Trans and driveshaft out of the SDL!

[Hatterasguy]

Well that super annoying front seal leak on my trans should be gone! Last Sunday my dad and I pulled the drive shaft first and then the trans. It was a pretty simple job really the hardest part was un bolting the trans housing bolts. Their are two up top that are a royal pita to get at. Other then that it is basically taking your time and making sure everything is un plugged and un bolted. It took us three hours from start to finish, although the drive shaft is still out.

The front seal on the trans was leaking a lot and by the looks of it, it seemed tired. The trans mount was also pretty soft.

Now I think I may have tracked down the vibration I had between 45-55. The center bearing was a little dry and off center. So I am hoping new flex discs front and rear, a new trans mount, and a new center bearing will fix it. The universal joint is extremely tight and seems to be perfect I don't see the need to change it. The drive shafts on these cars are pretty much fixed and really don't move much.

I spent today cleaning up a few minor rust spots starting on some brackets, other then that I have gone over the undersides with a fine tooth comb and the car is in amazingly good shape. Under the dirt everything looks like new. I have noticed my lower control arm bushings are cracking so I will change them over the winter.

I will be changing the trans fluid over to Mobil 1 since it isn't leaking anymore. I want to change the diff fluid again as well and will be doing that while the car is blocked up nice and high, with Mobil 1 gear oil of course.

Later this week I should be getting everything back together and will report back on the results.

[Hit Man X]

Progress is always great.

My SDL will be road bound by December come hell or high water! Awaiting a deal on a fan clutch , pickin up the exhaust here (remainder), need a breather, fan shroud (again, never showed up! ), have the cluster rebuilt, and one more heatshield.

[sixto]

I don't envy that job.

If the u-joint clicks as you turn it, it's worn.

Sixto
87 300SDL

[Pete Burton]

Now that you have the tranny out you might as well replace the front pump bushing, if it's a bushing rather than a bearing. In talking to several rebuilders before I rebuilt mine, the one consistent piece of advice I got was to replace that bushing. They said if you didn't, the front seal would start leaking soon after. Sure enough, the 2 trans I disassembled had that bushing pretty well worn. A new one cost me $11. Press old one out, new one in.

[Hatterasguy]

We didn't change that bushing Pete and the trans is back in. Where is it? Is is easy to get at?

Sixto the U joint has zero play in it, amazing for 250k miles. I was going to have it replaced but it is perfectly tight so I don't see a reason to.