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New to me 2000 SL500 hydraulics leaking. Got the soft top back up but need to replace rear hydraulics. I'm not sure exactly which one is leaking but I'm getting hydraulic fluid in front of the rear passenger side tire. I'm going to refill the hydraulic fluid on Saturday. I'd like to put the hard top on for now and deal with all 11 cylinders as an early winter project. Or should I just take care of the one leaking cylinder now and deal with the rest over the winter?
Well, I added about a half a liter of hydraulic fluid and I was able to get the top stowed in the open position. The right rear side is leaking really bad. I got a bit scared when I could not open the trunk. Is that also working on the hydraulic system?
As one of many who have repaired the cylinders in the top hydraulic system IMHO do them all one time, maybe you will be lucky and only do the every 20 years, but several have been on a shorter cycle!
Klaus of Tophydraulics in coastal Oregon, has provided the rebuild service and /or exchange with what he claims is a superior seal. I am one of his biggest fans! However like a few of us, beware of the "lost bolt" from the main lifting cylinder!! It is almost funny because of the number of us who fall prey to the slippery bolt problem. I'm glad my car barn has machining lathe.
Good luck with the project when you take it on. Total clock time about 6 hours over about 1 week. rebuilt parts got back faster than I could get back and complete the project.
Hi SRHsl600, Are you referring to the custom screw that holds the top frame together, when I owned my r129 this screw would loosen and either fall into the well or jam the frame from opening. See picture attached
No, but great photo! The main cylinder bottom connection Is a 3-4 inch bolt that is under the back compartment.
I am aware of the pictured fastener, and yes it has slipped away but the Master Cylinder bolt, after the first try-in I cleaned and lubricated and reset, only to have the tape come off the socket and the bolt fell into the rocker panel space! Several have used magnets to recover, not me I want to listen to the rattle to remind me of one of my many short fall in life!
SRHsl600, Take a look at the two types of bolt below. A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to salvage all of the cylinders, pump, valve blocks etc to a 40k mile '95 600sl. I had a '93 500 at the time and I wanted to have a backup for any part that might fail. I used the front windshield cylinders on my car and sent the '93 s out for rebuilding. Check out my post to see if there is anything you may need, the post is a couple of pages back. Thanks
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