flex disc/plate
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 219
Likes: 1
From: Irvine, CA
2000 CLK430
flex disc/plate
dealer told me it is cracking and going bad...
can someone tell me how to replace the thing. i looked it up at mercedesshop.com. it cost about $80. dealer wanted a total of $345 for replacing it.
can someone tell me how to replace the thing. i looked it up at mercedesshop.com. it cost about $80. dealer wanted a total of $345 for replacing it.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 219
Likes: 1
From: Irvine, CA
2000 CLK430
actually i found some very useful info from mercedesshop.com.
it's actually a very plug and play repair. the part is around $70-$80.
plate in between the trans and drive shaft. 3 bolts to the trans and 3 bolts to the drive shaft.
the only tricky part is getting the car off the ground...gonna use my friends lift.
and no...you do not take the trans off!
it's actually a very plug and play repair. the part is around $70-$80.
plate in between the trans and drive shaft. 3 bolts to the trans and 3 bolts to the drive shaft.
the only tricky part is getting the car off the ground...gonna use my friends lift.
and no...you do not take the trans off!
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: SCV SoCal
2002 CLK430
A "flexplate" bolts to the rear of the engine. It's used on cars with automatic transmissions in place of the flywheel. The only way to get to a flexplate is to either drop the trans or pull the engine. Flexplates are known to crack.
It sounds like you're replacing the "driveshaft flex disc", which is also known to crack. I'd back the car up on to a pair of ramps and put the front on a pair of jack stands. It should take about 30 minutes
It sounds like you're replacing the "driveshaft flex disc", which is also known to crack. I'd back the car up on to a pair of ramps and put the front on a pair of jack stands. It should take about 30 minutes
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 219
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From: Irvine, CA
2000 CLK430
very interesting.
i only know about the flex disc. i know that there are two of them...one for the shaft at the trans and one for the shaft at the diff. both use the same part (the one you pictured).
now as for the flexplate you mentioned, i could not find that part when i searched for parts.
from a visual inspection without removing the trans, can a mb tech tell if the "flexplate" is cracking?
i only know about the flex disc. i know that there are two of them...one for the shaft at the trans and one for the shaft at the diff. both use the same part (the one you pictured).
now as for the flexplate you mentioned, i could not find that part when i searched for parts.
from a visual inspection without removing the trans, can a mb tech tell if the "flexplate" is cracking?
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 626
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From: Los Angeles, CA
'03 E55 (My Daily), '01 ML 320 (Wifey), Twin Turbo '69 Camaro (In Progess)
Trans would need to be removed to determine if the flexplate is cracking, which is highly unlikely as it is all steel unlike the flex disks which are made of steel and rubber. The transmission bellhousing covers the flexplate and the starter engages the teeth on the flexplate to start the engine.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: SCV SoCal
2002 CLK430
In case anyone doesn't know, the flexplate is what the starter engages against when the engine is turned over.
When cracked, flexplates make a horrific noise that only gets worse with time. The noise will initially be present when the car is started - while the starter is cranking. As time goes by, and the crack gets worse (and they always get worse), it will make racket while the car is running.
The easiest way to see if the flexplate is cracked, is to remove the starter, look through the hole where the starter was, and rotate the engine (by hand of course), while looking at the flexplate - which you can see, because the starter is out of the way. Occasionally, some guy with a torch will claim to be able to fix it. They'll remove the starter and weld the flexplate through the hole where the starter used to sit. The weld (which, btw, throws off the engine balance) will hold long enough for the owner to drive away. Two weeks later, the weld will break and reality will set in. The transmission will have to come out.
That's probably more than you really wanted to know about flexplates, starters, and guys with torches, so I'll end it here.
When cracked, flexplates make a horrific noise that only gets worse with time. The noise will initially be present when the car is started - while the starter is cranking. As time goes by, and the crack gets worse (and they always get worse), it will make racket while the car is running.
