Auto transmission failure
04-26-2012, 05:17 PM
#16
Rennlist Member
God what are we going to do when Greg retires?
07-12-2012, 07:37 PM
#19
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Finally got around to disassembling my transmission. Here is a pic of the B2 band failure. You can see one of the break points is right at the casting break.
The other pic is of my B1 band. It is in great shape except right at the edge of the split. It is normal to wear at that location? Should I change it or just go ahead and run it?
The other pic is of my B1 band. It is in great shape except right at the edge of the split. It is normal to wear at that location? Should I change it or just go ahead and run it?
07-12-2012, 07:54 PM
#20
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
My B2 piston did not fail and is the most up to date version. Attached is a pic of my B2 shock absorber. I think this is the most up to date as well. Can someone verify and tell me if it looks ok? I am still searching for a reason for this B2 band failure. It may have been just a manufacturing flaw or something like that, but don't want to re-assemble without checking out everything I can.
07-12-2012, 10:36 PM
#21
Rennlist
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The B1 band wear is where they all start to wear. I've never seen one with that much wear. I replace them with a lot less wear than that, so I have no idea on how long that will function.
I'm really not the best guy to talk to about "how long will this part actually function", especially in one of these automatics. I don't think they are much fun to take in and out, nor do I think they are easy to rebuild. Therefore, I do not "mess around" with anything that has/shows wear....I put in a "new" part.
You really need to find one of those "Rebuilt Mercedes Transmisisons for $1495.00" guys to tell you how long used/worn pieces last. They've got all this stuff figured out, since the less new parts they install, the more money they make.
I finally got so tired of "rebuilt tranmsmissions" that lasted for a couple of years, or that shifted very poorly, that I had no choice but to figure out how to rebuilt these things, myself. The very last one that I sent out for a rebuild (which worked so poorly that I had to take it apart and redo it myself) had a gasket set and new clutches installed....that's it. There were hot spots on the steels, worn bands, etc. The valve body (which obviously had not been taken apart, but simply rinsed off) had two broken springs internally. The differential had been removed, set to the side, and then bolted back on.
That's not a "rebuild". That's a "repair".
I'm really not the best guy to talk to about "how long will this part actually function", especially in one of these automatics. I don't think they are much fun to take in and out, nor do I think they are easy to rebuild. Therefore, I do not "mess around" with anything that has/shows wear....I put in a "new" part.
You really need to find one of those "Rebuilt Mercedes Transmisisons for $1495.00" guys to tell you how long used/worn pieces last. They've got all this stuff figured out, since the less new parts they install, the more money they make.
I finally got so tired of "rebuilt tranmsmissions" that lasted for a couple of years, or that shifted very poorly, that I had no choice but to figure out how to rebuilt these things, myself. The very last one that I sent out for a rebuild (which worked so poorly that I had to take it apart and redo it myself) had a gasket set and new clutches installed....that's it. There were hot spots on the steels, worn bands, etc. The valve body (which obviously had not been taken apart, but simply rinsed off) had two broken springs internally. The differential had been removed, set to the side, and then bolted back on.
That's not a "rebuild". That's a "repair".
__________________
greg brown
714 879 9072
GregBBRD@aol.com
Semi-retired, as of Feb 1, 2023.
The days of free technical advice are over.
Free consultations will no longer be available.
Will still be in the shop, isolated and exclusively working on project cars, developmental work and products, engines and transmissions.
Have fun with your 928's people!
greg brown
714 879 9072
GregBBRD@aol.com
Semi-retired, as of Feb 1, 2023.
The days of free technical advice are over.
Free consultations will no longer be available.
Will still be in the shop, isolated and exclusively working on project cars, developmental work and products, engines and transmissions.
Have fun with your 928's people!
