BryanMcPhail.com

Professional software development, amateur BMW tinkering, old arcade game stuff

By

E38 SLS hydraulic pipes

Not sure why these pics are so bad quality!  This is looking into the rear right wheel well of an E38 750iL with self levelling suspension.  The self levelling suspension works via hydraulic fluid going directly into the special shock absorbers.  A regulator for the fluid is attached to the rear anti-roll bar, so roll bar deflection leads to suspension height adjustment.  The system works at very high pressure so do not mess with it without safety equipment!  In this case..  rust had led to pinhole leaks on the pipe that attaches to the shock, so there was no pressure anyway.  Replacement is essentially just unbolting old and bolting new, but new to age and rust the old pipe can be very hard to remove.  Heat and a c shaped wrench to avoid any chance of rounding off the nuts are essential.

Once re-installed and the CHF fluid topped up the system should bleed automatically.  Remember never to use ATF as it can destroy the accumulator sphere lining!

IMG_0234 IMG_0233 IMG_0232

 

Leave a Reply