How hard to slide back trans and change front seal - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 08-13-2003, 10:19 AM

Hello all,

Yeah I am the guy who bought a car with a transmission leak. It is an 1987 300d and other than this she seems pretty good. only 103000 miles and the interior is very good.

Has any one tried doing this themselves. It doesnt seem impossible to do on jack stands. Remove the drive shaft and remove the transmission accessories and remove the bolt and slide it back and down on a transmission jack and change that 5 dollar part and save alot of money and worry that someone will sell me the whole turkey when all I needed was a sandwich.

WHat do you folks think,

Is it too much to do or not.

I imagine a shop will charge 600 bucks or up to do it.

thanks again

bob c

PS is does have the trap oxidator on it still. Hopefully I can get a new turbo out of it.

R Leo · #2 08-13-2003, 10:35 AM

The Bob,
First you should try treating your transmission with Trans-X.

Read this success story:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=70712&highlight=TransX

Amazing stuff...not the usual snake oil in a can.

aldedmon · #3 08-13-2003, 10:45 AM

I wouldn't recommend any type of stop leak type prodcut. Most will ultimately do more long term damage easily outweighing any temporary short term remedy they may provide. If this is an Automatic tranny, you cant "slide it back". The torque converter is bolted to the fly wheel and fits into the front pump of the tranny. The torque conv is also penetrated by the front shaft of the tranny and it goes the entire depth of the TC. So you see there is no way to slide it back to gain access. You have to Remove it and while its out, you may as well have it serviced/rebuilt. The R/R is generally more than the servicing of the tranny itsself. They quotes me ~ 2-$300 parts and 5-6 hrs labor JUST for the rebuild. Add another 10+ hrs to R/R. While you have it out, replace the rear main seal of the engine since you are right there.
Good luck

engatwork · #4 08-13-2003, 10:52 AM

To me it is not that bad of a job. Plan on replacing the engine rear main while you have the tranny out. I would recommend pulling the tranny all the way out from under the car (the car has to be way up in the air to do this) and going ahead and replacing the rear tranny seal too.

#5 08-13-2003, 11:05 AM

Thanks for the quick reply,

This stuff keeps me up at night, (not that bad But I go to sleep later)

I hate to be a pain in the a$$. but what are the steps in removal of the trans.

I cannot seem to find a link to it anywhere.

How High to I need to get the car up. Do I need to get all four wheels off the ground?
Do I need a helper or can i do it myself?

How hard is it to get to the top engine to trans bolts?

I know that I will have to rent a trans jack.

The front seal goes where on the transmission.

I need to get some books on this stuff but where.

Why did I buy a car the leaks trans fluid (Please dont answer I am a littel bit sensitive)

Thanks again all.

BOB C.

IS this car worth all this trouble when she is done?

jfikentscher · #6 08-13-2003, 12:39 PM

My car was also leaking trans fluid when I got it. The PO being a dealer was required to fix it under yhe 30 day warranty. They sent it to a trans shop and it has been perfect ever since. I was a little worried when I woke up the day after I bought it and the garage floor had a 3' wide circle of trans fluid on it. I have put 85,000 on it since with no problems. You should be ok after the leak is fixed as long as it was not run w/o fluid.

Joe

kerry · #7 08-13-2003, 02:02 PM

I pulled a manual tranny at the Pick and Pull yard. The car was blocked up on 4 stands consisting of a rim flat on the ground and another rim standing up on top of it. There was plenty of room to work.
Don't you have to drop the crankshaft to replace the top half of the rear main seal? That sounds like a challenging job that is not worth doing unless it is leaking.

leathermang · #8 08-13-2003, 02:10 PM

"I wouldn't recommend any type of stop leak type prodcut. Most will ultimately do more long term damage easily outweighing any temporary short term remedy they may provide"--aldedmon

Do you have anything to support this ? I have never had any problem with a trans I used this stuff in. I first used it on a 1965 Rambler which ONLY had 2 nd gear. It completely cured that problem. I have never had a problem with any auto trans in the 30 years since... and I put it into all my newly acquired auto trans vehicles and all my families transmissions...