07-13-2012, 12:38 AM
#22
Rennlist Member
Greg,
Thanks for your fair and honest answers. I too have had some bad luck with rebuilt transmissions for other cars. My wife's old Mazda 6 had the main shaft of the trans break while exiting the highway. Just great. Instead of fixing it, I bought an e39 BMW 530. My last one lasted over 12 years with just over 2k maintenance at the dealer. I did all the rest. I paid 10k for the car with 73k miles on it and put over 250k on it and sold it for 3k. If I can get those kind of numbers on this one, then I think there can't be much better value in awsome transportation out there. It is fun too but no where near as fun as my shark. Gets much better gas mileage though.
Greg, would you be willing to put together a price for a kit that I could buy from you to do this myself. I have rebuilt many transmissions over the last 40 years so I think I can do it. It would be nice to have all the parts to get it done when I begin. Since my engine was just rebuilt, it would be nice to do the same with the other end. Then I should have a shark that will last me the rest of my life. That is my goal. I fighre I might have 30 - 35 years left...LOL
I pary to God that I can work in a Silver State Classic on at least one of those years. It is tops on my bucket list.
Thanks for all your help to all of us. I love the way you think and work. I can't always afford it and sometimes even have to make a part but I have managed to get by for 40 years or so.
Thanks for your fair and honest answers. I too have had some bad luck with rebuilt transmissions for other cars. My wife's old Mazda 6 had the main shaft of the trans break while exiting the highway. Just great. Instead of fixing it, I bought an e39 BMW 530. My last one lasted over 12 years with just over 2k maintenance at the dealer. I did all the rest. I paid 10k for the car with 73k miles on it and put over 250k on it and sold it for 3k. If I can get those kind of numbers on this one, then I think there can't be much better value in awsome transportation out there. It is fun too but no where near as fun as my shark. Gets much better gas mileage though.
Greg, would you be willing to put together a price for a kit that I could buy from you to do this myself. I have rebuilt many transmissions over the last 40 years so I think I can do it. It would be nice to have all the parts to get it done when I begin. Since my engine was just rebuilt, it would be nice to do the same with the other end. Then I should have a shark that will last me the rest of my life. That is my goal. I fighre I might have 30 - 35 years left...LOL
I pary to God that I can work in a Silver State Classic on at least one of those years. It is tops on my bucket list.
Thanks for all your help to all of us. I love the way you think and work. I can't always afford it and sometimes even have to make a part but I have managed to get by for 40 years or so.
07-13-2012, 10:35 AM
#23
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Greg,
Thanks for the info. Did you have a chance to look for a B1 band to sell? I already have the B2 you sent me and it looks perfect. Do you have and opinion on why my B2 failed? Does my shock absorber look ok to you?
Thanks for the info. Did you have a chance to look for a B1 band to sell? I already have the B2 you sent me and it looks perfect. Do you have and opinion on why my B2 failed? Does my shock absorber look ok to you?
07-13-2012, 07:50 PM
#24
I only mention the updated "shock absorber" because it logically seems to me that if the B2 piston "hits" the brake band harder...it might be possible for this harder "hit" to break the band. I actually
All of the B2 band pieces have been superceeded several times since your transmisson was built. I try to keep the whole thing pretty simple and install a new band, with an updated piston, with an updated "shock absorber" everytime I rebuild one of these. Seems like that gives my customers the best chance of getting something that lasts.
I looked in my box-o-used transmssion pieces and found the B2 band I was thinking of. It is a band with the updated newer material (meaning it got replaced at some point in time) and appears to be perfect. Since I think a "rebuild" should be a "rebuild" and not a "replacement only of the pieces that won't last 24,000 miles" (like most automatic transmission rebuilders), I set this to the side. Yours for $150.00, if you want a perfect looking, updated, used part.
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have no idea why they change this stuff....again, they are way, way smarter about their own transmissions than I could ever be.
I looked in my box-o-used transmssion pieces and found the B2 band I was thinking of. It is a band with the updated newer material (meaning it got replaced at some point in time) and appears to be perfect. Since I think a "rebuild" should be a "rebuild" and not a "replacement only of the pieces that won't last 24,000 miles" (like most automatic transmission rebuilders), I set this to the side. Yours for $150.00, if you want a perfect looking, updated, used part.
