when my car only covered 61000 miles = 97.700 km?
Anyone knows what a front flex disc is?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Los Angeles, CA
2000 C230 Kompressor Sport
Anyone knows what a front flex disc is?
Last friday, I brought my car to the MB dealer to have it inspected since the car's check engine light keeps on popping up & off every now and then after I have changed the pre & post cat oxygen sensors and changed the fuel cap. The tech told me that the MAF sensor just needs cleaning and the car's check engine light will not come up again.
After the inspection, the tech handed me a report printout that my car has other issues to get fixed soon:
1. Replace coolant tank (Found coolant leak)
2. Replace front flex disc (Found front flex disc cracking)
3. Replace ball joints (Joint has excessive freeplay)
My question is: does anyone has an idea what a front flex disc is? Where is it located? Anyone has a picture of the flex disc? As for the other issues, I will probably fix them myself.
Many thanks for all your help, guys!
P.S. Sorry for posting here instead of in the regular W202 forum since I know many friends here and this forum rocks!
After the inspection, the tech handed me a report printout that my car has other issues to get fixed soon:
1. Replace coolant tank (Found coolant leak)
2. Replace front flex disc (Found front flex disc cracking)
3. Replace ball joints (Joint has excessive freeplay)
My question is: does anyone has an idea what a front flex disc is? Where is it located? Anyone has a picture of the flex disc? As for the other issues, I will probably fix them myself.
Many thanks for all your help, guys!
P.S. Sorry for posting here instead of in the regular W202 forum since I know many friends here and this forum rocks!
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: PDX
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
Here are screen shots from the WIS, I replaced both flex discs when I bought my C43 as they were cracking.
Open the first picture attached and look at number 20, that is where the front flex disc is located.
Hope this helps
Open the first picture attached and look at number 20, that is where the front flex disc is located.
Hope this helps
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Los Angeles, CA
2000 C230 Kompressor Sport
(2 thumbs-up)I'd check them out this weekend.
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From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
I imagine that these items should be checked at each service. If it seems one is on the way out, get both changed. Get you car on a lift and spent some time to nose around and get to know what it looks like underneath It helps to see if any rust is creeping in, parts which look weird, etc. 
It helps to see if any rust is creeping in, parts which look weird, etc.
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From: PDX
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
)They are cheap and easy to replace, I think I paid $90 per flex disc. I replaced the rear in less than 20 minutes but I had the front replaced while I was having other work done, I can't imagine the front one being much more difficult than the rear.
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 370
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From: Los Angeles, CA
2000 C230 Kompressor Sport
I'm glad that I brought the car to the dealer and have them inspect it thoroughly. Now, I get a printout of what items need fixing. After all, they can't force you to let them fix the car at their dealer.
I will be starting to cross out the items need fixing one by one hopefully by this weekend. Need to shell out more time and $$$ for this project though.
Thanks guys for all the support!
I will be starting to cross out the items need fixing one by one hopefully by this weekend. Need to shell out more time and $$$ for this project though.
Thanks guys for all the support!
Last edited by Jovsky; Jun 22, 2011 at 01:59 PM.
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I'm glad that I brought the car to the dealer and have them inspect it thoroughly. Now, I get a printout of what items need fixing. After all, they can't force you to let them fix the car at their dealer.
I will be starting to cross out the items need fixing one by one hopefully by this weekend. Need to shell out more time and $$$ for this project though.
Thanks guys for all the support!
I will be starting to cross out the items need fixing one by one hopefully by this weekend. Need to shell out more time and $$$ for this project though.
Thanks guys for all the support!
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 390
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From: San Diego/Escondido, CA
1996 Mercedes C36 AMG
Jovsky!
I did the sane thing at the MB dealer an they let me know everything wrong. Very handy so I can just go down the list
One of mine was also the flex disk. Check on this forum for my post about "Finally new Brakes" (I'm on my iPhone, otherwise I would put a link)
It has a picture of my old flexdisk plus numerous posts about how dangerous it is if it goes out.
Get that fixed as soon as you can!!
