My mechanic has found a way to eliminate the need for hydraulic pressure to the transfer case, which has been so problematic as to render the entire system inoperable, and difficult to find parts and expertise to sort out. His solution leaves the car with permanent and constant 65/35 (rear/front) drive. This is an elegant solution (and I'll do my best to explain it) to the problem of the hydraulic clutches wearing out the pistons inside the transfer case resulting in hydraulic fluid passing by the pistons and flooding the transfer case with hydraulic fluid. The problem is that as the system is designed, the clutches disengage and engage every time the car starts and stops, and it wears in a way that causes this flooding. As the W124 4-Matic system is designed, there are three modes of drive, 100% rear only (two wheel drive) 65% rear/35% front four-wheel drive, and 50% rear, 50% front fully locked four wheel drive. With the hydraulic problem solved in this way, the system is 65% rear, 35% front full-time four wheel drive.

If anyone is interested in more information please let me know. My mechanic plans to buy a quantity of "bad" transfer cases, restoring them to this 65/35 setup, and making them available to the market, thereby solving the problem of 4-Matic transfer cases and the fact that they are difficult or impossible to rebuild (due to lack of part availability).

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Will



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