Great success, 2-3 flare go bye bye!
 

(88 300SEL)

Well I knew my ATF filter and fluid needed to be changed so I ponied up the extra 15 for the spring kit (thrust pin) and installed it during the service. Car is back together and I am THRILLED with the operation of the transmission. I believe it was low on fluid when I bought it so the combo of filter/fresh fluid filled properly and the spring set made a major difference. Shifts are crisp but muted from both 2nd and 1st gear starts, gears down much smoother during kick down as well.

Yay!

Small note on replacing the spring. I used a ratchet screwdriver to get into the narrow space between the cross member and the cover plate. Additionally, I only loosened the upper left screw enough to rotate the plate cover around enough to remove the spring assembly. Nothing terribly new, but did save the trouble of removing the last screw and made resecuring the plate easy and painless.

I do have one question, it took about 3.75 quarts of fluid, I checked the level with the car running and at operating temp. This seems to be inline with the 3.5 I was expecting it to take. The level is right at the top mark. Can I get someone to concur that this is as expected.

And of course, this board rocks!!!!!

Did you drain the torque converter?

No

you should of drained it.

how do u drain the torque C?

turn engine around with a wrench while feeling for the drain plug on the torque converter through the access port. The drain plug comes off with a (5mm?) allen wrench.

I should do a lot of things. I can see the port under the bell housing, can this be done without pulling the pan again?

And can you address my question about the capacity. I checked it again this morning after a 30 mile drive and its just shy of the top mark. This is hot with the engine running.

It can be done without removing the pan, also remove the cooler line on the side of the transmission to let it drain faster, otherwise you'll be waiting a good 10mins for it to fully drain.

The transmission takes about 6.5 to 7 quarts of oil. The oil level should be 10mm from the full mark when cold.

Thanks Mike. I just did some searching and never realized that the fluid from the TC and the trans comingled. I am thinking now I should re-drain the pan as well and start with fresh fluid. The old fluid wasn't horrible, but it sure wasn't clean and I have already driven it about 50-60 miles with the new fluid.

Dammit.

if you want you can drain the pan, you don't have to, just drain the TC and it should be about 3.75 to 4qts of fluid.

Once you have run and mixed the old and new fluid, there is no point in draining the TC unless you drain the pan also.

Rotate Engine
 

You can easily rotate the engine using the power steering pump... With the engine shut off rotate the power steering unit clockwise(engine always needs to rotate clockwise) until you can see the allen head drain plug in the torque convertor. Yes all the fluid needs to be drained because it is now mixed... You need to be under the torque convertor and while looking up have some one rotate the power steering pump.. Really quite simple. Jim

Thanks guys, I concur and will proceed with TC drain and pan drain and fresh fluid.