I did the sane thing at the MB dealer an they let me know everything wrong. Very handy so I can just go down the list
One of mine was also the flex disk. Check on this forum for my post about "Finally new Brakes" (I'm on my iPhone, otherwise I would put a link)
It has a picture of my old flexdisk plus numerous posts about how dangerous it is if it goes out.
Get that fixed as soon as you can!!
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From: SCV SoCal
2002 CLK430
A couple of installation notes –
On a CLK, the rear flex disc is easy. The front requires dropping the mid section of the exhaust. That's easy too, but an extra step over the rear.
The OE flex disc has "vorne" written in the rubber - that side faces the front of the car.
The flex disc has 6 metal sleeves. 3 are flush, 3 are raised. The raised sleeve seats in the flange. Do it wrong and the bolts will be the only thing holding the disc in place, and it won’t hold for long. Pay attention when removing the old one and this will make perfect sense.
Have all the bolts out, but it won't come off the driveshaft? You'll need a hammer.
Lastly, do not put it off. A broken flex disc allows the driveshaft to spin wildly out of control. Out of control to where the rear section of the transmission can be physically broken and the floor pan ripped open.
On a CLK, the rear flex disc is easy. The front requires dropping the mid section of the exhaust. That's easy too, but an extra step over the rear.
The OE flex disc has "vorne" written in the rubber - that side faces the front of the car.
The flex disc has 6 metal sleeves. 3 are flush, 3 are raised. The raised sleeve seats in the flange. Do it wrong and the bolts will be the only thing holding the disc in place, and it won’t hold for long. Pay attention when removing the old one and this will make perfect sense.
Have all the bolts out, but it won't come off the driveshaft? You'll need a hammer.
Lastly, do not put it off. A broken flex disc allows the driveshaft to spin wildly out of control. Out of control to where the rear section of the transmission can be physically broken and the floor pan ripped open.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,889
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From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
Can't stress the point that these items need to be checked. We don't want forum members losing feet or legs if the shaft rips through the floor pan 
Just play safe everyone
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 370
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From: Los Angeles, CA
2000 C230 Kompressor Sport
Many thanks for all the help guys! With the list I obtained from the dealer, I'll surely cross them out this weekend starting with the flex disc.
Glad I found this forum and found a lot of good friends!
Glad I found this forum and found a lot of good friends!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, CA
2000 C230 Kompressor Sport
Jovsky!
I did the sane thing at the MB dealer an they let me know everything wrong. Very handy so I can just go down the list
One of mine was also the flex disk. Check on this forum for my post about "Finally new Brakes" (I'm on my iPhone, otherwise I would put a link)
It has a picture of my old flexdisk plus numerous posts about how dangerous it is if it goes out.
Get that fixed as soon as you can!!
I did the sane thing at the MB dealer an they let me know everything wrong. Very handy so I can just go down the list
One of mine was also the flex disk. Check on this forum for my post about "Finally new Brakes" (I'm on my iPhone, otherwise I would put a link)
It has a picture of my old flexdisk plus numerous posts about how dangerous it is if it goes out.
Get that fixed as soon as you can!!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, CA
2000 C230 Kompressor Sport
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: PDX
1999 C43, 2008 P30 E63, 2014 SQ5, 2024 Model Y Performance
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From: Maryland
C43
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
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From: murfreesboro,tn
2003 porsche 996 turbo
marcusf any chance the srt8 flex coupler would work in place of the oem? its a solid un it vs a layered unit and looks stronger. good enough for the 6.1 v8. just wondering
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1967 Morris Cooper "S", 1983 911SC, 1997 Toyota Tacoma, 1999 HD FXSTB, 1998 C43
Just bought those for mine - figured with 140K on the odometer, it's not a bad idea. Got 'em from my usual Autohaus in AZ...I saw these pictures (MarcusF alluded to and immediately purchased) - LINK
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,889
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From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
I saw these pictures (MarcusF alluded to and immediately purchased) - LINK
guess a regular close check is good insurance to avoid a MAJOR disaster. Photos are worth a million words
