300te: Shocks or Accumulators
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Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Oakville, Ontario Canada
'89 300E
300te: Shocks or Accumulators
I need some advice re. rear suspension on my 89 TE. Both the accumulators and, I think, the shocks (not the big hydropneumatics, but the standard ones) need replacement. The car bounces as cars do when the shocks are bad. If I had to choose one fix first, should it be the shocks or the accumulators. Any wisdom re. self-leveling suspension welcome. Thanks.
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From: Charlotte, NC
Had: 1987 300TD, Had: 2004 C230 Sport Sedan, Have: 2014 E350 Sport, Have: 2019 S450
I disagree. Accumulators first.
Unless the shocks are leaking (evidence of hydraulic fluid leaking at the rear shocks), then replacing the accumulators will fix the bouncing. I had to do this twice on my '87 300TD (first at about 100k miles, second at about 200k miles).
Unless the shocks are leaking (evidence of hydraulic fluid leaking at the rear shocks), then replacing the accumulators will fix the bouncing. I had to do this twice on my '87 300TD (first at about 100k miles, second at about 200k miles).
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,418
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From: Charlotte, NC
Had: 1987 300TD, Had: 2004 C230 Sport Sedan, Have: 2014 E350 Sport, Have: 2019 S450
I never did it myself, I had a MB specialist do it.
If you send me an email to email123@***.net (please replace *** with 'att'), I can send you some instructions as to what is required to replace them. You can then decide if you want to do it, or if you want to leave it to a professional.
PS: I never did have to replace the rear shocks (after 230k miles), but I did have to do the accumulators twice.
If you send me an email to email123@***.net (please replace *** with 'att'), I can send you some instructions as to what is required to replace them. You can then decide if you want to do it, or if you want to leave it to a professional.
PS: I never did have to replace the rear shocks (after 230k miles), but I did have to do the accumulators twice.
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From: Belfast, N Ireland
93 320CE, 72 280SE 3.5, 55 220A, 05 E280CDI, 88 Mini Mayfair, 90 Peugeot 205GTI, 04 Mini Cooper
Just a word of caution....... my TE was low and bouncy at the rear..... it turned out the self levelling mechanism had stuck ..... I was on the verge of replacing the accumulators ....... before you do anything, put a heavy load in the back and let the car sit for a while and see does it rise up and sit level.
Like a lot of TE's mine had never really carried any great loads, I had filled my with bags of cement and it dropped about an inch and was bouncy ..... I later filled it with about five bags of cement (125kgs) and it was nearly on the ground then suddenly the rear end rose up to level again. It is now perfect with no bounce or sagging.
Ignore this if it's not relevant but I hate to see money spent before all options are tried first.
Like a lot of TE's mine had never really carried any great loads, I had filled my with bags of cement and it dropped about an inch and was bouncy ..... I later filled it with about five bags of cement (125kgs) and it was nearly on the ground then suddenly the rear end rose up to level again. It is now perfect with no bounce or sagging.
Ignore this if it's not relevant but I hate to see money spent before all options are tried first.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,418
Likes: 343
From: Charlotte, NC
Had: 1987 300TD, Had: 2004 C230 Sport Sedan, Have: 2014 E350 Sport, Have: 2019 S450
Froodmine . . . didn't get your email. If you still want the replacement instructions, resend an email to the address listed above.
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Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 63
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From: Oakville, Ontario Canada
'89 300E
Hi guys. Sorry to be so long out of touch. Hard drive melt down, then change of ISP, etc. Terry, thanks very much for the suggestion to test the self-leveling suspension. I'll give it a shot, although I suspect the accumulators, given a hollow rattle in the left rear when I go over bumps. Dmatre, I'll get that email to you after this posting. Thanks again.
