oh ceratec … ok interesting choice
CLA250 4MATIC Rear Differential DIY-able?
Hello guys. My CLA250 is just out of warranty and the rear diff is acting up. I was looking to swap in a rear diff off of a crashed CLA and see if it would fix it since Mercedes wants $5000 for the repair. My question is has anyone tried this yet? Is it plug and play or does Mercedes need to re-learn this replacement diff? Is it going to fully just reject this donor differential since its not "new" or "unmarried"? Any help is appreciated.
P.S. I tried calling my local dealers for information and no one is picking up the phones..
P.S. I tried calling my local dealers for information and no one is picking up the phones..
81 - 94 of 94 Posts
Hello,Hello guys. My CLA250 is just out of warranty and the rear diff is acting up. I was looking to swap in a rear diff off of a crashed CLA and see if it would fix it since Mercedes wants $5000 for the repair. My question is has anyone tried this yet? Is it plug and play or does Mercedes need to re-learn this replacement diff? Is it going to fully just reject this donor differential since its not "new" or "unmarried"? Any help is appreciated.
P.S. I tried calling my local dealers for information and no one is picking up the phones..
Before taking Any repair action, try to add 1 bottle of"Ceratec " from liqui molly to the rear differential and test it.
It works with my car, the shutter or noise is reduced to 95%.
It depends on how serious is the problem with the RD.
Good luck
Hello everybody,
I am new to the forum and I recently bought a CLA 250 4MATIC which should have had some rear differential issues (at least that's what the previous owner told me). He told me, that after Mercedes changed the rear differential fluid, the car started making noise and was stuttering in corners and during braking. Mercedes quoted him 6900.- Swiss Francs to replace the rear axle (which includes the differential).
I got the car for cheap and wanted to fix the issue by myself. However, I was not able to replicate the problem. I was plowing though snow and everything, drove with multiple people and nobody was recognizing any issue.
So now I am here... what am I missing? Is this an issue which happens only one in a while? Whats the best way to replicate the problem (maybe activate the solenoid manually (whit Mercedes diagnosis software) and see if anything happens during a corner or so)? Does anybody has a video of the problem?
Thanks in advance for your help.
I am new to the forum and I recently bought a CLA 250 4MATIC which should have had some rear differential issues (at least that's what the previous owner told me). He told me, that after Mercedes changed the rear differential fluid, the car started making noise and was stuttering in corners and during braking. Mercedes quoted him 6900.- Swiss Francs to replace the rear axle (which includes the differential).
I got the car for cheap and wanted to fix the issue by myself. However, I was not able to replicate the problem. I was plowing though snow and everything, drove with multiple people and nobody was recognizing any issue.
So now I am here... what am I missing? Is this an issue which happens only one in a while? Whats the best way to replicate the problem (maybe activate the solenoid manually (whit Mercedes diagnosis software) and see if anything happens during a corner or so)? Does anybody has a video of the problem?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Mercedes won’t have changed any differential fluid as you’re never going to find a dealer willing to do this work. According to them, the fluid is ‘lifetime’ (define lifetime, to me a car should last hundreds of thousands of miles if serviced in accordance with the schedule - not 10 years). As it’s ‘lifetime’ they won’t touch it.after Mercedes changed the rear differential fluid,
I’ve just bought a CLA250 4MATIC. Don’t appear to be having issues, feel a minor clunk when I come to a stop buy that could be the DCT shifting back to 1st. Wondering if anyone has any better information on how to keep these differentials running well?
Hello,Hello everybody,
I am new to the forum and I recently bought a CLA 250 4MATIC which should have had some rear differential issues (at least that's what the previous owner told me). He told me, that after Mercedes changed the rear differential fluid, the car started making noise and was stuttering in corners and during braking. Mercedes quoted him 6900.- Swiss Francs to replace the rear axle (which includes the differential).
I got the car for cheap and wanted to fix the issue by myself. However, I was not able to replicate the problem. I was plowing though snow and everything, drove with multiple people and nobody was recognizing any issue.
So now I am here... what am I missing? Is this an issue which happens only one in a while? Whats the best way to replicate the problem (maybe activate the solenoid manually (whit Mercedes diagnosis software) and see if anything happens during a corner or so)? Does anybody has a video of the problem?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Before taking Any repair action, try to add 1 bottle of " Ceratec " from liqui molly to the rear differential and test it.
It works with my car, the shutter or noise is reduced to 95%.
It depends on how serious is the problem with the RD.
