A4 Turbo

i went thru 3 diffs in my previous clk and now my current clk is getting towed to the shop tomorow for a new diff. Why does this keep happening? What should i upgrade with?? Are the clk55 diffs any better?? I read people preffer the clk 320 diff?? Any info would be great. Thanks!

gregory13lil

Breaking Diffs????? What mods are you running? The only other member I heard about breaking diffs was Blackbenz but he is running some serious mods.

Greg

A4 Turbo

no mods!! just wide tires. Thats what i dont get. And im buying brand new diffs when i replace them and a certified shop installed them. So it makes no sense to me at all

SoCalw11w123

the AMG clk55 have Limited Slip diffs...

are you drifting??

I have tried to break my diff in my CLK 430 automatic...no dice.

A4 Turbo

Yes I am when it rains. Give it a try, that's prob what it is

A4 Turbo

So would a clk55 diff solve my prob?

buffyclk500

it should b a better set up
but it is a diff gear set up

A4 Turbo

Hmmm would that throw off my speedo?

buffyclk500

no it should if any
mess up your esp

when i had my drag tires that were 1in smaller then my stock the car was thinking my tires were going out of control and tried 2 fix it by braking

but the speed was always good

bobbyjo9

Yes it will... ratio is different from 320/430/55. For you to break that many rear diffs I doubt the 55 rear will solve your problem anyway

bbspoolside

it wont affect your speedo reading as it is measured off the abs sensor

bobbyjo9

My bad.. I never took the time to check for a cable but with all the electronics in that trans, makes sense to get the signal from the wheels.

rjlawlor646

just curious..how much does a new diff. go for?

A4 Turbo

the dealer charges 2800 for a new diff installed

A4 Turbo

and seems like it would be smarter to just go with the clk430 diff then have the hassle of dealing with all the problems a clk55 diff could cause

MarcusF

The 55 diff has a 2.82 ratio, the 430 has a 2.87 ratio, and the 320 has 3.07's. The 320 has the best ratio for acceleration.

If the same shop has been installing the ring and pinion, that could be the problem. I have no idea how to set pinion depth or backlash, and neither do any of my friends. What I do know is; get it wrong and you'll either do it again (and again), or end up paying someone (which I have done in the past). Swapping the entire pumpkin is an easier route, but I've never done that on an MB.

bobbyjo9

Crush washers, preload, tooth pattern.... lockers, sterling 10.25, ford 9"... Setting up a rear end correctly is a lesson in patience and I agree with Marcus... there is no "close enough" when setting the tolerance here. Failure will be eminent and with enough horsepower quite spectacular!! Unless you have had the same guy set all 4 gears sets in both cars, Im thinking driving style. Is the car ENGAGED in drive before you give it the coals? On the rears you have replaced, what went out? Ring and pinion or are you cooking the bearings??

A4 Turbo

Thanks for all the help guys, and when I break them and open them up it's just a bunch of metal pieces on the bottom. So the gears. Also when I get the new ones it's all sealed and already set up in the housing and everything so all the shop does is add fluid connect driveline and axles and I'm good to go. I had a European shop do it twice and Mercedes dealer do it ones

Josh K

Burnouts? Drop neutral starts? Shady parts supplier? I've never had a diff issue and I'm putting a lot more power to the wheels. Something is missing in this story.

Chappy

The CLK55 is an open differential, not limited slip