Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Tech Help

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-24-2006, 08:28 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 226
Flex Disk Condition?

How does this flex disk look? Normal? Replace soon? Replace now!? Thanks.

Attached Thumbnails
Flex Disk Condition?-flex-disk.jpg  
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 09-24-2006, 08:33 PM
deltajetfixer's Avatar
Humble Benzophile
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Sharpsburg, GA
Posts: 276
Quote:
Originally Posted by 96C280 View Post
How does this flex disk look? Normal? Replace soon? Replace now!? Thanks.
Not normal, see the cracks?

I'd go with "soon".
__________________
2005 Pathfinder LE
2001 E55
1998 M3
1982 320i
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-24-2006, 08:57 PM
Gilly's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Evansville WI
Posts: 9,616
THAT is not a flex disc, that's a rubber coupler, there's a difference and yes I'm serious. Yes it should be replaced because of the cracks.
Gilly
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 09-25-2006, 03:07 AM
forp's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Sebastopol, CA
Posts: 324
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gilly View Post
THAT is not a flex disc, that's a rubber coupler, there's a difference and yes I'm serious. Yes it should be replaced because of the cracks.
Gilly
Part number 124 411 02 15, Drive Shaft Flex Joint, AKA flex disc[sic]. With those cracks you should replace it as soon as you can.
Attached Thumbnails
Flex Disk Condition?-k1020164950lem.jpeg  
__________________
2012 E350 Bluetech
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 09-25-2006, 03:36 AM
Battlecat714's Avatar
NEEZ FTW!
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Anaheim, CA
Posts: 339
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gilly View Post
THAT is not a flex disc, that's a rubber coupler, there's a difference and yes I'm serious. Yes it should be replaced because of the cracks.
Gilly
sorry to hijack, but what are some of the early problems that could occur with a crack-"ing" flexdisk?
__________________
1994|040|W124.036|E500
http://www.mbworld.org/forums/image....ine=1216527951
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 09-25-2006, 05:27 AM
Gilly's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Evansville WI
Posts: 9,616
The flex disc is usually but not always just up front (there are a few that have them in the back). The flex disc has the sections around the bolts that absorb vibration. The "solid" ones like this are called a rubber coupler. I've seen the rear ones crack like this or have pieces of reinforcement (like a heavy string) shredding out to the sides.
The flex disc is a wear item and should be inspected occasionally. The rubber coupler can fail, so good to keep an eye on it, but is intended to last the life of the car, unlike the flex disc. Description is wrong in the part number that was quoted, nothing new, the parts dept does use different sounding descriptions for things, and as far as that goes everyone uses different terminology for things, as long as everyone understands what's being discussed, then we're communicating, right? But a flex disc is a very specific thing, usually you only have 1 flex disc and it's up on the transmission side.
Gilly
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 09-25-2006, 05:31 AM
Hit Man X's Avatar
I LOVE BRUNETTES
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: FUNKYTOWN
Posts: 9,087
Thumbs up

Drop the $40-60 and replace it.
__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.
[/IMG]
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 09-25-2006, 03:00 PM
david s poole
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: dallas
Posts: 1,822
flex disc

gilly,i think the industry uses flex plate for the trans and flex disc for the drive shaft.
__________________
David S Poole
European Performance
Dallas, TX
4696880422

"Fortune favors the prepared mind"
1987 Mercedes Benz 420SEL
1988 Mercedes Benz 300TE (With new evaporator)
2000 Mercedes Benz C280
http://www.w108.org/gallery/albums/A...1159.thumb.jpg
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 09-25-2006, 03:38 PM
riethoven's Avatar
Conservative Radical
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Eastern Long Island
Posts: 940
Quote:
Originally Posted by Battlecat714 View Post
sorry to hijack, but what are some of the early problems that could occur with a crack-"ing" flexdisk?
You may hear a thunk-thunk-thunk from under the car under hard acceleration. These are not alot of fun to switch out because they are under the car, but if it is thunking, you should change it. If that photo is of your flex-disc, order a new one today.
__________________
Doug

1987 300TD x 3
2005 E320CDI
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 09-25-2006, 04:20 PM
BENZ-LGB's Avatar
Strong, silent type
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,663
What he said...

There was a person in another Benz site whose flex discs went out on her 300E.

Due to their location if the flex disc goes out while the car is in motion it may cause deployment of the ari bag.

That's a very expensive repair. In my opinion flex discs should be changed, as a matter of course, every so many miles. It is not an expensive reapir and not only does it make the car run smoother (no thunk thunk) but it can also prevent a major repair down the line.

Cheap insurance.
__________________
Current Benzes

1989 300TE "Alice"
1990 300CE "Sam Spade"
1991 300CE "Beowulf" RIP (06.1991 - 10.10.2007)
1998 E320 "Orson"
2002 C320 Wagon "Molly Fox"

Res non semper sunt quae esse videntur

My Gallery

Not in this weather!
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 09-25-2006, 06:36 PM
Ron in SC's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 1,095
What is the difference between the rear rubber coupler that Mercedes dealers sell and the aftermarket ones that are available for less than half as much?

The aftermarket ones are Lemforder or Febi. The one at the dealer did not have any marking that indicated manufacturer. I did note that ones at the dealer appeared to have 12mm bolts whereas the ones on my 124s have 10mm bolts; I think the bolt size will not affect application.

The updated part number I used is 1294100015.

Edited:
From photos on Fastlane website I think the one at dealer was a Lemforder.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 09-26-2006, 02:34 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 226
Thanks everyone. I'll get it changed as soon as possible. Gilly, and everyone: how many of these rubber couplers are there on the 96 c280. I've heard there are 2? Are they the same part #? Thanks.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 09-26-2006, 08:17 AM
Gilly's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Evansville WI
Posts: 9,616
Just the rear one should be the rubber coupler like you showed a picture of. The FRONT one is the "flex disc" and should be a different part number, looks a bit different but installs the same way. One thing to remember is that the differential in these cars is bolted to the rear of the car, independent rear suspension. The driveshaft does not change angle, it's all in a constant angle.
Gilly
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 09-26-2006, 02:19 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 226
Gilly,

I believe that is the front one. It was pretty close to the transmission? Is that right?

I also saw a post that someone believed Lemforder was better than Febi? Anyone have their own experiences?

Last edited by 96C280; 09-26-2006 at 02:57 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 09-26-2006, 08:33 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Rockville MD
Posts: 833
Will a new flex disc soften the gear shifts? 1-2 still jolts even when i back out the modulator adjustment all the way.

__________________
1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:48 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page