Quote:
Originally Posted by vstech
184K... and a bearing noise? which bearing? when is the noise present? I'd think any competent shop could fix a bearing in these...
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The noise is related to engine speed, and it's unmistakably bearing howl. Starts of low and quiet, gets higher in pitch and louder as the rpm's go up. Because its rpm dependent it is likely one of the bearings at the front of the transmission.
The worst is that the transmission works just fine, a little hard on the shift to first, and a tiny bit of flare at wot going from 3-4, but good working.
The shop I'm using is the most reputable shop on this side of Michigan, and one of the better ones in the Midwest, Arie Nol (Dutch name). Jeff, the service advisor said that with the age of the car and the miles, a rebuild or low/ish mileage transmission would be better then replacing the bearing. That said, they're not a specialty transmission shop, but they are also the only ones that I've found who know what a vacuum diagram is, and understand the shifting mechanisms and tuning of these old MB transmissions. All of the speciality shops are confused by the question.
Vstech, if you have an idea of how I might do this without replacing what is, functionally, a good transmission, I'm all ears. The car drives great, but the noise and vibration are unpleasant, and I'm worried about the consequences to the engine if the bearing seizes.