PTE

RLS.
I'm having mine install at my buddies Garage in Ft. Lauderdale. He has installed several units in Porsche's. If your end falls through . Let me know.

m3_eater

Unit: ~$1750
Install: ~$1050
-------------
total: ~$2800


I must add that I still think it is worth it, because bang-for-buck is useless when you hate your car so much that you want to sell it. This changed everything, and in fact I'm beside myself that M-B would not include an LSD stock for any >$50K, >250hp RWD car.

2QUIK4U

I totally agree, especially on a car that generates as much torque as the C55. Although AMG now offers a limited slip as an upgrade, but only in Europe. Unfortunately, the unit costs app. $4000 . It seems Quaife has developed the perfect solution.

Zeppelin

M3_Eater, Do you know why the install price was $1050? Is that all labor or was there some expensive bearings or parts required? Thanks.

PTE

I'm curently doing a install in my home garage. A lot of it is r & r time. Just to get the Differential out on to the bench. Just to get ther 1/2 shafts out.!! Now maybe I removed more that I was suppost to , but I do not like to bent , twist & Stretch things. AE parking brake cables. Brake caliper Hoses . Shocks . Brake pad sensors. Speed sensors
4 link arms/ control arms per side 8* total
2 rear shock assys
2 inside lower control to sub frame bolts
8 anti sway bar assy attachement bolts
2 rotors , so I could undo the parking brake cables. This alone will let you move the / slide the 1/2 shafts/ axle assy outward and out of the differential.
8 torque tube/driveshaft bolts
ESP latteral motion sensor
3 mount bolts that hold the differential to the sub frame
Side it sideways and downward gently, so it pulls out of the left side 1/2 shaft, About 4 -5 hours with hand tools and a beer brake/break. I figured while I had this apart I would lower it with Kleemann Springs and ordered some SPEEDYBENZ camber bars. Way labor twice. what the heck

Now you bench it. Thats another whole story. If you are lucky . you may not have to shim it. . I took mine to my Porsche Buddy . Stokes in Ft. Lauderdale. He order me the Quaife unit. measured the ring gear backlash .008mm from the factory & bearing preloads .There are big Cir clips that hold the assy,s in the saddles. They come in different thickness. That is what controls the bearing preloads & ring gear backlash. Just got to be a special order part.?? you may need end seals that the 1/2 shafts go through
Well that sit for now , BTW this is a 03 CLK 5.5 AMG. the job should be similiar ___PTE___

m3_eater

I don't have the receipt in front of me, but I recall that it was mostly labor. The bearings may have been as much as $190, but i'm not sure. I do however discourage people from attempting this on their own unless they are very skilled. I had difficulty finding anyone who would even do the job (read back in this thread if you are interested).

PTE

My words extactly. There is more to it than I listed!! like lifting the car up on to the Jack stand or hoist. Hmm Removing the wheels, Draining the gear lub & properly disposing of it . Raggs , cleaning fluids. I'm lucky to have all of this at my little home garage. It saved me a ton of money

Zeppelin

Thanks, it just seems like a lot for labor. I paid $1800 a few years ago for front and rear LSD's, new ring and pinions, install kits and labor to have it all installed in my Jeep. It can't be too much more difficult for the C32.

I do not know why the wheels and control arms would have to come off. Can't you just remove the differential with the stub axles in place by unbolting the axles at the diff, unbolting the driveshaft and then unbolt the diff from the frame?

PTE

Good Question? This type doesn't use a Flange with 7-8 torque style cap head bolts,for the CV joint to bolt to. Like Porsche & BMW. Or Universal joints like you might see on a U.S. rear wheel drive build car's driveshaft'. They use a 4"splined stub shaft with a small wire clip in the splines the compress when you slide it inward 4", into the opening , in the diff hsg , Maybe I was not quite clear, (just trying to keep it simple)So as in said , you slide the diff to the right , then down ward. To disengage the left axle stub from the diff. You have to have almost all the suspension attachments undone on the right side, First!
The next time your car is on the lift take a look

smgC32

If you remove the diff housing and bring it to a specialist shop, the bench time is around $175.00 here in SoCal to install the Quaife unit. Book time and actual labor time to complete the R&R is quite different. Four to six hours is about right for actual time not including the bench time for the carrier swap. Best handling mod for the C32 if you are prone to keeping the tail out.

Tump43

RLS -- did you find out yet whether its the 210 or the 215 Unit from Quaife that fits the C55. Still waiting to hear from you before getting this done!

m3_eater

Tump43, you don't have to wait. Just order one from Quaife, and if they get it wrong, they'll overnight the correct one to you. I know, because it happened to me They are very responsive and they back their products.

RLS

Tump43, I have a shop lined up, but I'm still waiting till they find out what parts to get for the installation. So at this time, no I do not know which one fits. m3_eater is right about Quaife, but that shipping overnight for one does cost! If you do want to chance it, Quaife is 90% sure the C55 takes the 215 one. Soon as it is in, I will let you know.

PTE

You can tell what Diff you have ,by climbing under the car , looking between the crossmenber & the diff rear cover. The numbers acase into the cover , they are raised and just above a rectangle boss. I just took these pictures off my 2003 CLK 5.5

m3_eater

I meant that Quaife ships the replacement unit at their cost - so it makes no difference to you but the delay in completion of the job

RLS

Finally found a shop in Orlando, FL that would install this. They were very good and the price was right. They were putting in the Kleeman units but liked this so much, they called Quaife and are now an authorized dealer for them. You can not tell it is there at all. No noise what so ever.
Anyone thinking about doing any type of performance modding, should make this their first pick. I only got it back today, but just going around corners with a little heavy foot is much more smooth and faster! It is nice.
It's a shame that this kind of car did not come stock with an LSD. It definitely was needed.

SteveL

For those of you who have had the Quaife installed, do you know if a differential case spreader was required to get the open diff out or get the Quife unit in? Thanks.

PTE

Not used on my install and all removal & install went smoothly , Fell right back into spec

Tump43

RLS

Which Quife model, the 210 or the 215 Unit, was used in your '06 C55?

Please let me know.

Marc

RLS

Tump43,

The 215 unit is what you want.

Brabus C55

Very interested in an LSD for my 2005 C55:
Any products or shops in So Cal to recommend?

... just picked up the C55 a few weeks ago & wanted to explore the !ESP limits in a controlled environment. Couldn't figure out the erratic over-steer until I found out a C55 had an open diff ... that was shocking. I thought only old poorly optioned muscle cars had open diffs ... not AMG prepped cars! I was wrong.

Besides the perplexing lack of LSD (well it's probably production and warranty cost cutting), this car is a blast!

jywang

P:

Looks like you find the forum. Let's bring both of our cars in and get a good deal on the install.

John

Brabus C55

John,
wasabi?
Got pricing from mbworld vendor on the LSD & Evo* in Hunington Beach for the install... PM me.
Peter

c32used

cool

saer1one

yup....