Hi everyone, my first question on the forum. I recently bought some timing chain stuff on line from an obvious reputable supplier. The main chain rail off of the tensioner of the replacement one seems to have a very hard rubber surface instead of the hard plastic from the original in the car. The supplier told me that they change them back & forth over the years & that it's a German part & it'll be fine. Anybody out there have any info on this? Seems to me that it might be quieter than the plastic, but less durable over time. Thanks, Paul.

Hey,
Does it match the one in this link?

http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=1FO0R6ICF1I60H2I17&year=1984&make=MB&model=300-SD-002&category=A&part=Timing+Guide+Rail

Please put your information in your signature. Car model, year, mileage. Also put your location in somewhere also.

Danny

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1984 300SD Turbo Diesel 150,000 miles

OBK member #23

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Yes, it is no doubt the right one for the car, but the material that comes in contact with the chain is hard rubber instead of hard plastic. Did I mention, it is the large rail at the tensioner.

Paul Central Florida

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1984 300CD Turbo Diesel signal red 288,000 miles 2nd owner

signal,

Before MB went to plastic chain guides, circa 1970, rubber coated aluminum guides were used. They looked something like the one in the picture.

When the plastic guides became available as replacement parts, the price dropped drastically.

P E H

Then I must have got a deal? I got all four guides from Germanstar for $29.00. So you're saying the rubber coating is okay? Thanks, Paul.

SIgnal,

I don't know about the quality of the rubber coated chain guides. MB went away from them, but maybe it was to lower cost.They did other things that lowered their cost but were a decrease in quality. One thing that I can think of was going to plastic fuel lines and braided line on the injector returns that used to be all metal. The plastic/aluminum radiators are another example.

I seem to remember that the rubber, like all rubber, eventually got hard and cracked off the aluminum so at the time I thought the plastic guides were better and I liked the lower price. Now it seems that the plastic guides die of old age too.

P E H

Oh yes, those plastic Behr radiators scare me. I'm keeping a close watch on mine. Getting back to the guide. I think I have the original chain & guides in my car (288,000) Comparing the new chain with the old, there's hardly any noticeable stretch-about 1/8 inch on the whole length. Worst part of the whole system is the galling between the tensioner pin & the guide pin. I would just like to see what an old guide with the rubber coating looks like after 100,000 miles. Thanks for the replies, Paul.