Contents: Removal ↡ Installation ↡
Note: New front and rear driveshaft coupling nuts will be required for installation.
Removal
1. Place chocks under the front wheels. Jack up the rear of the vehicle and place it on supports (see Fig. "Lifting the car and placing it on supports").
2. Loosen the bolts and remove the exhaust system heat shields (see fig. 7.2). Loosen the bolts and remove the bracket that is installed across the driveline tunnel to allow the shaft to be lowered.
Fig. 7.2. Loosen the bolts and remove the exhaust system heat shields
3. Place a jack with a block of wood under the transmission and raise the jack to support the assembly.
4. Unscrew the nut securing the rear support bracket to the gearbox and the bolts securing the support to the body. Remove the support bracket.
5. Using a large open-end wrench, loosen the threaded bushing nut located next to the support bearing a couple of turns, being careful not to damage the rubber boot.
6. Apply alignment marks between the shaft coupling and the gearbox flange, then loosen and remove the mounting nuts and bolts securing the flexible coupling to the gearbox (see fig. 7.6). Discard the nuts as new ones must be used during installation.
Fig. 7.6. Unscrew the nuts and bolts securing the elastic coupling to the gearbox flange
7. Loosen the nuts and lower the drive belt bracket.
Note: On vehicles produced after September 1988, the belt bracket nuts/bolts are the same as the front seat belt mounts.
8. Using paint or a marker, mark the alignment between the driveline coupling and the final drive flange. Remove the nuts and bolts securing the coupling to the final drive and discard them; when installing, you must use new ones (see fig. 7.8).
Fig. 7.8. Unscrew the nuts and bolts (shown by arrows) fastening the coupling to the main gear
9. With the help of a partner, support the driveshaft and remove the center bearing bracket mounting bolts. Move the rear of the shaft forward and disconnect the shaft from the final drive. Disconnect the front of the shaft from the gearbox and remove the unit from under the car (see Fig. 7.9, a-c).
Fig. 7.9, a. Cardan drive clamp nut (A) and central support bearing bracket bolts (B)
Fig. 7.9, b. Move the rear part of the shaft forward and separate the shaft from the main gear
Fig. 7.9, c. Disconnect the front section of the cardan shaft from the gearbox flange.
Note: Do not separate the driveline halves without making alignment marks. If the driveline is not assembled correctly, it will be unbalanced, causing noise and vibration during operation. Some models already have alignment marks on the shaft: the raised mark on the front section should be located between the two marks on the rear section of the driveline.
10. Check the condition of the rubber couplings, support bearing and universal joint as described in paragraphs 8.9 and 10. Check that the gearbox flange mounting rod and universal joint bushing are not worn. If wear or damage is detected, replace.
Installation
11. On models where the shaft bushing at the end of the gearbox is made of bronze, lubricate the bushing with molybdenum disulfide grease. Where the bushing is not made of bronze, lubricate it with multi-purpose grease.
12. Install the cardan shaft in place, aligning the marks made before removal and connect the shaft to the flanges of the gearbox and final drive. With the marks correctly aligned, install the support bracket bolts, tightening them slightly by hand.
13. Make sure that the marks are correctly aligned, insert the mounting bolts holding the rear clutch to the final drive and install new mounting nuts. Tighten the mounting nuts to the torque specified in the Technical Data.
14. Check that the front coupling is correctly aligned with the gearbox flange and install the coupling bolts. Install new mounting nuts and tighten them to the required torque.
15. Once both couplings are tightened, tighten the center support bearing mounting bolts to the specified torque.
16. Tighten the threaded bushing nut to the required torque, making sure the rubber boot remains properly seated.
17. Install the support bracket to the rear of the gearbox and tighten the mounting bolts and nuts to the required torque.
18. Install the exhaust heat shields and brackets (if provided) and lower the car to the ground.
Article text obtained from the website: MERCEDESMAN.ru