I do not want happen to you that happened to me.I was driving my 1983 300d with and it started to make this weird noise coming I thought from the middle of the car.Since I just had the transmission serviced I thought I better call Enrique and tell him about it.He said I better bring it down to him.

Unfortunately we did not make it that far-

On the freeway at 70 mph in the middle lane,BAM-like someone shot at the car,looked side to side,hit the accelerator-no power,hit the brakes-nothing.I look it my rear view mirror-objects are shooting from the undercarriage and hitting cars behind me.A big rig saw I was in trouble and flashed me,I steered the wheel to the right-applied parking brake-nothing,downshifted manually nothing including putting in park.I came to a stop other cars that got hit with parts from mine followed,wanting to make sure I was o.k.got out of the car looked underneath and lost everything from first part of transmission back.Transmission,driveshaft,wheelshaft and punctured the undercarriage.I freaked out then got real angry knowing this could have been avoided if the people at the transmission shop did their job correctly by replacing this big round seal that the bolts go throught.The go out naturally because of age.I replaced the 1985 one and saw the beginning of the hairline cracks around the bolt holes.The seals are only about $50.00,even if your car is low mileage replace it anyway since it is made of some hard plastic because you do not want that feeling I got-no control of a car in traffic at 70 mph on the freeway.Thank you

Darryl Harvey

P.S.The car was completely rebuilt including the transmission,driveline,undercarriage etc and sold for $3150.00

Yours is not the first of this type description of a very scary situation... someone posted pictures from the underside...
This can actually hurt someone inside the car....

Seal?? You mean the center support/bearing??? Pics??

__________________
1984 300D Turbo - 4-speed manual conversion, mid-level resto

1983 300D - parts car

1979 300TD Auto - Parts car.

1985 300D Auto - Wrecked/Parts.


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"If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there". Lewis Carrol

He is talking about the vibration dampner in the drive line..... two of them....sometimes they are of different density rubber composition...

Described here.

__________________
1977 Mercedes 240D. 4-speed transmission. Windows, A/C, and sunroof: all manual. Medium Red. 204K miles.
1988 Subaru GL wagon. Dual range 5-speed 4X4. Daily driver w/ twin parts car.
1994 Subaru Loyale wagon. 5-speed 4x4
1966 International 3/4 ton 4X4 truck. Ooh yeah!
1952 Ferguson TO-35 farm tractor.
1984 Snapper rear engine riding mower. Just like Forest Gump.
1988 Nimble 20 sail boat
--Older stuff is built better--

I had my front flex disk replaced (or redone with the kit) when I bought the car 6 years ago. This was performed at the local shop.

I did a major service myself about 5k ago, and noticed that there was some free-play there. I could turn the driveshaft almost 2 inches before it locked up, with a nice 'clank.' At this time I replaced my tranny mount, which was shot.

Do you think the rock hard tranny mount could have had a hand in this failure? When the flex disk was done the first time, it took care of some groaning.

Should I get on this ASAP?

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'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

I check my flex discs everytime I'm in that region under the car for any cracking. They look quite new but none the less I look everytime I'm down there and try to inspect them at every oil change.

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Jeff M.
Mercedes W123 DIY pages are now located here.
1983 / 1984 300D Sold
2000 CLK430 Cabriolet ~58k Sold
2005 Avalanche 4x4 ~66k