Good luck
Hello,Hello guys. My CLA250 is just out of warranty and the rear diff is acting up. I was looking to swap in a rear diff off of a crashed CLA and see if it would fix it since Mercedes wants $5000 for the repair. My question is has anyone tried this yet? Is it plug and play or does Mercedes need to re-learn this replacement diff? Is it going to fully just reject this donor differential since its not "new" or "unmarried"? Any help is appreciated.
P.S. I tried calling my local dealers for information and no one is picking up the phones..
Before taking Any repair action, try to add 1 bottle of"Ceratec " from liqui molly to the rear differential and test it.
It works with my car, the shutter or noise is reduced to 95%.
It depends on how serious is the problem with the RD.
Good luck
Rather than add this Ceratec product, why doesn't anyone just drain and refill the original fluid like pretty much any other car with a rear differential would require?
When I had a 2007 Honda Legend with SHAWD (torque vectoring 4WD) then the rear differential needed a fluid change every 10 years or 50,000 miles or something like that.
Anyway, I drained the fluid and filled with fresh stuff - big colour difference between the two from memory just like engine oil.
You wouldn't run an engine for 60,000 miles on the same oil so why does Mercedes expect the rear differential to basically last 'the life of the vehicle' without changing? Unless the life of the vehicle is meant to be so short that it should be an embarrassment to MB.
I mean, look at these couple of videos that seem to suggest draining and refilling fluid, the second one is pretty comprehensive.
When I had a 2007 Honda Legend with SHAWD (torque vectoring 4WD) then the rear differential needed a fluid change every 10 years or 50,000 miles or something like that.
Anyway, I drained the fluid and filled with fresh stuff - big colour difference between the two from memory just like engine oil.
You wouldn't run an engine for 60,000 miles on the same oil so why does Mercedes expect the rear differential to basically last 'the life of the vehicle' without changing? Unless the life of the vehicle is meant to be so short that it should be an embarrassment to MB.
I mean, look at these couple of videos that seem to suggest draining and refilling fluid, the second one is pretty comprehensive.
yeah mention the same thing elsewhere
many posts noted a basic fluid change improved the diff
with the caveat nothing was destroyed beyond a fluid change fix
many posts noted a basic fluid change improved the diff
with the caveat nothing was destroyed beyond a fluid change fix
I don't fully understand your message. I can only find people suggesting Ceratec, I've not seen any threads on here detailing the diff fluid replacement - listing the correct fluid to purchase for example.yeah mention the same thing elsewhere
many posts noted a basic fluid change improved the diff
with the caveat nothing was destroyed beyond a fluid change fix
If 'nothing is destroyed beyond a fluid change', why are there no threads on here detailing the fluid change process and instead only calling to put an additive into already spent fluid? (Ceratec)
Thanks!
quite a few remedy posts noting some issues resolved with fluid change tho usually by dealer or indy not diy
I will have my rear-diff fluid changed in April when the car goes in for a pretty comprehensive service. I'm travelling from Scotland to London onto Southern Paris, Geneva and then the Tuscany region of Italy! Still to plan my journey back home but it will be a good 4,000 mile journey or more.quite a few remedy posts noting some issues resolved with fluid change tho usually by dealer or indy not diy
oh good lord thats gonna one helluva trip!!!
post some pix along the way and show off your nice pretty chariot and quiet diff 😋
post some pix along the way and show off your nice pretty chariot and quiet diff 😋
@RydoMcG still waiting on those pics! haha
Hi guys, just read through all the comments and oh man do I feel somewhat relieved that I'm not the only one experiencing a world of pain with my 2014 CLA45 AMG. "misery does love company"
I've had the car since 2018 and it's been issue after issue (Wheel bearings, transmission replacement, brakes and turbo leak) and now a RD issue that seems to be common issue with the CLA design. The transmission alone was $13k AUD.
Thanks for the advice, I've told my mechanic to disconnect the solenoid and see how it goes, but like others have said a replacement will resolve the issue as it appears this a MB design flaw, we should definitely have sue for a class action if they know about this issue!!
Would be keen to hear if any has good news after a rear diff replacement?
Hi guys, just read through all the comments and oh man do I feel somewhat relieved that I'm not the only one experiencing a world of pain with my 2014 CLA45 AMG. "misery does love company"
I've had the car since 2018 and it's been issue after issue (Wheel bearings, transmission replacement, brakes and turbo leak) and now a RD issue that seems to be common issue with the CLA design. The transmission alone was $13k AUD.
Thanks for the advice, I've told my mechanic to disconnect the solenoid and see how it goes, but like others have said a replacement will resolve the issue as it appears this a MB design flaw, we should definitely have sue for a class action if they know about this issue!!
Would be keen to hear if any has good news after a rear diff replacement?
81 - 94 of 94 Posts
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