Submariner1
Senior Member
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2016
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- Location
- Windsor Berkshire
- Your Mercedes
- CL500 2009 5.5
I have got this leaking diff seal ...
Could use some advice as I have never had a leaking Merc Diff before.
If it had just started leaking i.e. Had Worn out; then I would probably get both sides replaced at the same time. Logic being if one has gone ... law of probability is the other might go quite soon.
However I strongly suspect ( but cant prove ) it was damaged when the main dealer replaced the Flange Hub, that is on the other end of the axle.
Hence the parts serviceability-longevity factor imo is not a factor in the decision.
The thing is how long do the diff driveshaft seals normally last on a CL500 / S Class?
If I am right, one has to undo every strut going to the hub flange/bearing/brake carrier structure, also remove the brake caliper, on the relevant side; to get the driveshaft out?
If so, Then there is no cost effective time saver doing seals on both sides?
Guess what I am saying is:-
- if it takes 2 hours to do one, will it take 2 hours to do the other? , and there is no "mutual" work involved ... i.e are they both independent. So no saving in doing the other right now.
And if they generally last 70,000 plus miles, then as I think this was accidental, collateral damage ... no point to change the other one right now as its bone dry.
Am I right?
Asking as I definitely wont be doing this myself , just want to know what is sensible to ask my Indy to do. Prefer to save cash if possible on this as its not a "beneficial" part.
By that I mean if I had to replace an ABC pump, it has some long term value i.e. Its gonna go one day ... so doing it now gives the car a new "shelf life" or lease of life.
Whereas replacing something like a diff seal, that imo should last 100,000 miles anyway; gives me/the car no tangible benefit.
Note the car has done a genuine 42,800 miles. And just had the diff oil changed 800 miles ago.
Other ?
When they change a diff seal, do they have to change all the oil ref cleaning the seal face? Or just top up what pours out during the swap process?
Sorry to sound mean, but that diff oil is a fortune. Something like £35 a litre if I remember correctly.
Could use some advice as I have never had a leaking Merc Diff before.
If it had just started leaking i.e. Had Worn out; then I would probably get both sides replaced at the same time. Logic being if one has gone ... law of probability is the other might go quite soon.
However I strongly suspect ( but cant prove ) it was damaged when the main dealer replaced the Flange Hub, that is on the other end of the axle.
Hence the parts serviceability-longevity factor imo is not a factor in the decision.
The thing is how long do the diff driveshaft seals normally last on a CL500 / S Class?
If I am right, one has to undo every strut going to the hub flange/bearing/brake carrier structure, also remove the brake caliper, on the relevant side; to get the driveshaft out?
If so, Then there is no cost effective time saver doing seals on both sides?
Guess what I am saying is:-
- if it takes 2 hours to do one, will it take 2 hours to do the other? , and there is no "mutual" work involved ... i.e are they both independent. So no saving in doing the other right now.
And if they generally last 70,000 plus miles, then as I think this was accidental, collateral damage ... no point to change the other one right now as its bone dry.
Am I right?
Asking as I definitely wont be doing this myself , just want to know what is sensible to ask my Indy to do. Prefer to save cash if possible on this as its not a "beneficial" part.
By that I mean if I had to replace an ABC pump, it has some long term value i.e. Its gonna go one day ... so doing it now gives the car a new "shelf life" or lease of life.
Whereas replacing something like a diff seal, that imo should last 100,000 miles anyway; gives me/the car no tangible benefit.
Note the car has done a genuine 42,800 miles. And just had the diff oil changed 800 miles ago.
Other ?
When they change a diff seal, do they have to change all the oil ref cleaning the seal face? Or just top up what pours out during the swap process?
Sorry to sound mean, but that diff oil is a fortune. Something like £35 a litre if I remember correctly.