Author Topic: Drive Line Alignement - How?  (Read 3892 times)

Pawel66

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Poland, Mazowieckie, Konstancin-Jeziorna
  • Posts: 5494
Drive Line Alignement - How?
« on: July 27, 2016, 20:58:03 »
Dear All,

Any idea how to achieve this, as pictured?



Preferably in a simple way  :P.

Reading through posts I found just one advise - turn the shaft and see if flex disc turns around the middle - I am not sure if this is compelling, actually...
Also: the German text does not say how to do it. It just says this alignement is important. Can help save the bonnet.

Best regards,
Pawel
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class

Tyler S

  • Associate Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Encinitas
  • Posts: 1613
Re: Drive Line Alignement - How?
« Reply #1 on: July 28, 2016, 06:39:45 »
The red arrow under the transmission is meant to show where shim washers can be added to the transmission mount bolt where it attaches to the large plate. Add washers between the plate and mount to raise the rear of the trans to align the driveshaft to the carrier bearing. Do this only if your mount is new. Most of the time a new trans mount is all thats needed. The rear should be ok if your diff mounts are good.
1968 (67) 250sl. 4 speed manual. DB180 Silver
1955 220 Cabriolet A. White Grey
2019 E450 Wagon. Majestic Blue
1936 Ford PU Flathead V8. Creme on tan interior.
1989 Volkswagen T3 Westfailia Campmobile. Dove Grey (blue)

Pawel66

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Poland, Mazowieckie, Konstancin-Jeziorna
  • Posts: 5494
Re: Drive Line Alignement - How?
« Reply #2 on: July 28, 2016, 11:38:16 »
Yes - this I know, thank you. The car is after a complete overhaul. The mountings (all three) are new OEM, but for now no shims were added. I need to raise the back of the gear box a bit as the rear part of the engine touches the steering rod occasionally.

What I am after is how to determine that the line is straight, i.e. ther is right amount of shims added? Is there a way to somehow measure it? What I can think of is to try to look inside the shaft tube with a mirror and see "by eye" if it is straight, but there must be a more "scientific" method...

Pawel
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class

UJJ

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • USA, CA, Grass Valley
  • Posts: 327
Re: Drive Line Alignement - How?
« Reply #3 on: July 28, 2016, 12:08:10 »
I use a caliper and measure the distance between gearbox output shaft flange and the flange of the driveshaft. Then I shim until the flanges are parallel.
However, you have to insure that the sub frame is not "hanging" while you do this, as it would be the case when the car is on a 4 arm lift.
I raise the car with my 4 arm lift and then I put my transmission jack under the sub frame and raise it until there is no load on the lift arms in the front.
Of course the best would be a drive-on lift or ramps, then the car rests on its wheels.
Hope this helps, Urban
Urban Janssen
Grass Valley, CA
1968 280 SL - 4speed manual
173 anthracite grey

Tomnistuff

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • Canada, Qc, Levis
  • Posts: 947
Re: Drive Line Alignement - How?
« Reply #4 on: July 28, 2016, 15:39:55 »
There are previous threads that discuss this.  Although I have not found definitive answers there, there are suggestions for techniques to try.  If you search "driveline alignment", the threads will pop up.
Tom Kizer
Apparently late 1966 230SL 4-spd manual (Italian Version)
Owned since 1987 and wrapping up a full rotisserie restoration/modernization.
Was: Papyrus White 717G with Turquoise MBtex 112 and Kinderseat
Is: Dark Blue 332G with Dark Blue Leather (5300, I think)

cfm65@me.com

  • Associate Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • Cape Town, South Africa
  • Posts: 739
Re: Drive Line Alignement - How?
« Reply #5 on: July 28, 2016, 17:15:50 »
Hi Powel,
A tip I recieved from the E Type forum was to undo the bolts of the prop shaft joints a little, only a mm or so.  Then turn the prop shaft and the joint will open up and clearly show if not alligned. Adjust the mountings until the joints remain closed before tightening the bolts.
Regards
Chris
28 Ford Model A Pickup
29 Chevy Phaeton
67 E Type FHC
67 250SL 5 speed
83 911SC
2015 VW T5 California Pop Top

Pawel66

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Poland, Mazowieckie, Konstancin-Jeziorna
  • Posts: 5494
Re: Drive Line Alignement - How?
« Reply #6 on: July 28, 2016, 22:09:39 »
Thank you for your kind advise!

I think I will know what to do!

Pawel
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class