Is there supposed to be a gasket between the differential housing and the back plate that is held on by the 8 bolts?

Thanks!

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cbjukraine
'84 300D

nope, just use a good gasket maker sealant. I think i used blue RTV sealant on mine, about 2 years ago. Just let the sealant dry properly before filling diff with fluid.

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1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

I've seen diffs with ZERO sealant. MB sure does make a fine surface. I clean all residue from my covers, and apply ultra gray rtv in a 1/8" bead around the surface, smooth it out, and pop on the cover!

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

All the techs I'm familiar with have told me to go get black rtv from the dealer. It's what I've used on both diffs.

Although I'm a rookie, and I just went and spent the $35 that it costs....

second time around I was friends enough with the dealer parts counter guys that they sold it to me for $14!

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Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat

I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes!


1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]

Keep the sealant as thin as practicable. As was mentioned, this is a machined fit.

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1981 300TD 310k miles
1970 280sel 172k miles
1966 230 Fintail 162k miles

"Where are we going? And why am I in this hand basket?"

I avoid "gasket makers" for that job and use a proper "flange sealer".

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90 300TE 4-M
Turbo 103, T3/T04E 50 trim
T04B cover .60 AR
Stage 3 turbine .63 AR
A2W I/C, 40 LB/HR
MS2E, 60-2 Direct Coil Control
3" Exh, AEM W/B O2
Underdrive Alt. and P/S Pulleys,
Vented Rear Discs, .034 Booster.
3.07 diffs 1st Gear Start

90 300CE 104.980
Milled & ported head, 10.3:1 compression
197° intake cam w/20° advancer
Tuned CIS ECU
4° ignition advance
PCS TCM2000, built 722.6
600W networked suction fan
Sportline sway bars
V8 rear subframe, Quaife ATB 3.06 diff

likely an anerobic sealer would be best for the job. I've had ZERO issues using Ultra Black though... (it's gray sealant, or maybe it's black with a lot of metallic flecks making it APPEAR gray...)

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

My procedure is this:

totally clean both surfaces, remove residue with brake spray.

apply a single small bead 1/8" thick around the inner perimeter of the cover, and set in place on the diff. barely snug the bolts by hand and let the cover sit for 30 minutes, then tighten fully.

the loose bolts allow the sealant to partially cure, and then final tightness makes it secure.

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

this is the exact procedure which have been applied during my 2.24 to 2.88 diff swap few months ago (except that 30 min sitting though...)

and... if you did not take it off yet...be ready for some "wild smell" out of it

__________________
w126 500SEC gen II euro, powered by OM617 turbo stolen from 84 300SD 2.88 diff,EGR blinded
next wish/project: w114 coupe OM603 powered

I use the Ultra-Grey and haven`t had any problems, it keeps the oil from seeping around the tight fit. not any pressure in the Differential.

As we all know there is a vent on the top of the Differential that we all keep clean,.......................right?

As mentioned it is a smooth machine fit, do not jamb in a screwdriver and beat on it with a Hammer to seperate the cover. there is a small hole (as I remember, not under the car at the moment) in the lower corner of the Differential. place a screwdriver/small pry bar in the hole and it will lift the cover off. the cover blocks part of the hole to lift it off with the bar.

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works