My w124 front flex disc, what do you think?
 

Okay, so I finally got a chance to jack up my 91 300E and inspect the front flex disc, I don't think it looks that great but is it a "change RIGHT NOW!!!" type thing or a "Can still drive it but change it as soon as possible?" thing?

Opinions please!

[IMG]http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/a...E/L1090670.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/a...E/L1090668.jpg[/IMG]

My tell tale sign in my W126 was when I would accelerate past 40 it wouldn't feel too nice, and a steady vibration if you hold the shifter nob.

FWIW, I think it doesn't look like a DO IT NOW type of thing; but then again, mine literally fell into strands when I looked at it.

Yeah, it was the same case with mine, I was getting a vibration then it got really bad, replaced and tightened the bolts on the rear flex disc and it made the car drivable again, but the vibration is still there and it's bugging me, I keep picturing the front flex disc failing on the freeway at 65-70mph and I just want to pinpoint this vibration and make sure it's not the flex disc.

The one bolt in the center of the picture does look odd to me though, like the hole is stretched and the bolt is on one side of it.

Jordan,

I did this job on my 95 E 320, you can search my post with lots of pictures, your flex disc is toasted change it ASAP

Bluerio

Your flex disc is very far away from "failing", per say. You should replace it in the next 6 months. But it's going to have to look A LOT more beaten than that, before its even close to jackknifing your drive shaft thru the interior; or your drive shaft pole vaulting and flipping the car at highway speed. But neither of those are very likely.

Okay so the vibration HAS to be this stupid front flex disc, upon ever closer inspection, I can wiggle the darn thing from side to side with my hand, the bolts seem tight but I can't really get in there to assess if they're loose or the holes are stretched , regardless it's going to get replaced, so hopefully the vibration will be gone!

OH :eek: :S

Yeeeeeeeaaaaahhhhh I totally want to replace that disc lol How bad is it that I'm driving with it loose to the point I can wiggle it around?

No Wiggly!
 

Should be Firm and Tight.

I have seen a flex disc literally shredding apart it was so worn. And all 6 bolt holts were ripped out and wobbly up/down/side-to-side. But it still held together in one piece. The flex discs you have now is definitely less than optimal but its not something to lose sleep over in the mean time. Just replace it. :P

Thanks John! I'm going to replace it as soon as possible, I needed to go to a junkyard for some other stuff though that is about an hour drive to and from on the freeway, would it be okay to make that trip in it while there is a little play in the flex disc?

It's not immediate, but it should be high on up on the priority list. It would probably last a few years like that, but just get it done in the near future to make your ride more comfortable.

LOL you guys seriously would put that off?

For the few hours it takes and the low cost of the part, you would risk damaging the shaft, trans yolk, trans housing, and more?

Do you drive on tires that have steel belts showing? I mean, they are not blown out yet.

Just wow.

That's hardly a fair comparison lol...He is nowhere near dangerous. If it had cracks, that's a different story, but his bolt holes have just widened slightly from the wear. Just get it done soon, but as said above, don't lose sleep over it.

And what JohnM said about flipping the car -- It won't happen as there is a support crossmember in the middle of the propshaft. Propshaft ain't goin anywhere

Okay or how about brakes squealing because the pad material is worn off?

I would not put my life (or car) at risk for a $70 part. Get real. It is a disaster waiting to occur. You guys are also unable to see the reverse side of the disc, it could have cracks in it for all you know. I just changed the rear one on my 560 last week and it had some nice cracks with the side that pointed toward the diff. This was on an original SGF disc from 1991 with only 151k.



My '91 SE I just sold was purchased with a failed disc b/c the previous owner kept putting this off and damaged all sorts of stuff up in there. Cracked the rear trans housing, cross member damaged, driveshaft bent, trans yolk broken, shifter linkage damaged, I think that is about it. Did not hack up into the cabin though surprisingly.

I can assure you those parts cost more than $70 to replace.

Drive it easy... don't do 1st to second shift @ 6500rpm!

Just change it. Get new bolts with the kit.

How do you know you have a bad flex disc? Vibrations and the way it looks in the photo there?

Can you only purchase Flex discs on this site or Mercedes? None of the local parts stores even have them listed on their sites.

Yes you can buy those at any auto parts that sell MB parts. Here in this site Fastlane sells them and you can talk to Phil and make sure you get the right part for your car

Thanks. I will check mine. Didnt mean to hi-jack this thread. It just has me concerned now. I am giving this car to my 55 year old mother who will be using the car alot to transport my 16 month old special needs nephew to doctors (some as far as 100 miles away in Knoxville TN) and I dont want the driveshaft coming in the car! I didnt know these were designed to come inside the car when they fail. I dont even know if mine needs them, but it does have that slight clank sound when shifted from drive to reverse. It dont have any vibrations or anything (except some from where the tires need rebalanced). If it does need flex disc(s), hopefully they are not too costly and wont cost a fortune to install.

It usually causes a little vibration, but mainly noise when you blip the throttle. It will make a metallic "ting" noise. The front flex disk kit incl new bolts should be ~$90.

Thanks. Nope, its not making that noise you describe. Maybe we are OK for now.

Replace that disc! I think you can get it for around $75.00 if you look. Mine looked just like yours and I was told to wait but I didn't. Feel much better now and vibration I had is gone.

I just change my flex disc,center bearing and engine mountings l/r, the gearbox mounting was still good. Now with the new parts the car wont clunk and shudder when engaging from p to r.

All these parts are interelated with each other....

michael