Okay to use AutohausAZ flex disc (possibly SGF in a febi or jurid box)

[Jlaa]

Hi gang,

At my car's last service - 63,515 miles, my tech mentioned to me that the flex disc visually looked ok but that the visual check is inconclusive.... and that on a test drive, he could slightly feel a vibration coming from the driveline area ... slightly - and they he suspected a worn flex disc.

subsequently, I drove the car 200 miles and I feel a slight rhythmic vibration through my seat/steering wheel at 75/80mph. I would like to try replacing the flex disc. (Note - wheels were checked for trueness, and road force balanced w new tires.)

Is it okay to buy an "OEM" brand flex disc from AutohausAZ? I read several threads and they all suggest that buying an "OEM" flexdisc from AutohausAZ will result in receving a febi or jurid reboxed SGF part. The implication in the threads is that since the part is branded SGF that the flexdisc is good.

I have also noted that pictures of the reboxed SGF part have some slight notches in it that the MB part does not have. Can I get a confirmation from folks that have been using the AutohausAZ sourced reboxed SGf part that everything has subsequently been ok? Thanks.

1st pic shows a jurid boxed SGF.
2nd/3rd pic shows an MB part.
4th pic shows a febi boxed SGF.

 

[geraniumtr]

JLaa: I'll pass along a comment I received from Jono when I had mine replaced. " If the discs aren't marked SGF return then and use SGF brand only" ( I paraphrased a little). I bought factory parts which were marked SGF.
Just one comment from me--I think its unusual to need new flex discs at your mileage. My E320 was at 180K. These discs have a long service life. Not sure your vibration relates to worn discs. Symptoms of bad discs are a clunking noise on acceleration/deceleration to my knowledge.

Regards,

Peter Weissman

 

[Glen]

I installed two Autohausaz sourced SGF flex discs in the high miler about 26K miles ago. No issues at all.

 

[Jlaa]

Thanks. Indeed - I suspect your thought are well founded - that the car's low mileage makes it unusual for needing a flex disc. I do not have clunking on accel / decel, but it could be very possible that I am being quite picky about the slight vibration I feel at steady state 75 / 80 mph. At the same time, replacing the flex disc I figure wont hurt anything as long as the proper part is used - and at 23 years of age with time / humidity / heat and cool cycles, I am leery of any orig rubber parts. I note that at 63,500 miles, the outside door mirror boots were totally hard and as well, one of the center resonator pipes were rusted to the point that the pipe broke off upon attempted removal of the resonator.

 

[gsxr]

Ditto the comments about SGF only.

That said... I believe Klink has mentioned the flex discs should generally be left alone unless they definitely need replacement. And, if unbolted for any reason, they should be marked relative to the driveshaft flanges and put back in the factory position. This is impossible if someone has already unbolted or replaced them. I believe the factory balances the driveshaft and flex discs as a complete assembly, which is why you want to retain the orientation. I've encountered a driveshaft vibration on a couple of cars that won't go away even with new SGF discs and new OE center support. At some point I'll have to break down and buy a balanced assembly from Jono (he has a shop nearby that does this - very few places can balance the MB 2-pc driveshafts). I used to change flex discs as preventive maintenance, now I try not to touch them if the driveline is vibration-free.

Klink? Did I get some of that correct?

Final notes: the washer always goes against the disc, never against the flange, when assembling. The front disc R&R requires supporting the trans and removing the rear trans mount/carrier/support, to get access. The rear disc R&R requires loosening the center driveshaft support to avoid stressing/damaging the center support rubber. The front disc tends to wear more rapidly, perhaps due to heat?

 

[Jlaa]

I installed two Autohausaz sourced SGF flex discs in the high miler about 26K miles ago. No issues at all.

Thanks. Are there TWO flex discs? I thought just one was needed - 129-410-01-15?

EDIT - oh now I understand - front / rear. Thanks

 

[Raffaelli]

Don't forget to check the rear cv axles as well. Grab them and shake up up and down for play. If the axle shaft moves in relation to the cv ends it's your problem.

Irs rwd cars it's easy to overlook.

 

[Jlaa]

Don't forget to check the rear cv axles as well. Grab them and shake up up and down for play. If the axle shaft moves in relation to the cv ends it's your problem.