You can also use it and then change out the fluid and filter....

aldedmon · #9 08-13-2003, 03:59 PM

but what are the steps in removal of the trans.

I cannot seem to find a link to it anywhere.
BEST IF YOU GET A SET OF THE MB "CD'S". IT WILL BE YOUR MOST COMPLETE RESOURCE

How High to I need to get the car up. Do I need to get all four wheels off the ground?
ALL WHEELS OFF THE GROUND. A GOOD SET OF JACK STANDS. LET THEM UP AS HIGH AS THEY'LL GO AND THEN BACK OFF 1 NOTCH(SAFETY)

Do I need a helper or can i do it myself?
HELPER. DON'T LET HIM DRINK THE BEER AFTER THE JOB IS COMPLETED

How hard is it to get to the top engine to trans bolts?
YOU'LL HAVE TO DISASSY ALL OF THE REAR "DRIVE" COMPONENTS. DRIVE SHAFT, GUIBO,TRANNY CROSS MEMBER, SHIFT LINKAGE ELECT.CONNECTION(?) ETC. AND THEN LET THE TAIL END HANG DOWN. tAKE OFF THE TOP MOST TRANNY BOLTS AND THEN JACK THE TRANNY UP LEVEL AND REMOVE THE REST WHILE SUPPORTING THE TRANNY. iDEALLY YOU NEED A TRANNY JACK OR A FLOOR JACK WITH A MODIFIED WIDE FLAT BASE SUPPORT

I know that I will have to rent a trans jack.
YOU GOT IT MAN!
The front seal goes where on the transmission.
IN THE FRONT!!!DUH! NO IN THE FRONT PUMP. BUY THE NEW ONE FIRST AND THEN LOOK AT THE TRANNY WHEN YOU TAKE IT OUT.YOU'LL SEE THE FRONT "PUMP" AND THE SFAFT PERTRUDING OUT. tHE SEAL GOES AT THE POINT WHERE THE SHAFT ENTERS THE PUMP ASSY.
I need to get some books on this stuff but where.
BUT THE MB "CD'S". I ALSO HAVE A HAYNES. ITS PRETTY GOOD AS A GUICK REFERENCE, BUT THE CD'S ARE ALL INCLUSIVE

Why did I buy a car the leaks trans fluid (Please dont answer I am a littel bit sensitive)
CAUSE YOU AN I....ER...NAI....I MEAN, UM.....I'ON KNOW. THIS MUST BE WANNA THEM TRICK GIRLY GUESTIONS LIKE DOES THIS DRESS MAKE MY ARSE LIKE FAT

SHARK1007 · #10 08-13-2003, 04:05 PM

I had to order subframe bushings for mine and I'll change the seal Friday. Actually my fishing buddy with the tranny shop will!

I'll be able to answer your questions after I watch him do the work..

#11 08-13-2003, 04:32 PM

Thanks guys,

I am getting more optimistic as time goes on.

I will order those cds. I had the w123 but did not see in there how to remove the trans.

My wife is going to kick my ass when she gets back from vacation.

Thank you

bob

R Leo · #12 08-13-2003, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aldedmon

How hard is it to get to the top engine to trans bolts?
YOU'LL HAVE TO DISASSY ALL OF THE REAR "DRIVE" COMPONENTS. DRIVE SHAFT, GUIBO...

Mercedes-Benz' don't have GUIBOs, that's a nasty 'ol BMW part.

GUIBOs both bad, and good....

aldedmon · #13 08-13-2003, 04:54 PM

Tomato / tomAto
Okay, flex disc. Same thing.
I suppose next you'll tell me that cars in europe dont have trunks.
Oh my bad, that's right its called a boot... Whatever!

aldedmon · #14 08-13-2003, 04:58 PM

Hey Bob,
Those CD's can be a bit uncooperative. It may not list the procedure as "Removing the transmission". It'll probably break the job up into its component pieces.
Removing driveshaft
Removing tranny cross member,
Removing Shift linkage
Look up replacing trans. front pump or engine rear main seal.

engatwork · #15 08-13-2003, 05:57 PM

Quote:

My wife is going to kick my ass when she gets back from vacation.

LOL - my best vacations have been when the wife loaded up the kids and left for a week

.