Howdy,

OK, on to my next W201 adventure. While I was under the car changing out tranny fluid, I checked the driveshaft center support bearing and found that it is shot. The rubber buffer around the bearing is done and the driveshaft can move around.

Is this in any a DIY repair? What is required? I'm pretty handy, but I don't have the big wrench needed to remove the nut on the end of the front shaft.

Thanks much.

Sholin

'84 190D 2.2

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What else, '73 MB 280 SEL (Lt Blue)
Daily driver: '84 190D 2.2 5 spd.

G’day

Not sure about W201……but some things don’t change much between Benz models

I’m not a Tech and didn’t get into any difficulties with my moderate mechanical skills…..cured my low speed flapping noise & 3000 miles since fix

On my W123 (’78 280CE) I needed a few ‘special tools’…see attached pic……your bearing carrier will probably look like mine when it comes out

I used 4 stands which makes the work space a bit difficult………If you have access to a lift the job would be a lot easier

Plumbers wrench is what I used for the 46mm nut……….not much room, but you only have to hold the nut from turning and can apply torque to the shaft (I used an oil filter strap wrench) to undo……….the puller, pipe and old thrust bearing were used to R & R the center bearing

Very important to accurately mark the two parts of the shaft before disconnecting them………even one spline out can cause shaft balance problems….I used ‘white out’ correcting paint in a spline valley that lined up with a slot in the other half before I removed it (too late to mark it if the shaft comes apart when jiggling it out)…apparently there are some factory markings that are not obvious…I read about them in a post after I finished, but certainly didn’t see them at the time and wouldn’t rely in them being there.

The flex discs can be left bolted to the shaft when removed…….but I marked their relative positions to the tranny & diff ….? shaft balanced in place...........flex discs & centering sleeves might need a close look re replacing whist you are there……….I also replaced the rear tranny mount………these jobs have a way of escalating!!!

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This is not a difficult job to do at all. I took the saft apart on my car so many times I can right now probably do it with my eyes closed

What David says is right, but there are a few shortcuts. The shaft alignment marks shoudl already be on it, they will probably be hard to see, but they are placed on the shaft by the factory, so look for those. The support bearing can be easily replaced without any pullers at all, but you will need a hammer

I did my drive shaft with a standard hydraulic jack, no problemo, but the spaces are tight underneath there.

Things to watch for are torque specs on the flex discs, very important, also don't strip the bolts, they are somewhat soft actually if you ask me. They are also self locking, so if you are reusing them, get some locktite for them.

The shaft gets heavy especially when you bolt it down to the flex discs before you do the support bearing, and aligning the support bearing bolts can be troublesome.

Other then that, just take your time.

xp

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1985 190E 2.3L - a constant project.

Thanks much for your advice. I'm going to get the parts on order today and probably attempt it in a couple of weekends. I just replaced my clutch slave cylinder w/ the car on jack stands, so I know what it's like to have your hands in tight places. Man that would have been easier with the tranny out.

Sholin

__________________
What else, '73 MB 280 SEL (Lt Blue)
Daily driver: '84 190D 2.2 5 spd.