Prop shaft and vacuum servo booster.
Good morning all, I have just had my GD 300 booked in for the Terraclean engine clean, whilst it was there I ask the mechanic to look at a couple of small problems!! Firstly the engine shut off had started to play up again, iv had this problem before( split in vacuum pipe) so engine would not quite shut off unless you raised the accelerator peddle, at the same time the gear up shift had started hold on and not change gear at the right time, reading some of the old posts here it looks like it's all linked to the vacuum system, so I'm not too worried!! Also there was a rather annoying small noise coming from underneath the engine somewhere, it was fairly innocuous so nearly didn't even mention it. Good job I did it turns out the small noise is the front prop shaft coming loose( the bit where it joins the front axle ) he says it needs a new one I phone MB, new front prop shaft GD 300 SWB £1400!!! and they don't have any, even in Germany. He put a vacuum test on and everything has a positive, so he said it must be the diaphragm in the servo booster, this would affect gear change as well as shut off, £532.80!!! From Germany.
So the questions are, has anyone got a front prop shaft for a GD 300 SWB, is there a way of repairing the prop ( you can move it about near the front axle ) or is anyone familiar with an after market one.
Can the diaphragm be repaired in the servo booster or is it a whole unit replacement.
And lastly can anyone tell me when il be able to stop spending money on my beloved G? The way I'm going it would have been cheaper to buy a brand new one!
Sorry if this is long winded.
Many thanks Paul
Who did you get to look at it?
If you want another opinion try Paul Webb PW Automotive 13 Rothersthorpe Ave N'pton. Mob: 07969 565100
I have a selection of propshafts should you need one...
When you say loose where it joins the axle, you mean the UJ's are sloppy right? Not just loose fastening (8) bolts?
Cheers Scott
The answer to both is you can have these repaired but at the moment I am unable to give you any contacts as I had erased most of my records. You can search for yourself on Google otherwise wait for some else to answer. I can do another search but it will be after a days time in replying back.
Baileys Propshafts did do repairs; I do not know if they still do.
GKN at I think Leek are the prop boys...
Cheap... Good and mail order type set up...
JasonGDS will confirm as I think Panzer...
Not sure per UJ but not daft money... Plenty of local commercial prop repairers around the country but these guys actually manufacture for MB Germany so should know what they are doing!!!
As for Brake Servo... Hmmm ...second opinion ... Failure is rare apart from 500 owners trying to stop theirs... Sorry Spider...
Not heard of repair either... Can get you good discount if Germany have one... As same as T1 van... Had to get spider one from a German dealer as MBAG didn't have any?!?
PM me if you need more info on either...
Gav
The list below addresses your propshaft repairers - aside from the reputation of Bailey Morris, I have no information on any of the others.
Propshaft repairs/reconditioners
http://www.baileymorris.co.uk/
http://firowpropshafts.clickforward.com/
http://www.northwestpropshafts.com/
http://www.parkinsons.co.uk/Workshops_Overview/Propshafts__Steering_Shaf...
http://www.reco-prop.co.uk/joints?gclid=CKbQ9LbDwL8CFWKWtAodcB8AaA
http://www.dandfltd.co.uk/
http://www.prop-shaft.com/#
Although below are some addresses of brake servo boosters you will need to enquire for your self if they touch a G-Wagen booster. If you need to buy a Mercedes part; I suggest you get in touch with 'cox.adrian' to enquire on your behalf; if he can get a price on your behalf the same from S-tec. Please furnish your chassis number to him to do so.
Brake servo repairs/re-conditioners
http://www.jlspares.com/index.htm
http://www.powertrackbrakes.co.uk/brakes.html
http://www.winbrake.com/prod_brakereconditioning.html#
If you are loosing vacuum at the booster, you would be experiencing poor braking or a heavy brake pedal, you have not complained of this at all. It leads me to think that there is nothing wrong with the booster. 'Vacuuming' for the central locking if your vehicle runs that system, engine stop and gearbox shifting share the brake vacuum system but to a point the system is interrupted by one-way valves effectively separating the vacuum system.
