LSD for a C43....Almost

[money-one]

It has been about a month since I had acquired a rear diff from a 190e 16v with the US spec 3.27 gear ratio. I would randomly on and off look at different benz's for parts to piece my factory LSD into my car. This is what I found out. 1st The rear housing cover could be found on various cars that had the 124 diff housing but mine came from any 202 housing except the C43 which has the 210 housing. The part #124-351-37-08 it had to be grinded down to fit over the lsd's flanges 2nd The differential flange on the 202's have 3 different sizes. The C43 has the largest spread and could be found on a majority of the cars with 220 housings. 98-00 c-class have the medium flange. 97-older have the smallest spread which is why it is so easy to install in. The part #211-350-02-45 mine came from the 98-00 c-class 3rd The drive shaft would have to replaced with a custom one but i discovered that the rear driveshaft could be exchanged with that of a 98-00 c-class. The splines are the same. Part #202-410-20-02 Had to buy the whole unit. They wouldn't sell seperately at the salvage yard 4th The flanges had to be grinded around the bolt holes for the axles. It was required in order to allow for the proper seating for the shafts. The factory C43 diff flanges were machined factory. Finally the 3rd mounting bolt had to be cut down about 1 1/2 inches. I got another bolt. Lsd oil Part #001-989-17-03 The out come. Good and Bad. The car had a great pull. When I floored it the car just hooked and went. With the 55 engine it was only amplfied. I was very happy until I noticed the car wouldn't shift out of 1st. I ran a Short Test of the system and found numerous codes in the ETC module. The end result 98 and up cars dont like different gear ratios period. I have done a check and found that there is a LSD with a 3.07 gear ratio Euro spec. I am currently looking for one of those. Possible trade or buy. Who wouldn't want a quicker 60 foot , I did. Sorry about the pics but they were all from my phone and I didn't resize correctly. Helpful or not there it is.

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[c280_nz]

so what are you doing with this diff? intereseted in selling?

[NitrogenBalance]

Nice work! We need more like you in the 43 forum that can/will rip stuff apart Pictures are good.

I looked into swapping the rear in mine to a CLK55 pumpkin a year ago as my tech had an extra. I wanted a quiaffe and they didn't have them for the 43 rear. I spoke with cory from kleemann and he scared me away explaining the gearing and such. We were not even sure if the swap was mechanically possible as we didn't move foward.

I would really like to see this work for you. Keep at it if you can fine the 307.

[blackbenzz]

I believe there is a trans control module or something like that. If you can find one that matches the gearing you are trying to put in it may work. I was considering going to shorter gearing a while ago but it would make the car utterly useless at low speeds since it would just spin forever and never hook. Much like it is now in this cold weather, anything under 60 and the tail end comes out

Btw, W208 CLK55 has 2.82 gears in case you were trying to swap one in. I have a used Kleemann LSD for sale that you can throw in there

[2PHAST]

I have a 3.27:1 in my CLK and it required the matching TCU (trans control unit). No problems with it.

[FLYNAVY]

Nice job so far! I would personally be a little bit worried about all the extra torque from the m113 going to it, but then again you only know once you break it!

[NitrogenBalance]

Originally Posted by 2PHAST

I have a 3.27:1 in my CLK and it required the matching TCU (trans control unit). No problems with it.

Do you happen to know if the trans control units are interchangable within models, years, engine codes maybe? Is it as simple as finding the proper unit for the gearing at hand? So you replaced the unit phisically and not a reprogram of the original TCU.

[money-one]

Thanks for the vote of confidence.
Its funny you should mention the ETC (Electronic Transmission Control) switch because I have
been looking at that. What I have found is that the ETC from an early 203 chassis (C320) has
the 3.27 ratio along with the 170 chassis (SLK320). The only problem I have now is that my year
car did not come with tiptronic and those cars did. Research is showing that I should be able to
upgrade to that with additional wiring. Luckily I got a tip shifter in my toolbox (don't ask me how).
Side note the C240 has a 3.67 and was thinking if the ETC works I would go to that. They all have 124 chassis housings.

The CLK55 (208) has a 220 S-class housing (big housing 2.82 ratio?) and have had that in the
back of my head since the begining. The CLK55 (209) has the same housing but with a 3.07. Exactly
what I needed and then install a Quaife.

I figure if this blows up then i would go with the CLK55 diff.

I don't really post on forums but I figured this info would help someone. I'll be updating my profile
gallery so you know what my car looks like and probably start another thread about my factory
CLK63 6 piston front 4 piston rear brake upgrade.

[blackbenzz]

That is correct W208 is 2.82

[money-one]

Update..
I found out that the 1998 SLK230 has a 3.27 ratio and has the gate shifter. This would cut out the need
to update my shifter with just a simple ETC swap. Ill try to track one down or order it.

