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2011 E350 4matic. Dealer wants about $2k to replace the seal.
108k miles, in for a B service. Driving 1500 miles to Florida in 4 days.
Sounds like replacing the unit is 2-3 times as expensive.
WHAT?!? Sooo...you say right differential, but they are either front or rear. also, what seal is leaking and how bad is it? Pinion seal? housing seal? output shaft seal???
WHAT?!? Sooo...you say right differential, but they are either front or rear. also, what seal is leaking and how bad is it? Pinion seal? housing seal? output shaft seal???
I'm not a mechanic or DIY. Engine filters and wipers only. They said it was the part that connects the wheels to the engine. Also said there is a right and left side. Must be labor intensive since oil seals are generally inexpensive. It supposedly only takes a quart of oil so I didn't want to run into problems driving to Fl. from Mn. if it got low on oil.
WHAT?!? Sooo...you say right differential, but they are either front or rear. also, what seal is leaking and how bad is it? Pinion seal? housing seal? output shaft seal???
I'm not a mechanic or DIY. Engine filters and wipers only. They said it was the part that connects the wheels to the engine. Also said there is a right and left side. Must be labor intensive since oil seals are generally inexpensive. It supposedly only takes a quart of oil so I didn't want to run into problems driving to Fl. from Mn. if it got low on oil.
I think it's the axle seal. That's what typically goes. It takes .6 quarts of fluid. I think mine was overfilled which was why it was leaking. You could just change the fluid. That will tell you how much fluid is left in it. I had a regular mechanic change it. It was pretty straightforward. Much cheaper than the dealer. Basically if it's the axle seal, you just have to remove the axle in order to get at the seal and it pops right out and you pop in the new one pretty easily. The reason it's $1500 is that they're really nailing you for removing the axle. Need a few special tools like a set of external Torx sockets and maybe a hook to pop the axle and the axle seal out.
Yep, that's the axle seal. Just have to remove the axle shaft and the tricky part is getting it out as there's not much room in there to lever against it which is why the slide hammer came in handy. The E24 external torx socket isn't that common either. Still any indy should be able to do it, no need to take it to MB it's all just basic labor. My indy did it in 2 hours and only cost me a few hundred, nowhere near $1500, I think it was around $200, the local big indy shop wanted about $600 for everything and that's at $90 an hour, MB is really padding the hours/parts when they want $1500. Got the MB fluid and also used a generic hand pump to pump the new fluid in.
2011 E350 4matic. Dealer wants about $2k to replace the seal.
108k miles, in for a B service. Driving 1500 miles to Florida in 4 days.
Sounds like replacing the unit is 2-3 times as expensive.
Take the trip and don't worry.
One ounce of fluid is equal to 591 drips. That's a lot of drips. See here to calculate
Update. MB calls it a radial shaft sealing ring. Parts stores cal it a pinion seal. There's a lot of different names for auto parts depending on who you talk to.
I'd like to keep the car so I should probably bite the bullet and have it done. It's part # 11 along with oil, drain plug, screws, washers, and an 'o' ring. The 2 year, unlimited mileage warranty is covered by any MD dealer in the country.
I don't have that in writing but that's what I was told is MB's policy. Supposedly their computer network is all connected.
I had to pay $1,800 for replacement axles last year on my wife's Odyssey van, so all things considered when you mess around in the drivetrain expect to pay up. I would fix it as well if I were in your shoes, and it will probably outlast your time with this car.
I drove it to Florida. Arrived 2/26. Traded it in on 2/27 for a brand new (26 miles on the odometer) 2020 Volvo XC60 T6 Inscription. Turbo & super charged 4 cylinder. Much easier to get in and out of for a retiree. Love all the new safety features. Just hit 300 mile on the odometer. The new owner will get a good car. I always babied it and did all scheduled maintenance.
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