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#1
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MBZ Driveshaft Characteristics
The first time I ever removed an MBZ driveshaft, the 46mm nut on the end of the front shaft was loose but the rubber boot had kept it from ever coming off completely. Since then whenever I have had occasion to repeat this job, I always install the nut as per MBZ, with very little torque. After all, the two shafts need to be able to slide freely on the spline inside the nut. Lately I have been wondering why is this nut even there? Any ideas?
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Don't Chrome them; polish them |
#2
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The nut is there to prevent them from sliding since there is obviously no need or it.
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600SEL '91 300E 4Matic '88 240D '83 280SE '77 350SE '73 The most complex systems can fail in the simplest way. Contra verbosus noli contendere verbis, sermo datur cunctis, animi sapientia paucis. i don't believe in the lord! He's never bought me a Mercedes Benz. |
#3
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The nut is there to keep the slots in the drive shaft from "opening" up and then allowing slippage between the 2 splines.
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MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES) ASE Master Technician Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times) 44 years foreign automotive repair 27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer) MB technical information Specialist (15 years) 190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold) 1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold) Retired Moderator |
#4
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I have considered this, but then I wonder why have these slots to begin with? Why not just make the female spline without the slots? (Good sliding, no opening of slots, and no jumping of the spline teeth).
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Don't Chrome them; polish them |
#5
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The purpose of the slots in the female splines, the taper on the OD of the female portion, and the nut (which has an internal matching taper), is to LOCK the two splined sections together. It should be obvious that the shaft is splined to provide, 1. an initial length adjustment to allow for manufacturing variances, and, 2. a means of reducing the length of the shaft for service work.
The flex discs incorporate enough play to absorb longitudinal movement of the engine/transmission, and the final drive center section. This method is in contrast to the deliberate slip joint method employed with live axles. The MB splined joint is NOT a slip joint. |
#6
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I had thought the same yesterday but didn't get a chance to post.
And, locking the two splines together eliminates torsional slop. Given the rear axle is independent, plunging of the spline does not occur. BMW also uses Guibo / Giubo joints but I don't know how they are setup. |
#7
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These upgraded discs look interesting, but unless you are making big power the stock discs will make for a smoother ride. ( they are for BMW but I bet they would make some for MB if we asked )
revshift ( dot ) com/shop/bmw/e30/flex-disc-couplers.php |
#8
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Quote:
__________________
Don't Chrome them; polish them |
#9
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Each opposing flange uses 3 bolts from one direction and 3 from the other. This does allow for longitudinal movement of the joint.
Have a look at a " Lovejoy " coupling commonly used in industrial apps. While it does not have any bolts, the principle is similar and power flow the same. |
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