Thanks Richard. Yes, I thought the silence was ominous.
The replacement is necessary because our Warrant of Fitness authorities
deem any leak of hydraulic fluid from suspension systems as an automatic
'FAIL'. Invoking Mercedes leak-tolerances falls on deaf ears. Worse
still, the FAIL is registered nationally on the WOF computer system so
that I cannot take the wagon elsewhere (a back-country mechanic, for
instance) for a more sympathetic re-test.
The lower strut mounts on my wagon are dripping hydraulic fluid, though
the reservoir is not noticeably short of the stuff. The evidence
suggests strongly that the struts are leaking. Having obtained
replacements from Australia (a little closer than Rusty's supply shop),
I'll be hugely irritated if the leaks originate elsewhere.
The struts cost me $350 Australian ouch, (sorry, each). That scandalised
SWMBO and brought conjugal access to an abrupt halt; but it was
substantially better than the $NZ1100 each quoted here by the MB
franchise in NZ.
I don't have an MB service manual unfortunately. That's why I have to
keep pestering you erstwhile chaps.
Regards
Euan
Euan,
Not loads of people answering this, because it is a very expensive and
often un-necessary job.
So I will ask the obvious, what makes you think you need to replace
them? IF they are not leaking fluid in excess of the Mercedes ratings,
they are not bad.
A bouncy or hard ride is not the test for these units, only the leak.
Everything else is caused by another component or two.
The struts (hydraulic cylinders) are replaced from underneath, the
carpet etc in the vicinity of the top of the cylinders must be removed,
but little else.
See the manual for a better description.
Summer is here as well, went fishing on MLK birthday, it was over 70
F, and very sunny.
Richard
Mercedesless in Morgan Township
