Saddle Bearings for Rumber Strip Noise

[Altered Sprinter]

Not sure if I'm posting this in the right thread, re rumble strip problems I've just taken some pics on an older camera so need to have them developed it shows damaged flexi plates and tail shaft joints out of all proportions, on an older 2002 automatic Sprinter one of the few that made it down under as others had Sprintshift any way the solution has been resolved a few guys twigged to it in some of the posts and did their own modifications, so I'll post the modifications to resolve the problem.
Richard
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[sikwan]

What was wrong with the saddles especially the ones without the bearing? Did they replace the entire component (saddle plus bearing) or just the bearing?

Seek

[Altered Sprinter]

To answer a question to seek.
In some of the threads I made a comment about this problem and the theory behind the problems.
As you have been kind enough to re set this I'll start from scratch 2002.

In the first instance I am not a mechanic at times I wish I was, however Previously I was an independent arbitrator where a non biased mediator was required to oversee a court case where insurance companies and or solicitors were fighting it out, My qualifications are to Australian Standards or World ISO standards, in the case of say the Sprinter purely for example My criteria would have been to test the specifications as to the suitability of the product, re it's road worthiness's in the event of an accident claim , some one has to establish the events leading to an accident investigation In Australia the DOT and the police investigation units investigate the causes of an accident.
When in a civil claim the rules change, as to proving beyond a reasonable doubt as to how the accident was generated by cause of a possiable defective manufacturing fault.
The claimant has no chance of defending or pursuing an ambient claim when insurance and Vehicle manufactures have no ends of monies to spend in a defense case that may place the liability to the specific company involved in the manufacturing of the product, that is a two way court case the out sourced manufacturer of the product and the principal manufacture who sells the product as a complete unit.
My personal involvement dates backs to march 2002 when this became evident in the North American sector, as it was endemic to your area in volume, but not elsewhere, the question was WHY?
If you give me the opportunity to explain over a few days OK' in the first instance I will run full specifications on the Sprinter specific to the year 2002 on an automatic with sprint shift mid wheel based the unit is H/Duty just a few minor changes as an option for this unit, note there has been very few issues with this configuration in Australia but after 600 hundred thousand K's up to one million for fleet couriers the performance and reliability of the Sprinter stacks up. where the difference with the N/American sector comes into play was limited engine and transmission choices which under certain operating conditions, it has proven to be to the detriment of the Dodge Sprinter.
I will run photos of damaged automatics and especially the tail shaft joints from the gearbox to the shaft the evidence is here for you member's to take it as it comes,I can only print the facts proven that I am aware of
PS Need to go back to town to check out the auto unit before I start the thread running to-nite
Thank you Richard.

[Altered Sprinter]

Part one 2002 Mercedes-Benz 316 CDi Sprintshift auto manual
Note" this unit has reverse start, option for h/d axle rating front only
rated 1750 kg
single rear wheel base MWB Van
six speed automatic sprintshift
model year 2002
Richard

[Altered Sprinter]

Part 11 Harmonic Balancer Pully

How many times have the members heard of the harmonic balancer failing?
Interesting point Mercedes have recalled in 2005 most Mercedes makes as far back as 1998
The Sprinter was and did have issues where it was upgraded in 2004 or 2005 sorry I can't remember the date in part there were two types of Balancer Pulley's involved the standard one and one for the rear air-con which had two key ways to lock it in Many times I have heard of these becoming lose or defective where suggestions were made as to use lock tite- to keep it in place!..
It's not that simple a fix , the question is where does the fault lie? well it may be just that Mercedes did not place a counter-balance shaft in the right format either in the shaft or in the counter weight of the said Balancer but the likely cause is the rubber seal either to hard , or its cracked.
The damage from this has been an issue with some automatics as to a vibration that reflected back into the flexi plate through into the torque converter down to the tail-shaft to the shaft joints placing a tremendous amount of pressure on the tail shaft, which resonates from the drive shaft within the transmission to the Diff travels back to the center of the tail-shaft half a metre either side where both resonance and harmonics come into play setting of the vibration the result of continuous levels of vibrations at varying RPM on the road eventually cause the rubber plate to move in a elliptical pattern "Vibrations"
Note" If the rubber insert of the Harmonic Pulley or main crank pulley delaminates at high velocity, The pulley may grind through the timing chain cover and oil pan, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage. Owners should inspect the Harmonic Balancer Pulley for signs of rubber deterioration.
The theory is part because in the main of the harmonic balancer setting up a vibration that continues through out the entire drive train , it's more common on the long wheel base units under certain types of road conditions and or weight configurations.
The problem of vibration can be also created out of over heating the transmission where slippage occurs over heated tires out of round 'Balance can also have a similar effect due to over weight or improper weight distribution.
Mercedes was aware of this and recalled almost two hundred thousand vehicles, with the Sprinter it was either replaced or fixed and eventually replaced at point of manufacture
050426-SCB-HB replacement.pdf (application/pdf Object)

H B P Recall.jpg
To be continued
Richard

[Altered Sprinter]

continuation of Harmonic Balancer pulley
Photos indicate damage done to 5 speed automatic transmissions
From seal failures
300SDL_shaft_linkage.jpg

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300SDL_rear_tran01.jpg
alternative seal replacement for flexi plate and bearing saddle for mid center tail shaft.
Note: Do not make this unit to be effectively grounded to the floor of the van, it won't work fully due to the difference of movement between the van body and the chassis, this unit requires it to be adapted to part of the chassis rail only.


flexdisc26.JPG

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Enough for the day Richard

[Zach Woods]

Hi Richard -

I think we both want to get to the bottom of this pesky problem.

