sls

[Pete49]

The left hand sls hose at the rear of my '83 wagon has split. I can get a replacement from a '78 W116 sedan but unsure if it would fit so am asking here. Can a new one be bought in Australia? The rest of the system is fine.

[Bartman4800]

The cheapest option is to go to your local hydraulic hose specialist with the original hose.

He will crimp you a new one with the correct new fittings.


Regards, Bart

[John Green]

see my Facebook post to your question, the hose is available new genuine ex Germany, the SLS system operates at massive pressure, so if you get one made up it is going to have to be to spec. I don't have the spec (in terms of pressure) on me, but I am sure you could google it

[Bartman4800]

3000 psi (207 bar) rated hose is bog standard in hydraulics land.

5000 psi (350 bar) and 10,000 psi (700 bar) are available as well.

If there is a pressure rating stamped on the current hose, use that.


Regards, Bart

[John Green]

Now replying from work. The pressure relief valve cuts in at 185 bar (2720psi). However, these valves can jam and the pump has the ability to hit 250bar (3675psi) so i would be getting the 5000psi hose.

One issue I have often had with hoses that are "made up" is that the hose uses has a much thicker outside diameter. If you are going to go down this route do a double check that a thicker hose will fit and no rub on the body. From memory this is less of an issue on a wagon, but still worth checking.

[Bartman4800]

Interesting remark John, about the 'made up' hoses to be thicker.

I don't believe Mercedes had special hose tech that no one else had (in fact the hoses would just have been made by Manuli or Parker or maybe Schmitter or Castan)

So if the OEM hose had a smaller OD, it can only mean that they either used hose with a smaller ID and oversized fittings, or the pressure rating was lower hence a thinner wall with less layers of steel. Hydraulic hose has a burst pressure of at least 4 x work pressure. (They get tested at 2 x WP after crimping). If the relief valve was set at less than 3k, they would have used 3k rated hose...

[John Green]

Interesting remark John, about the 'made up' hoses to be thicker.

I suspect the answer lies in the design/quality of the hose. IMHO it would be harder to make a thin high pressure hose than a thick one. And as most applications are not space dependent why go the more costly route.

[GrampiansMerc]

I had a hose made up for SLS - it was the high pressure one under the bonnet - it was larger (OD) outside diameter - but it did not matter under the bonnet all good. Not sure of pressure ratings but I assume the Hydraulics place just made sure it was of the same or better specifications. I had previously found a second-hand hose from another model (could have been a older merc) but it had different fittings....to my original.