SLK pedal box

[markrobins]

Hello, hope this is the correct sub forum. I'm after a bit of advice regarding my 2001 SLK 320....

While driving to work a piece of alloy dropped out of the dashboard. This was later followed by a spring. Having taken a look the alloy was a bracket off the pedal box, this was used to attached a rod and spring, the other end of which is attached to the side of the clutch pedal. Looks like this was to help return the clutch pedal after it had been pressed ?

Anyway, the car gear change still appears to be OK. I spoke to a main dealer and, as expected, the labour to replace the pedal box is a high cost. They said I could keep driving and 'see how it goes'. I am looking at independent dealers, and I tried to get a Haynes manual for the SLK but it appears there isn't one. So my questions are:

1) What does this rod/spring on the clutch pedal do ? (e.g. without it is there a safety issue, or could it cause more problems such as clutch wear ?)
2) Is there a service manual (like the Haynes range of books) available ?

Thanks in advance.

Mark

 

[television]

Any thing the same in the link

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...622716.630&CT=F&cat=66E&SID=29&SGR=015&SGN=01

 

[markrobins]

Yes, that's it thanks, "PUSH ROD TO CLUTCH PEDAL" parts 90, 95 and 100.

But what do they do ? The car drives OK at the moment, but would it be wise to get it fixed sooner rather than later ?

 

[television]

It looks like some form of loading the pedal, cant think of anything else

 

[type49]

Another one here

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=28682

 

[markrobins]

Another one here

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=28682

Thanks Type49, at least I'm not alone !

Someone has suggested I try a Chrysler dealer as the Crossfire is the same mechanicals as the old SLK, and the labour would probably be cheaper. However I've spoken to an independent Merc garage and their labour is half the price of a dealer. Still... the car drives fine at the moment....

 

[43032]

SLK Pedal Box Fatigue

The clutch pedal box on my 2003 SLK 320 has the biggest fatigue crack you have seen since they realised that square windows on the Comet airliners were not a good idea!
The crack starts at the base of the cantilever beam that supports the clutch return spring. The crack goes across the beam until it reaches a cutout in the middle. At that point only half the beam is supporting the load of the spring and a new crack starts up on the reverse face. The deflection of the beam is by then so big that the spring flies out.
Amazingly this almighty bang happened just one mile from home at the end of a 1,902 mile trip around the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Knowing that this huge crack was growing under my left foot when we went over the Pyrenees last year and along the cliff tops of the Shetlands brings me out in goosebumps.
I called MB and they said that there is no recall on this part. They also said that they cannot comment on any forums suggesting a fatigue problem. That intrigued me as I hadn't mentioned any forums! So I went looking and found this thread.
Happy motoring, Steve
(I have got pictures of the part but I cannot get them to load here.)