Rich Thomas wrote:
Good info, but I am still unclear as to what about the MB trans makes it
so much more complicated. I guess part of it must be that it is very
well-engineered to last a couple hundred kmiles, but that should not
necessarily mean it is harder to redo (it could mean it is easier to
redo!). Ae there more bits, more tolerances, more stuff to undo/do as
compared to your average GM or Ford unit?
I have not done a tranny, any tranny, so do not know the particulars of
doing it, just wondering as at some point it might be an interesting or
necessary thing to do. But even at 40-50 hrs and parts to do it right
(as you mention), you are still doing pretty OK if you value your
time/wallet.
You can take your Mercedes transmission to MacTransmissions (Aamco, Stop
'n Go, etc.) and get a $900 rebuild. On average they tend to last less
than 50kmi (and some don't go 20kmi). You can buy a factory rebuild for
$2000+ and it will last for 200+kmi. You pay the money and take your
choice.
Despite the fact that the Mercedes 722 transmissions are essentially
Borg Warner (Ford C-4/C-6, Mopar A-727/A-904) designs (with the addition
of an auxiliary reduction planetary behind the main compound unit) the
construction is VERY different than any US transmission that's been made
in the last 40 years or more and the parts quality/tolerance is very
high. Sort of like comparing a Rolex to a Timex. They REALLY are that
different and so is repairing them. To do it right takes skill, time,
quality parts and all of the documentation on the modifications
(Mercedes often made MANY changes ever year). Without the proper valve
body descriptions, you'd NEVER get the valve body back together and
working again without trying each of the possibilities one by one and
then putting the transmission back into the car to see if it shifted
correctly after each trial.
Marshall
--
Marshall Booth (who doesn't respond to unsigned questions)
"der Dieseling Doktor" [EMAIL PROTECTED]
'87 300TD 182Kmi, '84 190D 2.2 229Kmi, '85 190D 2.0 161Kmi, '87 190D 2.5
turbo 237kmi
