As rare as rocking horse poo.

[WGB]

There was a short mention on the M-100 site a couple of weeks ago about a kit of seals for a 6.9 hydraulic strut for sale on e-bay.

I contacted the guy and he described himself as an M-B Tech for the past 30 years and yes he had three kits - he had had five but had used two on the front of his own 6.9 .

So I purchased two of them and they arrived two days ago.



There are six seals for each strut - 2 hard plastic (said to be teflon) and four o-rings.



As requested by Koan here are their individual dimensions but I will measure them more accurately so that they can be reproduced by others if required.

I guess it is an act of faith but hopefully all will fit and I will be able to re-seal both front struts and probably also replace my front levelling valve which has a light oil mist on the surface around it but otherwise functions well.

Bill

[koan]

Excellent work bill.

One of the teflon rings looks to have a contoured cross section, not a simple round or square section which might be hard to find.

No M-B part number?

koan

[WGB]

No part numbers - just plain packaging.

I will measure the shaped seal a bit more accurately and post the dimensions when I have some time.

Bill

[KenM]

This is very interesting Bill, be fascinating to see how you go with these. Should be simple enough to fabricate these with accurate dimensions, teflon billet can be machined by any half useful shop and O rings can be made to order. I would think the dismantling and reassembly of the struts will be the more problematic issue.

[TJ 450]

Excellent find, Bill.

Having pulled apart a busted one MT had, those Teflon seals, and the O-Rings are exactly what you will find.

The only problem with pulling apart the struts is that of the form of their construction. It requires all sorts of improvising to get those caps to budge, and I don't know that there is any easy way to preserve the original finish (jaw marks from vise, etc.).

It's nothing that a quick paint job won't fix though.

Tim

[peterq]

There's a hydraulic workshop in Welshpool where they have machined these up for a 560SEL hydro in the past - might be an idea to get them to measure your set for future reference. Sorry, can't remember the name of the place but I think the then owner of the car has a place on Welshpool Rd called "Performance ... " something.

[WGB]

Here are pictures showing measurements of each seal and guide.











Here is an angled view of the flat teflon guide





And here is an angled view of the shaped teflon guide



Bill

[koan]

Fantastic WGB.

The O-Rings would be easily available in a suitable material.

Do they seem stiffer to you than similar size/thickness O-rings you've handled before?

There's one teflon/PTFE seal that is right angle cross section, is the other one round or square cross section?

(the teflon seal pictures don't have dimensions and are not displayed with the correct aspect ratio on firefox, they are oval)

Ken

[WGB]

Hi Koan,

The o-rings look like normal black o-ring material.

I had problems with photobucket after I edited the photos - I should have loaded new ones.

They all look OK on Microsoft Explorer now after several attempts.

The other teflon one is just a flat round washer of rectangular section - I will add an angled picture of it to the post when Father's Day proceedings are over.

Bill

[WGB]

Should now be all OK - let me know if there are any problems.

Bill

[Drivendaddy]

This is a long shot...

Does anyone have the above photo's with the dimensions of the seals copied or saved somwhere?? I can't see them I guess because the hosting account is no longer available?

Alternatively any help on the seals would be appreciated..

Glen

[nathan]

Hi Glen,

Unfortunately Dr Bill has passed a few years ago, and his photos of these items would have been lost

[Drivendaddy]

OK Nathan,

Many thanks for the info...

Glen

[rumb]

OK, Finally posting the drawing for strut seal rings.  As mentioned earlier time for others to have fun making and selling these!

[Drivendaddy]

Thanks rumb...

I'll show the teflon seal sizes to my hydraulic guy & see if he can re-produce them.. do you remember what the other 'O' ring sizes were?

Many thanks
Glen