The easiest way to see if the flexplate is cracked, is to remove the starter, look through the hole where the starter was, and rotate the engine (by hand of course), while looking at the flexplate - which you can see, because the starter is out of the way. Occasionally, some guy with a torch will claim to be able to fix it. They'll remove the starter and weld the flexplate through the hole where the starter used to sit. The weld (which, btw, throws off the engine balance) will hold long enough for the owner to drive away. Two weeks later, the weld will break and reality will set in. The transmission will have to come out.
That's probably more than you really wanted to know about flexplates, starters, and guys with torches, so I'll end it here.
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 219
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From: Irvine, CA
2000 CLK430
all good info is always great.
but back to the flex discs...i just ordered 2 from online site. $138 for two. gonna try to do it myself. my friend has a lift at his shop.
instead of totally removing the drive shaft at both ends, can i just remove one end at a time and replace the discs one at a time.
i heard as long as the back wheels can rotate i can rotate the drive shaft and remove the bolts as i go?
thanks guys!
but back to the flex discs...i just ordered 2 from online site. $138 for two. gonna try to do it myself. my friend has a lift at his shop.
instead of totally removing the drive shaft at both ends, can i just remove one end at a time and replace the discs one at a time.
i heard as long as the back wheels can rotate i can rotate the drive shaft and remove the bolts as i go?
thanks guys!
Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 217
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From: Bay Area
2001 CLK430 Cab; 2008 GL550
Is that the same flexplate Charlie is changing on his car? I thought the one he is changing is on both end of the drive shaft and not in the tranny. Can you tell me what is the symtoms of a bad flex plate, the one charlie is changing out?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 219
Likes: 1
From: Irvine, CA
2000 CLK430
flex discs will mostly go bad after time or after 100k miles.
my car is not showing any characteristic symbols of going bad. when i took my car in for service the tech did an overall inspection of my car. when he had it up in the air he inspected the flex discs and saw some hair line cracks in the front disc. he recomended that i get it replaced asap.
the price was too high so i decided that i would diy and replace both the front and rear one.
after time the disc will crack and start falling off. some characteristics are clunking noises when taking off and cruising at low rpm.
from what ive read and pictures ive seen, once they decide to break off your drive shaft will start flinging around and destroy your trans and undercarraige.
very nasty stuff!
like i said they wanted a total of $345 to replace just the front one(drive shaft and trans end). i found two for $140 from buymbparts.com.
tryin not to drive hard until i get the discs in.
my car is not showing any characteristic symbols of going bad. when i took my car in for service the tech did an overall inspection of my car. when he had it up in the air he inspected the flex discs and saw some hair line cracks in the front disc. he recomended that i get it replaced asap.
the price was too high so i decided that i would diy and replace both the front and rear one.
after time the disc will crack and start falling off. some characteristics are clunking noises when taking off and cruising at low rpm.
from what ive read and pictures ive seen, once they decide to break off your drive shaft will start flinging around and destroy your trans and undercarraige.
very nasty stuff!
like i said they wanted a total of $345 to replace just the front one(drive shaft and trans end). i found two for $140 from buymbparts.com.
tryin not to drive hard until i get the discs in.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 219
Likes: 1
From: Irvine, CA
2000 CLK430
no pics or special instructions needed.
once you can get your hands on a lift, and get your car in the air, it is a straight forward job.
it takes more skill to do a brake job.
the wis says that you need to take off the exhaust, brackets, trans mounts, etc. but all you have to do is use a 19mm with an extension and wrench and you are good.
the dealer was trying to scare me into giving them 200 bucks of labor. they said that the front flex disc was cracking but when i looked at it...not that bad at all. since i already bought it, decided to replace it anyways.
once you can get your hands on a lift, and get your car in the air, it is a straight forward job.
it takes more skill to do a brake job.
the wis says that you need to take off the exhaust, brackets, trans mounts, etc. but all you have to do is use a 19mm with an extension and wrench and you are good.
the dealer was trying to scare me into giving them 200 bucks of labor. they said that the front flex disc was cracking but when i looked at it...not that bad at all. since i already bought it, decided to replace it anyways.