Irs rwd cars it's easy to overlook.

Ah, thank you.

 

[mercepor]

I had a similar vibration in mine (100-130km/h), flex discs were not the cause.
I had to change the center support (no visible wear, noise, etc) and vibration gone.

If you change your disc, I advise to change also the center support (OE as Dave wrote, not expensive).

 

[Melville]

Ditto the comments about SGF only.

That said... I believe Klink has mentioned the flex discs should generally be left alone unless they definitely need replacement. And, if unbolted for any reason, they should be marked relative to the driveshaft flanges and put back in the factory position. This is impossible if someone has already unbolted or replaced them. I believe the factory balances the driveshaft and flex discs as a complete assembly, which is why you want to retain the orientation. I've encountered a driveshaft vibration on a couple of cars that won't go away even with new SGF discs and new OE center support. At some point I'll have to break down and buy a balanced assembly from Jono (he has a shop nearby that does this - very few places can balance the MB 2-pc driveshafts). I used to change flex discs as preventive maintenance, now I try not to touch them if the driveline is vibration-free.

Klink? Did I get some of that correct?

Final notes: the washer always goes against the disc, never against the flange, when assembling. The front disc R&R requires supporting the trans and removing the rear trans mount/carrier/support, to get access. The rear disc R&R requires loosening the center support to avoid stressing/damaging the center support rubber. The front disc tends to wear more rapidly, perhaps due to heat?

For what it's worth, I also had a strong recollection that Klink had a post saying don't change the flex disk unless you really need to. I searched for that post but to no avail. I don't remember nearly the detail that you have GSXR, but I remembered it was something about never achieving the same balance that the factory did.

 

[Jlaa]

I had a similar vibration in mine (100-130km/h), flex discs were not the cause.
I had to change the center support (no visible wear, noise, etc) and vibration gone.

If you change your disc, I advise to change also the center support (OE as Dave wrote, not expensive).

Thanks. ordered the center support and bearing as well (from Naperville)

 

[JC220]

I only buy Lemforder Flex discs & they are always SGF discs. They will also have a ref # which will include new bolts for installation.

I understand the concerns regarding balancing but surely a flex disc swapped out should not upset things so much it could be felt? When I had a MB prob shortened & balanced by a specialist I also brought them the new flex discs. This company specialises in fabricating / balancing propshafts & they said they did not need to fit the flex discs for balancing. They assembled the 2x proshaft halves & the centre bearing carrier for balancing.

If a flex disc shows signs of deterioration/ cracking IMO it must be replaced asap. Otherwise if it lets go at highway speeds be prepared for lots of damage. I've had one fail before & could feel the horrendous shaking so I pulled over before it broke the last bolt. I will be replacing both flex discs on my 500E soon as I suspect they are still the original 1992 items & I can see minor cracking.

 

[gsxr]

Thanks. ordered the center support and bearing as well (from Naperville)

FYI - replacing the center support requires dropping, or at least loosening and lowering, the main exhaust pipe with catalysts. BIG job. You can access the bolts to loosen the center support (to R&R the rear disc) by unbolting the heat shield and using creative socket extensions, but to replace the center support the entire driveshaft has to be removed from the car - and the exhaust is in the way.

I understand the concerns regarding balancing but surely a flex disc swapped out should not upset things so much it could be felt?

That's what I though too, but it seems in some rare cases you can have issues. I'm still chasing the problem on my red 500E, it's just enough to be annoying at freeway speeds, but not bad enough that I've investigated buying a complete balanced driveshaft assembly. (The factory driveshafts, btw, are NLA.)

 

[Jlaa]

I had a similar vibration in mine (100-130km/h), flex discs were not the cause.
I had to change the center support (no visible wear, noise, etc) and vibration gone.

If you change your disc, I advise to change also the center support (OE as Dave wrote, not expensive).

FYI - replacing the center support requires dropping, or at least loosening and lowering, the main exhaust pipe with catalysts. BIG job. You can access the bolts to loosen the center support (to R&R the rear disc) by unbolting the heat shield and using creative socket extensions, but to replace the center support the entire driveshaft has to be removed from the car - and the exhaust is in the way.

Thanks - Can one visually tell if the center support needs replacement or is this an impossible assessment? Attached is a picture of the center support.

