[W126 Coupe] stock 560SEC picture

[Nathan Goodlet]

A couple of clarifications, and IMHO's on self-levelling and MBZ mystery 
fluid vs hyd fluid vs ATF if I may-

I have used ATF in my self levelling system for many years, no leaks no 
ruptured pressure bladders, all is well.
I found an ATF comparative viscosity chart, and use Type F because I think 
it has a little thicker viscosity

Accumulators themselves have a load bearing finction, not a shock funstion, 
the orifice and plumbing from the struts to the pressiure cell provide the 
resistance to I/O of fluid that serves as the shock on this suspension.

To the contrary, the notion that most any "hydraulic fluid" will work, 
hydraulic fluid in general has no viscosity rating nor need for one. The 
customary uses of hydraulic fluid are not viscosity dependent, but varying 
the viscosity of the self levelling system's fluid, i.e. using a slightly 
thicker one,  is the exact equivalent of using stiffer shocks.Using a much 
thicker fliud might ride as rough, and be a rough on the car, as ruptured 
bladders and saturated pressure cells. Hydraulic fluids to my knowlege may 
or may not have viscosity modifiers to try to avoid excessive thickness when 
cold or thinning out when hot, ATF does try to maintain consistent 
temp/viscosity stability.

IMHO, relative to low ride height, there is no such thing as weak springs on 
this suspension , riding low is either bad SL adjustment or low fluid, you 
could remove the springs and have the pressure cylinders alone could hold 
the weight of the car. If the fluid reservior is half full, and the car 
rides low, then it is not low fluid. If adjusting the SL height does not 
raise the car, regardless of springs, the hydraulics are not functional.

SL height movement during adjustment is VERY slow, almost imperceptible at 
idle. Without wedging my shoulder between the spare tire well and the ground 
and sensing an increase of decrease in pressure, I could not detect any 
movement at idle.

A significantly lower ride on the left than right is indicative of a bad 
differential mount.

Nathan