sarl_cagan
2006 118" SHC in Portland, OR
Hello everyone,
The van is in the shop and it sounds like my center support bearing may be on its way out. There are a few cracks down there and I'm getting a speed-related "whistle" noise. Almost sounds like a turbo whistle. While I was researching the bearing replacement, I came across two youtube videos where a guy (is he one of you?) is installing an MB-made shim on his 118" (he calls it a "3 meter" ). The videos are HERE and HERE. Coincidentally, I came across a service bulletin (reference screen grabs below) in the T1N resources folder. The shim supposedly better aligns the driveshaft to decrease wear on the bearing and lessen vibration and shudder.
I have not found much else related to this on the forum (or my searching skills are garbage)...
The shim part number (MB): A9034110084
From the service bulletin, I see the (possibly special) bolt part numbers (MB) are: A0049903112
I also see an "asymmetric strap" part number (MB): A9034110040
Screen grabs from YouTube videos:
Question 1: Has anyone else added this shim and is a recommended/required thing at this point? Did you use this "asymmetric strap"?
I notice that a whole new driveshaft also includes this center support bearing and bracket. I had to wonder if I should consider replacing the whole thing instead. There have been old forum posts on a place in Portland, OR called Driveline Service of Portland that makes custom, serviceable sprinter driveshaft. Their website HERE shows the same. I called them yesterday and it sounds like they no longer build their own driveshafts for Sprinters... but they DO have a source that builds them for them. It was ~$730 for a 118" driveshaft. Spicer components and U-joints and center support bearing is included. I see Dorman also makes one for the 118" sprinter.
Question 2: Anyone put a Dorman driveshaft on your 118"? Good? bad? Serviceable?
Another option (way better at a surface level observation) for a serviceable drive line (with carrier bearing / center support) is from a place called Powertrain Industries. Part number image shown below. I called them and they referred me to a different place called Driveshaft Pro. Driveshaft Pro (looks like there are a few locations) told me the part number matched BUT they make their own driveshafts there in California. I'm not really sure what the relation (or lack of) between the two companies are. I didn't question too much either.
Powertrain Industries website screen shot:
Question 3: Anyone put a Driveshaft Pro drive line on?
Thanks very much!!
The van is in the shop and it sounds like my center support bearing may be on its way out. There are a few cracks down there and I'm getting a speed-related "whistle" noise. Almost sounds like a turbo whistle. While I was researching the bearing replacement, I came across two youtube videos where a guy (is he one of you?) is installing an MB-made shim on his 118" (he calls it a "3 meter" ). The videos are HERE and HERE. Coincidentally, I came across a service bulletin (reference screen grabs below) in the T1N resources folder. The shim supposedly better aligns the driveshaft to decrease wear on the bearing and lessen vibration and shudder.
I have not found much else related to this on the forum (or my searching skills are garbage)...
The shim part number (MB): A9034110084
From the service bulletin, I see the (possibly special) bolt part numbers (MB) are: A0049903112
I also see an "asymmetric strap" part number (MB): A9034110040
Screen grabs from YouTube videos:
Question 1: Has anyone else added this shim and is a recommended/required thing at this point? Did you use this "asymmetric strap"?
I notice that a whole new driveshaft also includes this center support bearing and bracket. I had to wonder if I should consider replacing the whole thing instead. There have been old forum posts on a place in Portland, OR called Driveline Service of Portland that makes custom, serviceable sprinter driveshaft. Their website HERE shows the same. I called them yesterday and it sounds like they no longer build their own driveshafts for Sprinters... but they DO have a source that builds them for them. It was ~$730 for a 118" driveshaft. Spicer components and U-joints and center support bearing is included. I see Dorman also makes one for the 118" sprinter.
Question 2: Anyone put a Dorman driveshaft on your 118"? Good? bad? Serviceable?
Another option (way better at a surface level observation) for a serviceable drive line (with carrier bearing / center support) is from a place called Powertrain Industries. Part number image shown below. I called them and they referred me to a different place called Driveshaft Pro. Driveshaft Pro (looks like there are a few locations) told me the part number matched BUT they make their own driveshafts there in California. I'm not really sure what the relation (or lack of) between the two companies are. I didn't question too much either.
Powertrain Industries website screen shot:
Question 3: Anyone put a Driveshaft Pro drive line on?
Thanks very much!!
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