There is, under the near-side front wing a cell of vacuum reservoir to assist in additional vacuum, you need to check pipe connections at the cell. Being a Diesel engine the vacuum is generated by a pump unlike petrol engines. Is the pump generating enough vacuum?
IF you are tempted to source a booster on ebay, beware you select the correct one, for there are four different part numbers listed to match a particular brake master cylinder, depending on its internal bore diameter.
If you want to stick with original MB type UJS that are crimped in try Dave Mac Propshafts , Coventry, they do a very efficient courier pick up and return, ( Though you have to wrap up prop) for about £30, UJ's about £70, plus fitting £40? Plus vat..........
You can get it modified to take normal circlip UJ's, but obviously I think that is non reversible but some have done it successfully,
Re Servo, sure people offer a repair service for these.
Good morning all, many thanks for your help, as usual I am overwhelmed by your response, I will be on the prop shaft case Monday morning, Rakesh thanks for the points you raised, I have a spare pump and the mechanic tried it with no difference so put the original metal one back, you mentioned braking, mine seems to have gone the opposite way ie I just touched the brake and we came to a sharp stop, the gear change has been getting worse gradually indeed I posted a thread here not to long ago about gear box oil change because of a slow up shift from second to third, the oil and filter change made no difference, now the up shift is affecting all gear change, also iv just read on here the auto box should start off in second, mine doesn't it starts off in first, I'm not too sure if this is relevant as it always has done this.
Another question, can i take the front prop off for repair and still run the truck? Iv read on a MB forum that this is possible but only in 4 WD?
Again many thanks.
Sorry also meant to mention the engine shut down has also been a gradual build up, a few weeks ago it stopped just, followed by almost off with the battery and oil light fading to almost off and a slight lift of the accelerator peddle was enough to kill the engine to now were by there is no discernible drop in revs and the dash lights are at full brightness and I have open the bonnet and use the stop lever, you only just have to touch this and the engine stops.
Thanks, Paul.
It could be the diaphragm of the stop lever leaking, try applying an independent source of vacuum to see how the lever shuts down.
The front propshaft can be removed and still maintain drive as your vehicle is part time four wheel drive.
A vacuum fault would not affect the gearbox starting gear; yes the auto box normally starts in second gear in 'D', '3' and '2' but in 'L' it will start in first gear and not upshift. A vacuum fault would affect gear shifting points.
Hi Paul
I have had a new rear prop shaft from Bailey Morris and steering shaft UJ's repaired by GKN. Both were helpful, friendly and gave excellent service.
Also had front prop shaft repaired locally and saved on the carriage . It is heavy! Use someone recommended for this and make sure it is balanced . You will probably need new nuts and bolts for the shaft.
You can drive the car without the front prop but you will lose the speedo - to keep your self legal just use a sat nav.
You have PM..
Hi all, thanks again for all your help, a quick up date, the prop is going up to Dave Macs in Coventry hopefully tomorrow, 3 day turn around and very reasonable, still have issues with the gear up shift and shut off, can someone tell me if this part can be serviced, he seems to think the diaphragm in here has a problem and not the servo as I first thought, apparently it's the main vacuum pump and it's situated at the front of the engine bay just behind the belts, it has much larger vacuum pipes coming off it.
I'm waiting on a return call re the second oppion.
Also just a cursory thought on the gear change, there is no problem with down shift, does down shift not rely on vacuum?
Thanks.
I've read that if you remove the front prop shaft then it is necessary to put the G into 4WD so the front prop output shaft continues to rotate as this turns a oil lube pump for the transfer box.
Hi Roly, yes I h ave read the same yesterday on a general MB forum,
Thanks, Paul.
Hi all, just a quick update, the prop has been repaired at Dave Mac,s, a very efficient service and very reasonable on price, £100 plus vat for replacing one joint and they repaired the other as they said there was a little play in it, also they turned it around in two days, mechanic has not had a chance to check vacuum system yet but that's due on Monday, can anyone tell me if my central locking is vacuum operated?
