My R&R of the flex connectors (driveshaft) went smoothly but there is an anomoly. The website called for different front & rear connectors which came as listed. The front(?) one looked heavier and had thick, odd looking washers while the rear(?) had round, thinner washers. When I dropped the old ones out, they were both the same right down to the molded-in numbers . Did a previous mechanic take a shorter/easier/cheaper way out? Is this why my rear connector was shredded? Which connector is correct for the tranny and which for the diff.? I currently have the heavier conn. on the front/tranny union and the smaller on the rear/diff.

I'm looking at a rear main seal replacement, how big a bear is dropping this tranny? Straight forward, or should I be aware of any "special" items?

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1999 E320 (gave to daughter) 250K
1994 F150 (may be the end of its road) 240K
1989 560 SL (Reassembly after paint job) 160K
1986 560 SL (deceased., gave it's life protecting my wife)
1988 300 TE (departed)
1994 945T (still running strong with an upgraded cam) 349K
1986 242Ti (deceased)
1968 GT500KR (under restoration)

The large flex disk with voids around the bolt sleeves goes in the front. Rears don't usually fail very often, but hey.

You will want to pull engine and transmission as a unit to get to the seal unless you have a hoist, it's way too much hassle on jack stands. You will have to get the rear of the engine tilted down far enough to reach the top bell housing bolts going back in, and without the tranny to drag it down, it's tough. Probably takes less time to yank the whole shebang, split it, replace seal, bolt up, and reinstall than it will to get the bell housing bolts back in.

Make sure you don't have a head gasket leak before pulling the rear seal.....

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Thanks for the info. Happily, I have a lift so jack stands are not a problem and I'll be dropping the tranny from underneath. I was just interested in any weird items I would need to know about that are particular to this model car.
Glad to know I guessed right on the driveline flex disks. I guess I had one of the oddballs. The rear disk was shredded and hanging on by about 50%. Maybe it was because it was the wrong part? Not as flexible as the correct unit? Broke down over time.

__________________
1999 E320 (gave to daughter) 250K
1994 F150 (may be the end of its road) 240K
1989 560 SL (Reassembly after paint job) 160K
1986 560 SL (deceased., gave it's life protecting my wife)
1988 300 TE (departed)
1994 945T (still running strong with an upgraded cam) 349K
1986 242Ti (deceased)
1968 GT500KR (under restoration)

Age gets the rear flex disk eventually, as does exposure to road chemicals, etc. Depends on where and how it's driven. Usually last much longer than the fronts, though -- those are usually a 60,000 replacement item.

Reminds me that I need to do my Mom's TE.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!