CLK-Class (W209) 2003 on: CLK 270 CDI, CLK 200K, CLK 200 CGI, CLK 240, CLK 320, CLK 350, CLK 500, CLK 550 [Coupes & Cabriolets]

rear differential gears

Old Sep 6, 2015 | 10:14 PM
  #1  
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rear differential gears

I dont know of anyone that makes after market rear differential gears.
So my clk 550, has 2.65 gears, a clk 350 has 2.82 and i looked a c300 has 3.07's.
Does anyone know if they are interchangeable ?
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Old Sep 7, 2015 | 01:30 AM
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2008 clk550 - Navigator - Frontier
Quaife makes torque sensing differentials.
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Old Sep 7, 2015 | 11:48 AM
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I'm aware of that, but i want to change the gear ratio also, So im trying to see what other merc shares the same rear differential size but different gear ratio. That way i can upgrade both.
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Old Sep 7, 2015 | 11:51 AM
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I see our differential is the same that is some chryslers. Could i buy parts that go for a charger/ challanger 300 and have it fit our rear?
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Old Sep 7, 2015 | 04:19 PM
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I'm sure you've done much research on this. Just keep in mind that a lot of engineering went into that drive train. I would look at what MB uses for the AMG versions of the platform. Of course, you may have a specific use/purpose that would drive you in a different direction.
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Old Sep 7, 2015 | 05:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Fatz
I'm sure you've done much research on this. Just keep in mind that a lot of engineering went into that drive train. I would look at what MB uses for the AMG versions of the platform. Of course, you may have a specific use/purpose that would drive you in a different direction.
the clk63 uses the same gear ratio as the 550 A 2.65 gear ratio The black series uses a 2.82.
2.65 is not really performance oriented. These engine do have allot of torque so they still do accelerate quickly. I'm assuming part of that gear ratio is to make up gas mileage and it is a mercedes.
So pretty much at minimum i want to upgrade to the black series ratio but would like to go a little more if im going to spend the time and do the 3.07's out of a 300

So does anyone know if a c300 share the same size differential so that the ring and pinion would be interchangeable? Or can anyone point me to a place to ask?
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Old Sep 8, 2015 | 08:30 AM
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05 CLK55 AMG (1 of 247) Cubanitsilber designo series
My 05 CLK55 has a final gear ratio of 3.06. I would guess the gears themselves to be interchangeable.
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Old Sep 8, 2015 | 03:51 PM
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Originally Posted by floridawriter
My 05 CLK55 has a final gear ratio of 3.06. I would guess the gears themselves to be interchangeable.
Thank you, Just called dealer, the c55, clk55, and c class wagon all ave the 3.06 and will fit my car. At my discount they are $1480, ugh

But know i know what fits im searching junkyards for those cars, hopefully i can pick up a used diff cheaper. and a quafi differential.

do they make anything to be able to adjust the speedo? It would be the same thing as changing tires sizes
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Old Sep 9, 2015 | 12:45 AM
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struck gold got a rear diff out of an 05 clk55 cab. 3.08 gear less than $400. Now to get a quife or wavetrack. Might as well put in an lsd first. Still cant understand how amg's came with open differentials
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Old Sep 11, 2015 | 02:42 AM
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Can you confirm that the 3.06 gears would work with a CLK500 2005?
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Old Sep 11, 2015 | 10:45 AM
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the differential i got was an of an 05 clk55 with 3.06. so i would assume. The ring and pinions seem to all be interchangeable just different ratio's in different models. The dealer told me a c class wagon rear differential would also work

Last edited by gixxerboy; Sep 12, 2015 at 12:08 AM.
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Old Sep 11, 2015 | 03:35 PM
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Originally Posted by gixxerboy
Still cant understand how amg's came with open differentials
Wow I once pulled a diff out of a 318i for the 3.73 gears and it had a LSD!
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Old Sep 12, 2015 | 02:53 PM
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I don't see any mention of updating the TCU in this gear ratio thread. My car has the 5 speed transmission and in order to change a gear ratio properly, the TCU has to be updated to take into account the new gear ratio (or else the car will go into limp mode almost immediately). There are only 3 tuning places I know that can do that TCU update, Weistec, Kleemann and Eurocharged.

Your car has the 7 speed and I am not familiar with that transmission (I defer that to rudney), however I also believe your TCU must be updated for the different gear ratio or else it will go limp too.

Lots of Mercedes "projects" have been killed by software compatibility issues, I advise you get the software part flushed out before you start ordering parts.

Good Luck!
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Old Sep 12, 2015 | 03:51 PM
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Hmm, regarding the transmission/TCU issues, the speedometer should be OK as it uses the wheel speed sensors. However, the transmission also has internal speed sensors. I just don't know if they would get "confused" or not. Unfortunately, I suspect that could be a problem if the TCU sees the shaft spinning at rate incongruent with the expected vehicle speed.
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Old Sep 12, 2015 | 07:41 PM
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I manage a transmission shop. My builder didn't think it would be an issue. Monday i will call our corporate tech line and Kleenmann , they did my tune and see what both think about it
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Old Sep 13, 2015 | 01:28 PM
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Nice, I'd like to see what they say. Keep us posted.
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Old Sep 15, 2015 | 01:56 PM
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Spoke with Kleemann, there apparently there is a computer in the rear differential, its also married to the car by vin# He is looking into reprogramming my original to a new gear ratio. Hopefully he can. It would cause in issue with the traction control. He said the older 5-speed cars wouldnt be an issue, its the 7g cars that would have a problem
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Old Sep 15, 2015 | 01:58 PM
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So Kleemann can change your original differential to new gearing?
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Old Sep 15, 2015 | 03:17 PM
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waiting to here, i would physically do the change, but there is a control module in the read differential, that would need to be programmed to the new gear ratio. He is getting with his programmer to make sure he can do it. So i would just send them the module. So its still up in the air
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Old Sep 15, 2015 | 03:18 PM
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I'll be awaiting the news lol
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Old Sep 16, 2015 | 09:24 PM
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ok, so i heard back from kleemann. I was wrong about the module in the diff. Its the module in the transmission. They can program it to the new gear ratio. its $1095, but they have to send it to their Denmark location. So it would take time. I'm going to try Renntech and some other programmers to see if anyone else can do it.
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Old Sep 16, 2015 | 09:25 PM
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What's the module that you have to send? Do you just say what gear ratio you want and they'll do it for you on the factory differential?
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Old Sep 16, 2015 | 09:27 PM
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its the transmission control module i have to send them to program to the new rear differential ratio. I assume they can do any ratio. I'm going to do 3.06's. He said they do it all the time over there
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Old Sep 16, 2015 | 09:30 PM
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Isn't that a lot of labor to remove that module?
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Old Sep 16, 2015 | 09:31 PM
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no, not even an hour, just drop the trans pan. changing the actual rear differential will take longer

Know that i know it can be done. Im checking with other tunners to see if they can do it without sending over seas

Last edited by gixxerboy; Sep 16, 2015 at 09:37 PM.
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