Thanks, Paul
Hi all, just a quick update, the prop has been repaired at Dave Mac,s, a very efficient service and very reasonable on price, £100 plus vat for replacing one joint and they repaired the other as they said there was a little play in it, also they turned it around in two days, mechanic has not had a chance to check vacuum system yet but that's due on Monday, can anyone tell me if my central locking is vacuum operated?
Thanks, Paul
I seem to recall that unlike most MB's it is not. Don't take my word for it though, wait for someone who knows
Upon locking your vehicle, if your hear a noise of the solenoids engaging then you probably have electric central locking.
I think, I mentioned somewhere above that depending on model you could have vacuum central locking; I could be wrong but my memory is confused, I know generally Mercedes have used both systems but in the G-Class I think, not sure in my mind, they only used electric central locking which was introduced after 1984 model.
To know if one had central locking, a tell tale is by looking at the bottom right corner of the instrument cluster and if you see a green round lens, that is the central locking indicator. The indicator illuminates for a few seconds after the central locking has been activated.
Hi all, the G is back, repaired prop fitted, and it turns out two vacuum leaks on the system, one on the bit that sits on top of the rocker cover that has a few pipes leading from, and one slight leak on the bit that sits on the side of the injection pump, all running fine.
Thanks for all the help, just a quick point about the front prop if anybody is thinking of driving a 460 without it on, on the pointed three star forum there is quite an in depth thread about it, apparently the front prop when turning delivers oil to the rear pump at the transfer case, if you drive without it fitted in two wheel drive it can starve the pump of oil, the front (pump) is not a listed part just a series of grooves and channels. Sorry about my definition but don't drive without it unless you are in four wheel drive.
Hi all, the G is back, repaired prop fitted, and it turns out two vacuum leaks on the system, one on the bit that sits on top of the rocker cover that has a few pipes leading from, and one slight leak on the bit that sits on the side of the injection pump, all running fine.
Thanks for all the help, just a quick point about the front prop if anybody is thinking of driving a 460 without it on, on the pointed three star forum there is quite an in depth thread about it, apparently the front prop when turning delivers oil to the rear pump at the transfer case, if you drive without it fitted in two wheel drive it can starve the pump of oil, the front (pump) is not a listed part just a series of grooves and channels. Sorry about my definition but don't drive without it unless you are in four wheel drive.
Glad you got sorted and your wallet is still intact 
Hi all, the G is back, repaired prop fitted, and it turns out two vacuum leaks on the system, one on the bit that sits on top of the rocker cover that has a few pipes leading from, and one slight leak on the bit that sits on the side of the injection pump, all running fine.
Thanks for all the help, just a quick point about the front prop if anybody is thinking of driving a 460 without it on, on the pointed three star forum there is quite an in depth thread about it, apparently the front prop when turning delivers oil to the rear pump at the transfer case, if you drive without it fitted in two wheel drive it can starve the pump of oil, the front (pump) is not a listed part just a series of grooves and channels. Sorry about my definition but don't drive without it unless you are in four wheel drive.
Glad you got sorted and your wallet is still intact
Not quite intact Gav just another £360! I'm a happy man though It could have been a lot worse!
Very happy with Paul at Phoenix cars. Truck has never changed gear so smooth and never shut off so quick! It must have been an ongoing problem just gradually getting worse.
Morning all, just a quick update on the post, having had the front prop repaired there was still some vibration, on closer inspection it turns out the joints on the short rear prop had seen better days, also the grommet in the bracket that holds the gear box in position had perished so also needed replacing, all that work is now done and the truck is running without any noise or vibration, except I can feel a slight vibration when it's stationary, ie when first started or stopping at a junction although I could be just imagining it as it is slight, is there anything else that could cause it, iv had the third prop inspected and it's fine, thanks.
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Thanks for that gents, yes the prop is loose on the funny looking join not on the axle.