96 C220 - Center Support and Bearing? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

tobybul · #1 07-15-2010, 10:20 AM

Has anyone replaced the center support and bearing of a W202? I eye-balled it yesterday and does not look as easy as a W123 seems like. Looks like its covered with a heat shield and a portion of the exhaust has to be removed?

Can the driveshaft be dropped after the flex discs are unbolted without dropping the differentail? Thanks

tobybul · #2 07-21-2010, 01:30 AM

I guess I'll answer my own question. There is no need to drop the differential. Also, there is no need to remove the front driveshaft to replace the center support and bearing- just the rear driveshaft - unless you want to replace the front flex discs... which requires a bit more work as the tranny support will have to be removed.

Jack up vehicle and always put jackstands. NEVER work under the car without it on Jackstands. This is probably the tricky part on this car as there is no good place to put the jacks. My 2 floor jacks are positioned on the rubber jack mounts. For the jackstands, I place about a 2 foot 2X4 just under each rear rocker and set each jackstand underneath it. Next, I ......
- removed the rear exhaust.
- removed heat shield above shaft.
- marked front and rear driveshaft so it is put back lined up
- unbolted rear flex disc (15mm bolt head and 17mm nut)
- unbolted center support.
- pushed driveshaft forward and slide out of differential
- carefully pulled rear driveshaft away from front driveshaft. You will see splines coming out of rubber boot.
- rear driveshaft removed!!

- used 3-jaw bearing puller to remove bearing/support (the rubber on mine was all torn up) rented it from AZ
- I tapped in the new bearing using a plastic pipe.
- I also replaced the rear flex disc

to reinstall, I reversed the process.

I ordered the support & bearing from a local parts store. It was a Meyle brand. the casting was not good on this Meyle where the bolt goes thru to fasten to the car. I do not recommend it because of this but I did reorder another one and the replacement looked better. I think Febi makes one or from the dealer. Also, be prepared to cut the exhaust bolts since they will be rusty. They are easy to replace. Got replacements from napa.

tobybul · #3 07-25-2010, 12:01 AM

I noticed I am still getting a little bit of vibration on acceleration but not as much as before I replaced the center support bearing. I'm wondering if my tranny mount might need to be replaced.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Spetz · #4 07-25-2010, 02:42 AM

What kind of vibration are you talking about?
Are you sure it is not engine vibration?
I replaced my 16 year old transmission mount and I cannot say I felt much of a difference, if any, however they are quite cheap and I hear a good idea to replace

tobybul · #5 07-25-2010, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spetz

What kind of vibration are you talking about?
Are you sure it is not engine vibration?
I replaced my 16 year old transmission mount and I cannot say I felt much of a difference, if any, however they are quite cheap and I hear a good idea to replace

Spetz, it is the same vibration (more like chattering or rumble like I'm going over rough road) I had before I changed the Center support and bearing but less prunounced. Its just for a brief moment when I accelerate aggresively.

I can tell its coming from the drive shaft area, not from the engine.

There is a vibration balancer on the forward drive shaft. I don't know how this affects this issue.

bbarcher · #6 07-26-2010, 03:31 PM

It does sound like your vibration/shudder is related to a slight change in the driveline angles due to forces involved with hard acceleration. So, either your differential is moving too much or your engine/transmission is moving too much. I think you are on the right track, but it might end up being something other than the trans mount. Although the trans mount is one good possibility, you also should look at the rear subframe mounts and differential mounts (if 202 has them, I don't know). Also, in combination with the trans mount, the engine mounts play a role in supporting the engine-trans angle.

anthonyb · #7 07-30-2010, 11:57 PM

I think the bearings in the universal joint can also develop wear, since the U-joint typically only travels through a very small angle when rotating.

pifcat2 · #8 07-31-2010, 03:48 AM

you marked the driveshafts but someone may have installed them wrong. Did you notice the factory alignment marks?

Did you inspect the front flex disc for cracks or oversized holes?

Did you tighten the shaft nut?

It's probably a good time to replace the oil in the trans and diff.

280EZRider · #9 07-31-2010, 08:26 PM

The u-joint is a good possibility. One flat roller bearing is enough to cause a vibration. It's also possible to create vibration by not aligning the driveshaft yoke to the original position of the differential yoke.

tobybul · #10 08-08-2010, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pifcat2

you marked the driveshafts but someone may have installed them wrong. Did you notice the factory alignment marks?

Did you inspect the front flex disc for cracks or oversized holes?

Did you tighten the shaft nut?

It's probably a good time to replace the oil in the trans and diff.

Did you notice the factory alignment marks?
- THey are aligned on factory marks

Did you inspect the front flex disc for cracks or oversized holes?
- I'll chk that again

Did you tighten the shaft nut?
- no nut. SLide in only

It's probably a good time to replace the oil in the trans and diff.
- Diff oil repplaced.

pawoSD · #11 08-08-2010, 09:43 AM

If the transmission mount is original I'd replace it.

tobybul · #12 08-08-2010, 12:09 PM

Done