That's what I though too, but it seems in some rare cases you can have issues. I'm still chasing the problem on my red 500E, it's just enough to be annoying at freeway speeds, but not bad enough that I've investigated buying a complete balanced driveshaft assembly. (The factory driveshafts, btw, are NLA.)

I didn't know you have a red one as well? Or freudian slip?

 

[gerryvz]

Thanks - Can one visually tell if the center support needs replacement or is this an impossible assessment? Attached is a picture of the center support.

View attachment 58282




I didn't know you have a red one as well? Or freudian slip?

Bit more info on the center support bearing here: http://www.500eboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3614


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[gsxr]

I didn't know you have a red one as well? Or freudian slip?

Yup, Garnet Red '93... still a work in progress. Click here for a short video of it in action; darn thing ran a few hundredths slower than expected and cost me both the race and track championship that year, grrrr. Figures, I totally drilled the tree which USUALLY would have been enough to make up for the deficit... and my opponent almost matched my killer light. Margin of loss was twenty-some thousandths of a second. Oh well, that's racin'... to read the full story, click here for the forum thread.

Thanks - Can one visually tell if the center support needs replacement or is this an impossible assessment? Attached is a picture of the center support.

If it's failed, you'll know it, the car is almost undriveable once the rubber donut disintegrates - just had this happen on my W140 last month. It's more of a preventive maintenance thing if the driveshaft will be removed for other reasons.

 

[Jlaa]

For what it is worth ---

I received the flex discs from AutohausAZ today. The "free shipping" option ended up being from South San Francisco to San Francisco so the post office delivered it over night. See photos below - They are came in Febi/Bilstein boxes branded "SGF", made in Germany, and appear not to have any of the voids / notches that earlier ones displayed. Further, it looks like the MB Star has been ground off.

 

[mercepor]

These are the right one, they will be ok

 

[Stevester 500E]

Jlaa,

Did you replace the center support bearing?
Which brand?
I did not see a Febi/Bilstein center support bearing, only Febi/Bilstein flex disks.
Trying to figure out which brand of bearing to buy from AutohausAZ.
They offer: FAG, Genuine Mercedes, URO, and Meyle.

Did you see any improvement after installing the disks?

For what it is worth ---

I received the flex discs from AutohausAZ today. The "free shipping" option ended up being from South San Francisco to San Francisco so the post office delivered it over night. See photos below - They are came in Febi/Bilstein boxes branded "SGF", made in Germany, and appear not to have any of the voids / notches that earlier ones displayed. Further, it looks like the MB Star has been ground off.

 

[Jlaa]

Yes! I replaced the center support bearing w an MB original unit. Everything is super smooth now with the exception of the first 3-4 miles of any trip when my tires are cold. After those first 3-4 miles, 75 mph is smooooooooth.

 

[LWB250]

Just as a point of reference, I never buy center bearings in the aftermarket. Why? Because on almost all MB models Mercedes sells a "kit" that includes the bearing, metal spacers and rubber boot for the splined shaft on the universal joint. Aftermarket suppliers just sell you the "raw" bearing. Not to mention the price for the kit isn't much more than the cost of the aftermarket bearing.

Dan

 

[cargen]

Is this a pretty straightforward Remove/Replace sorta DIY?
Does it require lowering the trans for additional clearance or any special tools?
I was not able to find any diy articles from a quick search so I just want to make sure before I order the parts and prepare to get this done.

Sorry about bumping up an old thread!

 

[Ascension]

My trans is gone in the E 420 as have now pretty much lost reverse so I have started looking for Flex Discs and the center bearing. I'm not finding flex discs for my car listed and am finding only the Febi so far but says discontinued. So where to go and what's the $ on these. Have a vibration that starts at about 75 or so in the 420 so want to do it all if I have to R& R the trans.

 

[Jlaa]

My trans is gone in the E 420 as have now pretty much lost reverse so I have started looking for Flex Discs and the center bearing. Im not finding flex discs for my car listed and am finding only the Febi so far but says discontinued. So where to go and whats the $ on these. Have a vibration that starts at about 75 or so in the 420 so want to do it all if I have to R& R the trans.

Sesrch here for details on Dorman brand reboxing SGF in 2023.