Hello everyone, I am new to this forum, first time posting. I've owned and driven MB diesels since about 1974. My wife's daily driver is a 1983 300 SD with 165000 original miles. I do all my own maintenance. She drove the car all day and went to park car in garage and it would not go forward. It would back up. I let the car sit for a couple of hours and tried to see if it would go forward. Parked it in the garage and immediately thought let's try that again. Backed up under it's own power, but nothing forward. I pushed it by hand in the garage and that's were it sits. Looked at all the obvious things, fluid level, nothing fallen off or loose. I believe something internal broke. My question is if the trans must come out, what suggestions can you give. Should I rebuild this trans myself, if so, who has parts available or exchange for a rebuilt or simplely purchase a new trans? I do not plan on selling the car any time soon. So gentlemen, what would you do?? Sorry about long winded post and thanks in advance. Joe Mc.

Sounds to me like maybe your tranny's clutch packs have broken.

My car lost 4th gear the other day, it just would not go into 4th at all.

My mechanic opened the pan, and found lots of clutch pack material from the tranny in the pan, and it was black.

I'm getting it rebuilt so it will be like new again.

Yours may be the clutch pack, or it could be a cable adjustment or a vacuum adjustment or repair.

Someone who is a tech can answer it. I'm not a tech, so the above is just my opinion.

Alon

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'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

you have a bad B2 piston. You dont have to rebuild the tranny, it can be fixed.

I agree, the B2 piston is broken or the seal blown. It can be repaired without trans removal. There is a modified piston now with a strengthened core and a totally different seal.

The piston breaking is often a result of higher than spec modulator pressure. This is often done to deal with flairs into 4th gear. The 83 trans has a number of modifications that improve the quality of shift. If you decide to rebuild it be sure that you have the mods done.

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

how about the rebuilding one your self. I have been wondering that same question as I know sooner or later my 81 Sd will need a bebuild , I have rebuilt manuals before and have wacthed the rebuild on a GM 400 it did not look that difficult ,has any amateur out there ever tackled an MB tranny before?
William Rogers....

I thought about rebuilding mine. But the problem is, how are you going to get the tranny out and in of the car? Do you have a lift at your house and do you have all the nessesary tools?

If you can get a place to take it out and take it home to the garage and tinker with it you can. To get the "rebuilt kits" is around $500.00 or so.

I didnt rebuilt mine myself so i cant help you with the tech details. If I had the time and resources I would have done it myself.

Ive taken out and replaced dozens of tramissions myself doing clucth jobs on manuals and removing automatics to take to a rebuilder . I simply jack the car or truck up and put four foot long 2x8's or 4x8's stacked up under each tire untill I get enough working height under the vehicle to get a tranny jack under there then brush up on the latest curse words crawl under and go to work.If anyone know where to get a manual or cd for MB tranny bebuild please post it . Thanks.....
William Rogers........

The disassembly and rebuilding of MB transmissions are some of the easiest mechanically and some of the most finicky. The valve body is very complicated and problems causing shift complaints can be real difficult. The straight disassembly and reassembly are fairly easy with no real special tools necessary.

The best mechanical manual on MB trannies is the ATSG (automatic trans service group) series. Go to this link and go to the store. The MB manuals are on the second page.

http://www.transbuilder.com/store.html

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

Thanks to everyone for their advice and especially to Johnson Chan and Stevebfi. Now I know what to look for. With proper knowledge and correct tools I can do this. The tools I have. I work for a air freight company here in Rockford, Il and I'm in charge of repairing everything from forklifts, cars, to tractor trailers. I'm going to try and attempt this repair because what the heck, it's already broken. Stevebfi thanks for the link for the manuel. I'll order one tommorrow morning. Regards Joe Mc.

Joe,

Your welcome. Goodluck and we are here if you need additional info.

Johnson