Mercedes R129 soft-top lift-cylinder seal replacement
George993 followed up his leaking main-lift-cylinder question with a report of removing the rod-end eye and replacing the rod seal. His bench-work details and roll-over-bar warning remain distinct from an unreported post-installation leak test.
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A leaking main roof-lift cylinder
George993’s R129 discussion concerns the main soft-top lift cylinder identified in the thread title as A1298000272. Having already used an RSC seal set on some easier cylinders, he found that the main lift cylinder was leaking too. He asked whether the replacement rod seal belonged inside the metal collar and how to unscrew the rod-end eye without scratching the rod. The exact vehicle year, trim and engine were not stated.
Removing the rod-end eye
In his follow-up, George993 reported holding the rod in a vise between two 3 mm copper plates, with the rod and both plates clean and smooth. He warmed the eye end with a heat gun for about a minute, then turned it with a screwdriver through the eye. He said the white thread-locking material released with heat and that the rod remained unscratched. These are his reported working conditions and result, rather than a guaranteed method for every cylinder.
The rod seal sits inside the collar
George993 then confirmed that the rod seal was inside the metal collar and described its replacement as straightforward. He used brass seal picks to avoid scratching the parts. His follow-up records the bench work, but does not report a post-installation leak test, roof-cycling result or long-term seal durability. The part identifier and pictured seal kit do not independently establish compatibility with another cylinder.
The author’s roll-over-bar warning
George993 emphasized starting with the roll-over bar raised. He said that with the bar lowered, the cylinder’s lower end could not be removed; raising the bar hydraulically would then require reassembling the work to its starting position. This concerns removing the cylinder from the car, distinct from the rod and seal work on the bench.