Subframe/Differential Brushing
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 123
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From: Modesto, CA
1992 400E (86 300E, 98 S420) - Retired
Subframe/Differential Brushing
Earlier i posted about a knocking that i was having during gear changes and when coming to a stop. from the advise of this forum and other people i replaced my flex disk. the sound stopped temporarily and came back about a month later.
so i yet once again got under my car and did some inspecting. i found out that my "Subframe/Differential Brushings" are shot. also when the car is rocked in park, i can produce this "knocking". Whats happening is when i give the car gas, one side of the differential is torquing to one side and when i let off the gas it slams back down, producing the sound.
Has any here attempted this job of replacing these brushings?
it seems pretty straight forward and i have the FSM. it's only a couple of steps. i do my own oil changes and basic maintenance. i think i'll be able to tackle this. i'll take pics for a DIY also.
Pic of my brushings:
Location, taken from the FSM:
Brushings are #62:
so i yet once again got under my car and did some inspecting. i found out that my "Subframe/Differential Brushings" are shot. also when the car is rocked in park, i can produce this "knocking". Whats happening is when i give the car gas, one side of the differential is torquing to one side and when i let off the gas it slams back down, producing the sound.
Has any here attempted this job of replacing these brushings?
it seems pretty straight forward and i have the FSM. it's only a couple of steps. i do my own oil changes and basic maintenance. i think i'll be able to tackle this. i'll take pics for a DIY also.
Pic of my brushings:
Location, taken from the FSM:
Brushings are #62:
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Long Beach, Ca
lots of cars
Thanks i have that smae noise to me i tought it was the rear flex disc or the cv joints. Im going to changed them and keep you posted. Looks like all you need is a jack to do it.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Modesto, CA
1992 400E (86 300E, 98 S420) - Retired
Originally Posted by YNVDIZW124
Thanks i have that smae noise to me i tought it was the rear flex disc or the cv joints. Im going to changed them and keep you posted. Looks like all you need is a jack to do it.
i have a flex disk just sitting in the box, so if anyone wants to take it off my hands pm me
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 42
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From: Seminole, FL
86 190E 2.3 16V, 93 400E, 98 S500
Diff. bushing are not hard at all. Soak everything down with liquid wrench. Support the diff. then just back out the old ones, in with the new. Inexpensive parts as well. I want to remember about $6 ea.
good luck,
jayare
good luck,
jayare
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 16
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From: New York
'87 300E
Rear differential mounts/bushings
I’m in a same boat; my differential bushings are shot. I already purchased the parts, two bushings for the front and two for the back. My only concern is that the repair manual shows a special tool to extract the old bushings and to press new ones into place. I hope I don’t have to spend cash on a tool that I will use only once.
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 123
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From: Modesto, CA
1992 400E (86 300E, 98 S420) - Retired
Originally Posted by JayAre
Diff. bushing are not hard at all. Soak everything down with liquid wrench. Support the diff. then just back out the old ones, in with the new. Inexpensive parts as well. I want to remember about $6 ea.
good luck,
jayare
good luck,
jayare
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 123
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From: Modesto, CA
1992 400E (86 300E, 98 S420) - Retired
Originally Posted by gutowskia
...two bushings for the front and two for the back...
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 16
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From: New York
'87 300E
Nick, I bought mine online for about $14 each. On my '87 300E, The rear bushings are shaped like cylinders (pictured in the first post). The front ones are shaped like disks. On the front of the differential there is a vertical bolt, one of the disk bushings goes below the differential, the other is hidden above.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 42
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From: Seminole, FL
86 190E 2.3 16V, 93 400E, 98 S500
Nick,
Go to www.autopartsplace.com or autohausaz.com. I have found these two places to have the best prices on most everything. At partsplace, go to "transmission" parts. You will find the two bushings for $12 bucks and some change ea. Flex disc from them were about $50 ea. IMO both places have given me excellent service, prompt delivery etc. Orders over $100 result in no shipping charges.
good luck
jayare
Go to www.autopartsplace.com or autohausaz.com. I have found these two places to have the best prices on most everything. At partsplace, go to "transmission" parts. You will find the two bushings for $12 bucks and some change ea. Flex disc from them were about $50 ea. IMO both places have given me excellent service, prompt delivery etc. Orders over $100 result in no shipping charges.
good luck
jayare
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 16
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From: New York
'87 300E
Originally Posted by JayAre
...Support the diff. then just back out the old ones, in with the new...