To that end, I think it would be good if we start by confirming that we are comparing apples to apples . . .

In your 1/12/07 from 2:07AM (post # 4 in this thread) post, you mention the 6 speed automatic SprintShift transmission. Some questions to confirm that this is the same transmission that we get in the North American market (and it is my understanding that we get only one style - there may have been updates over the years - of transmission in this market):

1. When you describe it as a 6 speed transmission are you including reverse and/or neutral (I have encountered folks that list both reverse and neutral as "speeds" or gears, if you will, in transmissions, folks who will list neither, and everything in between)?

2. What is the technical or MB designation for the 6 speed transmission that you are referencing (part # or option # - I am assuming that in the Australian Market they are calling this transmission the sprintshift (a term not used in the US to my awareness))?

3. Can you post a picture of the dash and shifter (I have seen pictures of the European market shifter/ tranmission options and know what the US shifter/ transmission looks like and would like to compare and confirm)?

My take is that we can only guarantee that we are talking about the same thing by confirming these kinds of details. I agree that this is a pain in the neck but I have seen so many different posts (in multiple locations - not just here at Sprinter-Source.com) referencing so many different things that I think it is time to make sure we are all on the same page.

Thanks for your ongoing efforts to get to the bottom of this,

Zach

[Altered Sprinter]

Hi Zack
OK a sprint shift auto clutch less reverse clutch is six forward one reverse one neutral prior to 2000 it was five speed with an option for a standard four speed auto a few of them made it down under and that box was more forgiving and much stronger than the replacement five speed transmission of which the N/American market has , the down side was the four speed did not have much mid power torque at 3800 rpm but the engine were lower chipped , more of a UK requirement.
It appears from the post I have shown there is two transmissions on offer but the way it's worded still makes me think it's the Sprintshift because it said auto manual there are no other transmissions in the Mercedes range so it has to be the Sprint shift in either five speed, which was mentioned in or its a mis print, as it's not from Dodge I can not verify its authenticity.
Six speed autos are available in gas but not in Diesel I don't know the reason behind it unless its a power to weight ratio of gearing to get the Gas V6 to run up to speed?
As Mentioned before VW Crafter will run the sprintshift in Australia as they are about to be released next month in Australia again because Mercedes has limited the amount of Sprinters VW can have, manly because they have the market captured for Camper conversion Units where Mercedes concentrate on the Commercial sector down under either way the Crafter and the gearbox work well its a very efficient transmission very little trouble comes from these units.
All Mercedes emergency units use the sprint shift, I'll have to get a picture from them in the mean time I will Google it on the net to see if I can find one to post the stick is not on the dash but on the floor so no cup holder at the bottom of the dash, even the new sprinter only has a very small console at almost floor level its a weird looking thing, deleted in the Australian line up of Sprinters along with the fact the extra long wheel base hi top 5 ton unit will not be offered for sale down under, as its too expensive when put up against a truck type cargo unit that can carry eight to twelve tons for the same price/
Seek I only hope you get quality Sprinters this time around but from the information I'm getting its not looking so good, But it is for Dodge to start informing the public instead of being so quite, If you look at the inventory stocks still being unsold, then maybe this is part of the strategy to be quite. for so long.
Quote I'm not sure what you will get, It appears two V6 gas engines and two autos? for the N/American sector.
Australia has the full line up from the smallest four cylinder in line engine to the high powered V6 Diesel engines.
Australia does not import Gas engines from the Mercedes range it's a US Thing price and politics I'd say but mate you get them real cheap some ones paying for the discounted Sprinters in the US Sector.
If I've missed something just pm it and I'll research the specifics for you.
Richard
Richard

[Zach Woods]

Hi Richard -

I will be very curious to see what transmissions we end up with in the North American Market.

I will also be very surprised if we get anything other than a typical (for the US Market anyway) automatic transmission (likely with tiptronic-like driver shifting capability as that has become common and accepted here in the US).

The US has rarely if ever seen any transmissions like the SprintShift (standard/ manual transmission with vehicle controlled shifting) and it would catch me off guard if they try to introduce one now given all of the other design details of the Sprinter which have continued to make it seem unusual to the majority of US buyers.

Maybe the confusion comes from the fact that in the US people will often say things like "I got the standard automatic option" by which they mean they purchased a vehicle with an automatic transmission and that automatic transmission is the default or standard option for the vehicle? This comes from the history of manual transmissions being the standard option for many years in the past, automatics being considered a more expensive upgrade (even though they eventually became almost the only transmission option most folks would consider buying or even, in many cases, could buy in the US), and the terms standard and manual becoming nearly synonymous in the US.

Looking forward to seeing the pictures so we can compare them to pictures of the shifter/ dash in the just becoming available 2007 North American Market Sprinters.

Zach

[Altered Sprinter]

Thanks Zack I'll chase them up, I understand what you mean by auto by default.
An Auto costs two thousand to two thousand five hundred above the manual gearbox so manuals are the most popular by a mile, apart from that a clutch is all that goes wrong with them an auto out of warranty is very expensive to fix and then they still give problems because they were not machined to specifications or some other fix up that was not as good as it could have been.
Out of interest The sprinters have almost come to a standstill down under , too expensive to buy and the locals are not fools, they Google the net and know whats on the Go options deleted don't know why from the sales personnel it has caught up with them now Mercedes will pay the price
Hope this photo comes out it's a LWB Hi-top four cylinder unit 515 CDI manual, no windows no options bald inside and the price is just a Bloody great Joke.
I think I'm getting grumpy so I call it quites for the night
Richard
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