A couple of years ago, I had a flare on the 2-3 shift in my 3000SD. I bought a Superior shift kit (really, just a bunch of colored springs), installed the relevant springs and it fixed the problem.

Ever since I've had my 1993 300D 2.5, it has had a 2-3 flare, most noticeable when cold (as in revving 2000 rpm). I've lived with it for 17,000 miles, but I finally decided to order the kit again. (http://www.bulkpart.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=2&Product_Code=S68165D)

There are several improvements the kits is used for, but I only wanted to firm up the 2-3 (the 1-2 was set very firm to make the 2-3 less loose). In the end, I decided to install the 1-2 softener springs as well. The kit comes with springs to firm up the 3-4, eliminate stacked shifts, and pretty much all other shifting problems these transmissions have.

The good news is that the K1 (2-3) and the 1-2 softening is accessable from the front of the valve body and you do not need to remove the valve body from the transmission (an offset blade screwdriver helps). I changed the filter and fluid as well. Total time would have been less than the three hours I took if it were not for the wind blowing the instruction sheet away an the fact that I failed to order a new pan gasket. I could do it again in an hour.

The 1-2 is still a bit hard, but the 2-3 is smooth and firm - huge difference. My 3-4 was fine, so I didn't mess with it. I still have some modulator adjusting to do to soften the 1-2, but I'm confident I can get it reasonable.

The kits does not say it is specifically for my car, but it works - or did for me.

Kit was about $60 delivered.

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1984 300Sd 210k

Former cars:
1984 300D 445k (!!) (Strider) Original (and not rebuilt) engine and transmission. Currently running on V80 ( 80% vegetable oil, 20% petroleum products). Actually not, taking a WVO break.
1993 300d 2.5 275k. Current 120/day commuter
1981 300SD 188k (Hans) Killed by a deer

Coolness. I need one of those.

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RRGrassi


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