Autohausaz diff seals for E320
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Joined: Jun 2011
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2003 S55 AMG
Autohausaz diff seals for E320
Had a strange parts problem yesterday. A while back I ordered axle seals for the differential (technically "center axle assembly") for my 97 E320, from autohausaz.com. The part number is A025 997 2647. I then attempted to remove the differential from the car but the axle bolts were impossible to unscrew. I knew that an acetylene torch and other tricks would be needed, so I turned the job over to the general repair shop up the street, which definitely does not specialize in MB, but they were willing to take it on if I supplied the parts.
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The axle bolts were removed, with difficulty. I got the car at 100K miles so I don't know, but the mech thinks the bolts have been out before, and someone used a very excessive amount of loctite, even knowing that the new bolts come with some loctite on them. One problem solved. BTW I also bought 12 new axle bolts and 3 new driveshaft nuts as these are supposed to be one-use items.<o:p></o:p>
Once the diff was taken apart, the shop called to say the new side seals wouldn't fit right. I went to the shop and sure enough, they were much too small in the outside diameter of the rubber disk part - a loose fit in the side openings of the diff housing. The shaft fit seemed ok but no way these would hold oil in the housing.
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We decided the autohaus seals must be the wrong part, somehow. I called the local MB dealer, and fortunately they said the seals were in stock, so I made the trip. The dealer seals were exactly the same part number. I took them to the shop anyway, and they were a perfect fit.
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I despise the local MB dealer because of the incredible amount of paint damage they did to my other car (S55) last year when I took it to them for front brake replacement. I have avoided darkening their door since then. In this case, the non-dealer parts were no good. The MB parts dept also pointed out that there is a third seal, for the driveshaft input, which I should have figured out, but I am a complete amateur. The shop doing the job of course knew this too. All 3 will be replaced.
<o:p></o:p>
I should get the car back sometime today, and will begin monitoring the new seals and hoping for the best. The new seals are a different part number than the original, and look quite different too, but this is intended, according to the stealer.<o:p></o:p>
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
The axle bolts were removed, with difficulty. I got the car at 100K miles so I don't know, but the mech thinks the bolts have been out before, and someone used a very excessive amount of loctite, even knowing that the new bolts come with some loctite on them. One problem solved. BTW I also bought 12 new axle bolts and 3 new driveshaft nuts as these are supposed to be one-use items.<o:p></o:p>
Once the diff was taken apart, the shop called to say the new side seals wouldn't fit right. I went to the shop and sure enough, they were much too small in the outside diameter of the rubber disk part - a loose fit in the side openings of the diff housing. The shaft fit seemed ok but no way these would hold oil in the housing.
<o:p></o:p>
We decided the autohaus seals must be the wrong part, somehow. I called the local MB dealer, and fortunately they said the seals were in stock, so I made the trip. The dealer seals were exactly the same part number. I took them to the shop anyway, and they were a perfect fit.
<o:p></o:p>
I despise the local MB dealer because of the incredible amount of paint damage they did to my other car (S55) last year when I took it to them for front brake replacement. I have avoided darkening their door since then. In this case, the non-dealer parts were no good. The MB parts dept also pointed out that there is a third seal, for the driveshaft input, which I should have figured out, but I am a complete amateur. The shop doing the job of course knew this too. All 3 will be replaced.
<o:p></o:p>
I should get the car back sometime today, and will begin monitoring the new seals and hoping for the best. The new seals are a different part number than the original, and look quite different too, but this is intended, according to the stealer.<o:p></o:p>
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