SL/R230: Rebuilding Mercedes 500sl top hydraulic
06-07-2024, 07:23 PM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2024
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mercedes r230 sl500
Rebuilding Mercedes 500sl top hydraulic
Hello,
I own a 2003 Mercedes 500sl. While on a trip I put the roof down and discovered I couldn’t get it back up. I checked all the fittings and narrowed it down to the trunk lid drive cylinder that has a broken seal and leaked all the oil out. So the questions is does anyone have any experience with rebuilding these if so where do I get the rebuild kit. Or would it be better to buy a new cylinder or send it off to have it refurbished professionally. The reason I ask is because some of refurb/new cylinders are 150-200 for a tiny hydraulic.
I own a 2003 Mercedes 500sl. While on a trip I put the roof down and discovered I couldn’t get it back up. I checked all the fittings and narrowed it down to the trunk lid drive cylinder that has a broken seal and leaked all the oil out. So the questions is does anyone have any experience with rebuilding these if so where do I get the rebuild kit. Or would it be better to buy a new cylinder or send it off to have it refurbished professionally. The reason I ask is because some of refurb/new cylinders are 150-200 for a tiny hydraulic.
06-07-2024, 08:24 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2020
Location: North Carolina, USA
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
Received 18 Likes
on
16 Posts
2004 SL500AMG, 2003 SL500 USA
Welcome,
Top hydraulics and cabriolet hydraulics have rebuild exchange programs for roof cylinders. Cabriolet works with couplers so you snip the lines instead of replacing cylinders with lines attached all the way back to the pump. 3 cylinders (front latch, and 2 lock pawls for the rollbar) don’t have clevis pins where you have to drill out the pins to remove the shafts and replace seals. The top lift cylinder is so close to the pump that you can have the cylinder rebuilt by top hydraulics and reattach the lines to the pump valve body.
Top hydraulics and cabriolet hydraulics have rebuild exchange programs for roof cylinders. Cabriolet works with couplers so you snip the lines instead of replacing cylinders with lines attached all the way back to the pump. 3 cylinders (front latch, and 2 lock pawls for the rollbar) don’t have clevis pins where you have to drill out the pins to remove the shafts and replace seals. The top lift cylinder is so close to the pump that you can have the cylinder rebuilt by top hydraulics and reattach the lines to the pump valve body.
06-10-2024, 06:01 PM
#3
Junior Member
Do a Google search, there are many discussions about repairing the MB hydraulics both on this forum and others. Most people use rebuilt cylinders from Top Hydraulics. You can buy cylinders from them and then return your old cylinders to them or you can send them your cylinders and have them rebuild them and return them to you. That takes longer but it is cheaper. They will rebuild or sell individual cylinders but it's cheaper in the long run if you buy or rebuild all of your cylinders at the same time.
