it would seem unlikely they are ever coming back.

Is there anyone in Australia rebuilding the struts for a reasonable costs? I ask for a couple of reasons.

1) on my 560SEL the previous owner disabled the system and fitted regular springs and shocks. The ride is quite harsh and if the struts were still available I would put the car back to stock.
2) While the struts look quite new on the SEC, I would hate to rip the system out if I had a problem with it.

The part number for the 86-87 W126 is A116 320 45 13
I understand there is a different part number for the series 1 W126 and the later Series 2. Not sure about the W116.

These are obviously different to the full hydro struts that oversize was chasing.

 

[Helmet]

Hi Bryce, all W116,123,126 rear struts are interchangeable IMO

 

[c107]

Hi Bryce, all W116,123,126 rear struts are interchangeable IMO

Good to know thanks. sometimes part numbers are different but the part is pratically the same, must be the case here.
Do you know if anyone is rebuilding these, or is used the only real option?
I imagine it would not be hard to find some used ones, but finding ones that are in good shape and not within an inch of their life might he harder.

 

[c107]

I finally found the difference between the two unis and its negligible.

In the workshop manual there are some specifications. They list test values in N at 100/min and 50mm stroke

For A116 320 45 13 the values are
PUSH: 2400
PULL 820

for A126 320 48 13 the values are:
PUSH: 2330
PULL: 790

So basically they made the suspension ever so slightly softer.
The USA cars were made softer again, they got

A126 320 46 13
PUSH: 2285
PULL: 700

These values are for new struts, so I can see why they are regarded as interchangeable.

 

[Oversize]

I did hear the rumour about tool destruction but thought that’s what happened to the HPF equipment. I’d be shocked & angry if that happened to SLS tools as well. I can’t believe they’d choose that option rather than sell the gear to someone willing to invest for future repairs. Purely selfish as far as I can see.

It does seem to me a business opportunity exists for strut & ball joint servicing, especially considering so many SLS struts were produced & the cars are becoming more popular. It goes without saying that vehicles with HPF also need support. I will be DIY with my struts when they need repair & when I determine the size & specs of the seals I will get them made in bulk & put together seal kits. Unfortunately it seems others have undertaken this work but not taken the next step to assist others with the same problem. I have no doubt cars have been lost through sale or wrecking as a result, which is completely against TKs principles.

 

[c107]

I did hear the rumour about tool destruction but thought that’s what happened to the HPF equipment. I’d be shocked & angry if that happened to SLS tools as well. I can’t believe they’d choose that option rather than sell the gear to someone willing to invest for future repairs. Purely selfish as far as I can see.

It does seem to me a business opportunity exists for strut & ball joint servicing, especially considering so many SLS struts were produced & the cars are becoming more popular. It goes without saying that vehicles with HPF also need support. I will be DIY with my struts when they need repair & when I determine the size & specs of the seals I will get them made in bulk & put together seal kits. Unfortunately it seems others have undertaken this work but not taken the next step to assist others with the same problem. I have no doubt cars have been lost through sale or wrecking as a result, which is completely against TKs principles.

There is a mob in the USA rebuilding the SLS struts and they want about $750 plus core for a rebuilt one. That seems excessive. I could understand that for the more complex HPF ones though.

This guy who gets good reviews on 600s also does the 6.9 ones so maybe could do the W126 as well:

http://600airsuspension.com/#hpf

I think he is even a member of this forum, although he has not posted.

http://www.topklasse.org/forums/member.php?u=1569

Bryce

 

[Oversize]

Yes I do believe that’s excessive for a bunch of seals! And that doesn’t include freight to/from! But that said there’s no doubt a fair amount of labor to disassemble, clean, inspect, reseal, replace dust boot & reassemble with the appropriate Loctite. And maybe test.

 

[c107]

I did hear the rumour about tool destruction but thought that’s what happened to the HPF equipment. I’d be shocked & angry if that happened to SLS tools as well. I can’t believe they’d choose that option rather than sell the gear to someone willing to invest for future repairs. Purely selfish as far as I can see.

An email from the classic centre was posted on one of the USA based forums where Tom Hanson mentioned the tooling was destroyed and that the struts would almost certainly never be coming back.

 

[Styria]

Hi Bryce, all W116,123,126 rear struts are interchangeable IMO

Peter, I think you will find that the 123 Chassis series are quite different to the system on the 116/126 models. The 123 system, to the best of my knowledge, is not a full hydraulic system as it is supported by steel springs front and rear with conventional shock absorbers at the rear and an entirely different levelling valve. There are also a number of other variations when compared with 116/126. No parts are interchangeable. Regards Styria

 

[Oversize]

Styria I believe this thread was about SLS & not HPF. Similar systems but quite different. If it was about full hydro I’m sure your name would’ve been mentioned!

On bottom joints I believe The Ball Joint Dr can help but I haven’t tried them yet to confirm & assess their workmanship.

 

[c107]

Styria I believe this thread was about SLS & not HPF. Similar systems but quite different. If it was about full hydro I’m sure your name would’ve been mentioned!
.