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Orange County, CA
W124's
Don't know, the right side looks pretty good still.
I believe I also have to change my diff fluild, before when I didn't have the wheels on I would always chirp the tires..lol and sometimes drops would be on the floor from when I park it over night.
I believe I also have to change my diff fluild, before when I didn't have the wheels on I would always chirp the tires..lol and sometimes drops would be on the floor from when I park it over night.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 123
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From: Modesto, CA
1992 400E (86 300E, 98 S420) - Retired
Originally Posted by JayAre
Nick,
Go to www.autopartsplace.com or autohausaz.com. I have found these two places to have the best prices on most everything. At partsplace, go to "transmission" parts. You will find the two bushings for $12 bucks and some change ea. Flex disc from them were about $50 ea. IMO both places have given me excellent service, prompt delivery etc. Orders over $100 result in no shipping charges.
good luck
jayare
Go to www.autopartsplace.com or autohausaz.com. I have found these two places to have the best prices on most everything. At partsplace, go to "transmission" parts. You will find the two bushings for $12 bucks and some change ea. Flex disc from them were about $50 ea. IMO both places have given me excellent service, prompt delivery etc. Orders over $100 result in no shipping charges.
good luck
jayare
i use Importpartsonline.com theyre pretty good.
i've already replaced the front and read flex disk. so thats done. were you talking about these?
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 16
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From: New York
'87 300E
I do most of the DIY stuff myself, I just finished engine mounts and rear suspension links, but this job looks pretty tough. Looks like you will need to disconnect the flex disk from the drive shaft, lower the exhaust, and lower the whole differential. I’m guessing you could leave it hanging on the axels. I just don’t have the right lift to support it all and the tool to remove old and press the new bushings into place. Oh yes, you also need a 12mm hex socket for the rear mounts. Looks like I’ll be taking it to a mechanic next week.
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From: Orange County, CA
W124's
Originally Posted by cap'n jasper
Your car is one step ahead of you. It's already started emptying it. 
Is this a fairly easy thing to do, draining the diff. fluid and adding new fluid. Also, recommendations of what fluid brand/etc to use would be nice.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Irvine, CA
2016 AMG C63s
um chris. your mounts are shot. any piece missing is a clear indicator that you need to replace them.
diff service is not needed as frequently as you might think. chris if yours is leaking get a new gasget. make sure you remove all of the old gasket and dont leave any residual garbage in the diff.
btw for all you guys that obviously have never done this. make sure you lube the bushings b4 you put them in. and no you dont need a press to put them in if you lube them with a super slippery fluid that evaporates. if you dont lube them then they wont go in all the way. they may even go in off kilter.
some fluids you can use if you dont have the uber lube. dishsoap, simple green, liquid hand soap.
diff service is not needed as frequently as you might think. chris if yours is leaking get a new gasget. make sure you remove all of the old gasket and dont leave any residual garbage in the diff.
btw for all you guys that obviously have never done this. make sure you lube the bushings b4 you put them in. and no you dont need a press to put them in if you lube them with a super slippery fluid that evaporates. if you dont lube them then they wont go in all the way. they may even go in off kilter.
some fluids you can use if you dont have the uber lube. dishsoap, simple green, liquid hand soap.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 123
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From: Modesto, CA
1992 400E (86 300E, 98 S420) - Retired
Originally Posted by ChrisDPham
Also, recommendations of what fluid brand/etc to use would be nice.
Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 212
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From: Maryland USA
2003 C230 Coupe
Nick,
I was able to find Synthetic differential oil at:
http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/svg.aspx
I was able to order it from:
http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/def...spx?zo=1265580.
Check out their technical properties and application details.
Happy New Year
I was able to find Synthetic differential oil at:
http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/svg.aspx
I was able to order it from:
http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/def...spx?zo=1265580.
Check out their technical properties and application details.
Happy New Year
