Yes yes. Benz there done that. It is serviceable. You just have to deal with those little metal tangs that hold it together.

It can be carefully pried apart. Pull the guts out. Put the new brushes in then carefully squeezed back together. I put a few lil tack welds around the outside edge with the MIG just for extra strength to hold it together. It's held up fine for going on here years now.

I don't remember all that I found out from my reading up on the issue way back when I had this same problem. Seems that repairing what you've got is the easiest option.

I've got a squirrel cage in good shape from an early fan that I'll sell to you if you end up going that way.

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Current fleet
2006 E320 CDI
1992 300D - 5speed manual swapped

former members
1984 300D "Blues Mobile"

1978 300CD "El Toro"