[ProjectC55]

Originally Posted by money-one

Update..
I found out that the 1998 SLK230 has a 3.27 ratio and has the gate shifter. This would cut out the need
to update my shifter with just a simple ETC swap. Ill try to track one down or order it.

Ah yes! Ahmad told me about your car. You've been to MIR a couple of times I heard! However Mbenzman can modify your present C43 diff to use a Quaiffe. This may save you a lil time.

[blackbenzz]

Originally Posted by ProjectC55

Ah yes! Ahmad told me about your car. You've been to MIR a couple of times I heard! However Mbenzman can modify your present C43 diff to use a Quaiffe. This may save you a lil time.

Oh WOW! I didn't even realize he is the guy I saw at Capitol a couple times!!! That car is so nice! I tried finding you in the pits every time but no luck! Check out absolutelydriven.com it is our local forum. If you are free on saturday come to our Toys for Tots meet, would be awesome to finally meet you and talk cars

[money-one]

I would have to dip out of work early. 2 or 3 at the earliest then the drive. Ill push for earlier.

[money-one]

I finally came into an ETC for a 1998 SLK230 and put the monster together and was ready to roll
But as luck would have it she still didnt work After a little thinking and speaking with my Shop Foreman it came to my understanding that the engine size also has a bearing on the ETC module. Which makes sense why 2PHAST has had no problems with his ETC swap (SLK320 module). I am going to mark this one up as a learnig experience. I will be posting the LSD up for sale and make my way in to a 210 E430 diff. 209 CLK55 ring set and a quaife for the insides. Wish me luck on that adventure.

Oh Yeah I went ahead and posted some pics of my car. Enjoy

[AMS Performance]

You must reprogram / replace with upgraded ETC module otherwise it will not worth and not operate correctly b/c the wheels sensors are telling the traction control you are "losing grip" even though you are not b/c they are accelerating too quickly giving the proper engine RPM. This will still happen on the 3.07 most likely as well. if you want to fix the problem, keep the 3.27 and reprogram, although I would have to say both those gears are still pretty aggressive for a 55. You want to have longer gearing with higher powered cars and shorter gearing with lower powered cars. High power + high gearing = traction problems, and in the 1/4 mile it may not be any faster b/c you will have one additional gear change.

Just a suggestion

[c55m8o]

Big congrats money on the work and a big thanx for write-up. BergWerks used to offer a diff change when they were in business, and had stated they'd need to send the TCU to some folks in Germany to be re-flashed to allow the diff change to work. I'm sorry to say I have no idea who you can send it to however to take your TCU and alter it to work with the different gearing. I'm sure you're 90% there however. Best of luck.

[PJmak]

Originally Posted by money-one

Oh Yeah I went ahead and posted some pics of my car. Enjoy

where?

[svt ricco]

Originally Posted by PJmak

where?

+1

[ECTurboGSX]

Click on his name and then go to his gallery. The car looks really good. I'm jealous of the brakes

[money-one]

I just wish that 90% would let me drive the car down the road and at least shift. The only thing that gets me is the effort I put forth and nothing came of it. Oh Well. After thinking about it i think that the clutches would fail after the abuse i would give and i would be back at square 1 an open diff.

[c280_nz]

didn you not come out with a working lsd in the end?
gutted, damn transmission controller,
i also tried to source second hand parts to make my own lsd, but there just isnt the parts available in New Zealand to build one, well not that i could find,
yea the clutch pads wear out but then u just replace them.
have you heard of phantom grip? they offer a spring block clutch style lsd and i beleive if you send your diff in they will make you one in your standard diff, www.phantomgrip.com,
a guy on mercedesshopforum got one made for his turbo e320.'
i was chasing that avenue but they didnt keep the specs from his diff to build another on for me so id have to send the diff to america $$$
i beleive kleenman offer the same system

this is what i am talking about, except this is from a 16v 190e 185mm diff,

[money-one]

Every time i see that I keep thinking of my factory diff's insides and how little room there is between the gears. If i get a pic I'll post but that pic shows a whole lot more room than mine has.

[c280_nz]

Originally Posted by money-one

Every time i see that I keep thinking of my factory diff's insides and how little room there is between the gears. If i get a pic I'll post but that pic shows a whole lot more room than mine has.

yea i know what you mean, in my c280 210mm diff that ive had apart there isnt much room either, but these kits normally come with thinner profile output shaft gears

[hcetzneb]

Just to share what i did on my c55... i went with the c36 diff which is a lsd and has the longer 287 gearing + a simple reflash of the etc module to work with the diffrent ratio.
felt such a diffrent in off the line... and than after that i swap in a e55 tranny combo work
so well together car actualy hooked off the line not just blow tire

[hcetzneb]

thats the car in the pic after i broke everything in... doing some TESTING in a parking lot