Flex disk and tranny fluid - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 01-01-2003, 01:10 PM

Last day of the year.
Draind ATF, pulled pan, drain Torque Converter. Cleaned pan and installed new gasket.Installed Mobil 1 Syn.
Then remover Drive shaft. Didn't mess with E-Brake cable or dropping muffler.
Replaced center bearing & support that was all out of round,then had to use chatter gun {impact hammer} to remove rear bushing. Replaced dust cover, bushing. Reinstalled with new flex disk front and rear. They were also cracked. Not major but cracked anyway.
Adjusted e-brake tighter, grease all four CV joints.
Took off all four jack stands.
Test drove and recheck fluid. And topped off.
I know there are some that say"if it ain't broke don't fix it" my saying is fix it or get some nice "Hush Puppys shoes" and spare money for tow truck.
With all this I may have spent $150. Heck a tow would be half of that. Not to speak of what else it mess up.
Take care of you ass it bear you, instead of someone kicking it.
Thanks to this board for all the information. Compared to Haynes or factory manual no comparison! With out you'll holding my hand this would have been hell.
Have a great New Year.
Charlie

P.E.Haiges · #2 01-02-2003, 12:08 PM

Charlie,

What ever floats your boat and toots your whistle but I would still have $150 in my pocket and I haven't needed a tow truck for more than 10 years (except for my Chevy PU) and about 250,000 miles.

P E H

Ken300D · #3 01-02-2003, 12:27 PM

Does the rear "centering bushing" on the driveshaft ever actually go bad? How does it wear out, when you have three bolts holding the flex disk and thus holding the driveshaft? [I'm talking about the hard plastic cylinder pressed onto the driveshaft at each end.]

I understand the need for the centering bushing to center the driveshaft long enough to tighten the flex bolts. Is there any wear after that is accomplished?

If so, what kind of wear do you observe?

Thanks,
Ken300D

md21722 · #4 01-02-2003, 12:52 PM

The wear is minimal. When I pulled the driveshaft to change the center support bearing, I replaced one of the centering bushings, because the mechanic said it could use a new one. I think the one in the rear - but I don't remember!

P.E.Haiges · #5 01-02-2003, 02:12 PM

Ken300D,

I can remember replacing one of the centering bushings on my '68 220D. It was a long time ago and I think it was actually cracked possibly because I drove 600 miles home with the flex joint almost gone, I mean it was just down to about bolt to bolt contact. I had to fool around with the accelerator to get it to stop vibrating and then drive very steady to keep it from vibrating. Luckily it was mostly Interstate highways on the way home.

P E H

SoCalSwami · #6 01-02-2003, 02:36 PM

Great story Charlie. I guess the moto is
"A squirt of grease a day keeps the tow-truck away"

The Warden · #7 01-03-2003, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Charlie Mitchel
Adjusted e-brake tighter, grease all four CV joints.

The CV joints are greasable? How?

Sorry for the dumb question, but I thought the CV joints were a sealed unit and weren't serviceable (big reason that I'm replacing axleshafts tomorrow).

Thanks!

#8 01-03-2003, 11:01 AM

Most see them as sealed units.
But at Pep Boys or Auto Zone they have a "basketball needle that goes on the grease gun and allows you to poke hole thru rubber like a hypodermic needle and apply grease. I use thirty count on my air grease gun.For each boot.That is doing all four,total of 120. If boot is tore I replace whole axel with both boots. Haven't had good luck with replacement boots by themselves in the past. Like someone else said ounce dirt and grim get in there it is mucked up.
Charlie

The Warden · #9 01-03-2003, 03:47 PM

Oh, okay, so it's not like I need to put grease in the boots before driving the car...just something that doing may be a good idea periodically; there is grease in there to begin with.

I was worried for a second there... thanks!

Ken300D · #10 01-03-2003, 08:01 PM

From my experience with what was thrown out all around, they start out with some kind of gear oil.

The design with the crimped can was not good at all for maintenance. Later axles have bolted assemblies, not crimped cans - for those people who actually look under the car and can catch a boot going bad.

Ken300D