Yep, the thread was originally about the rear SLS as found on the 116, 123, 126, 107 etc. Not the full hydro on a 6.9 or a w126 in rare cases.

This is going to be a more widespread issue as Mercedes probably sold 100 SLS cars for every full hydro one.

 

[Styria]

Styria I believe this thread was about SLS & not HPF. Similar systems but quite different. If it was about full hydro I’m sure your name would’ve been mentioned!

On bottom joints I believe The Ball Joint Dr can help but I haven’t tried them yet to confirm & assess their workmanship.

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Mark, I have gone right back to when the thread was started, and there is more than your fair share of talk relating to struts as applicable to the 116/126 model ranges. As I see it, and please anyone correct me, there are only front and rear as we know them exclusively fitted to the full hydraulic system. The part hydraulic system bears no resemblance to the full hydraulic set up. Right ? Wrong ? Please confirm.

I can also supply further information on struts as fitted to the 116/126 models. Essentially, there really is no difference as applied to the two model ranges, save for a special ball joint fitted to the 126s. Other than that, they are interchangeable.

From what I have gleaned from Mercedes literature, when new a customer could specify "sport" struts, but I don't know how the internals are modified got achieve that variation. I suspect it may have to do with the number of discs that are part of the piston arrangement. You also get piston variations, such as a single steel ring, or a teflon band only (no steel ring) and, perhaps to confuse people like me, I came across a piston arrangement featuring both steel ring and teflon band. I can't tell you guys how those variations effect the handling characteristics of the cars. Regards. Styria

 

[Helmet]

Peter, I think you will find that the 123 Chassis series are quite different to the system on the 116/126 models. The 123 system, to the best of my knowledge, is not a full hydraulic system as it is supported by steel springs front and rear with conventional shock absorbers at the rear and an entirely different levelling valve. There are also a number of other variations when compared with 116/126. No parts are interchangeable. Regards Styria

Seriously, can you read the thread before typing such a reply. I believe I have forgotten more about these system than you seem to know ?

 

[c107]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mark, I have gone right back to when the thread was started, and there is more than your fair share of talk relating to struts as applicable to the 116/126 model ranges. As I see it, and please anyone correct me, there are only front and rear as we know them exclusively fitted to the full hydraulic system. The part hydraulic system bears no resemblance to the full hydraulic set up. Right ? Wrong ? Please confirm.

This thread was to focus on the self-leveling rear suspension as found on countless models including 116, 126, 123, 124 and more. No front struts on these systems. Not the far more sophisticated system as found in the 6.9 and occasionally LWB 126. I have moved the content to a new thread.

 

[RT 420SEL]

What is everyone doing for self leveling struts on the w126 and other models of the era (W123, W116 etc)? Mercedes Australia equipped the lions share of the cars with self levelling suspension, and my understanding is that at least the W126 struts have been NLA for a couple of years now.

From what I understand, the classic centre has indicated that Sachs destroyed the tooling so it would seem unlikely they are ever coming back.

Is there anyone in Australia rebuilding the struts for a reasonable costs? I ask for a couple of reasons.

1) on my 560SEL the previous owner disabled the system and fitted regular springs and shocks. The ride is quite harsh and if the struts were still available I would put the car back to stock.
2) While the struts look quite new on the SEC, I would hate to rip the system out if I had a problem with it.

The part number for the 86-87 W126 is A116 320 45 13
I understand there is a different part number for the series 1 W126 and the later Series 2. Not sure about the W116.

These are obviously different to the full hydro struts that oversize was chasing.

Hey folks, relating to the SLS struts, I had a conversation with a hydraulic mechanic the other day & he stated that if they were able to be dismantled so the internals can be examined, they can be repaired. They are essential a basic hydraulic ram/component with metric seals etc.
His comment was that any experienced hydraulic service should be able to repair them & source generic seals, not necessarily Mercedes.

 

[c107]

Hey folks, relating to the SLS struts, I had a conversation with a hydraulic mechanic the other day & he stated that if they were able to be dismantled so the internals can be examined, they can be repaired. They are essential a basic hydraulic ram/component with metric seals etc.
His comment was that any experienced hydraulic service should be able to repair them & source generic seals, not necessarily Mercedes.

RT 420SEL,
I think this will be the key to maintaining the system in these cars in the future. As the struts are NLA, we will have to rebuild them.
I'm glad I found a used set for my W126 to put the system back in. At least I can now have those rebuild should the need arise.

We should probably build out a list of suppliers in this thread who can do it. I heard second hand in a facebook group this company in Brisbane can.

W.W. Shock Absorbers

Bryce

 

[RT 420SEL]

Thats great to know Bryce, a specialist in the particular industry. I noticed there are 2 places in the US that recondition, but prohibitively expensive. A last resort. The system is actually quite simple & should be able to be repaired by a skilled tradesperson.

 

[c107]

For future reference here are the Sachs part numbers if you're looking for 2nd hand units:

 

[braminator123]

Guys,

When I was last at Mercbits in Melbourne, I overheard them discussing procuring these struts.

Might be worth giving them a call and having a chat.