1981 240D four speed, like title says it has a shudder when you take off in 1st gear. The car has had this since we purchased it 25,000 miles or over 3 years ago. The prior owner died, all I have is a work order that states it was due for a clutch 25,000 miles ago and it was clutch chatter. A reasonable claim, but here we are having taught two teenagers how to drive stick and the clutch still works with no slip, just the chatter.

The chatter has developed into more of a shudder. Now you can feel it when you start, back up and shift from 1st to 2nd. It’s time to have this repaired, I just don’t believe it’s the clutch at this point. It feels like axle tramp (like doing a burn out with IRS and lots of power), but this car doesn’t have enough power to suffer from that.

This car is just too nice to put up with it driving like this and it’s getting bad. I didn’t want fix the chatter at first since it seemed like a clutch and I had two girls to teach how to drive stick. Well, now it’s time.

I’m thinking i will take the car to Mercedes by Maurice in Costa Mesa, Ca in a couple of weeks since that is our local W123 guru, I just hate going to a new mechanic blind. They have a good reputation, but some education would be appreciated.

Any thoughts or experience with this?

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1981 240D Four on the floor, Orient Red over Parchment, bought with 154,000 but it's a daily driver and up to 180,000 miles, mostly original paint and all original interior.

It likely is the clutch. Any old Benz's sitting around the shop going to do the work? Usually a good sign.

Be certain there aren't any oil leaks that would allow oil on the new clutch before installing the new one, fix them first,

Replace both the pilot and throwout bearings, friction disc and pressure plate. Resurface the flywheel. Supply new shifter bushings and have them installed. Change the oil in the transmission. Source a throwout bearing arm/fork from a returnable source??? or know where to get one quickly...it's about not tieing up their lift and still replacing it if needed.

If you can, put alignment/reference marks on all of the driveshaft components before disassembly.

Check the driveshaft center support and bearing, and flex discs beforehand and have them if needed. The driveshaft is coming out anyway. If the flex discs are being reused, get new nuts for the old bolts.

Change the oil in the differential.

Hope the clutch master and slave cylinders are good.

Good luck!!!

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"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

If you are in 2nd gear driving at say 35 MPH, depress the clutch a bit until it slips , rev the engine to say 1,500 RPM over road speed then engage ( slide ) the clutch, does the chatter occur?

Chatter can occur is oil is on the lining due to a leak. If you have access to any of the clutch, depress the peddle and spray brake cleaner on the disc / flywheel / pressure plate and see if that makes any change.

Another issue is that a CV joint can wear and spin off center causing a vibration as can a drive shaft center bearing rubber mount failure.

As mentioned :

Jack up and safely block the car, force the clutch pedal to the floor and wedge it there, release the park brake and engage second gear, go under the car with some brake cleaner that has the red plastic snorkel , wear safety glasses and spray the cleaner in between the clutch disc & flywheel as you use your foot to toted the rear tire and thereby the clutch disc....

DISCLAIMER : I've never done this in a W123 Mercedes but have done it on plenty of old vehicles that had clutch judder .

You'd be wise to check all the engine and tranny mounts too .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Well, it certainly feels like a worn clutch starting in 1st gear, the other issues made me suspect of the trans or rear diff mounts. I guess I should be happy both kids learned to drive before the tired clutch gave up the ghost.

Thanks

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1981 240D Four on the floor, Orient Red over Parchment, bought with 154,000 but it's a daily driver and up to 180,000 miles, mostly original paint and all original interior.

A worn clutch will slip not chatter. Chatter is due to contamination ( oil ) on the friction surface causing a slide / sudden stick effect.

I describe it as grabbing. Anyways you will not know what the issue really is until you get it apart. It does sound like oil though.


Spraying it as mentioned costs little. If it stops the issue. You may only have to do it again at wide spread intervals. It could also prove it is a clutch issue if it works. As it sounds like you may have some doubts.


At least get some estimate from the fellow you want to use. Plus one from a reputable transmission place. There is really nothing special dealing with a clutch issue on these cars. That I can think of .


Have a look at the back of the engine. If oil is going down the back of the block. Over time some might have seeped into the bell housing.

If you don’t mind driving a little farther, I highly recommend Silver Star Service located on Garvey Avenue in Monterey Park. I have been taking all of my Mercedes repairs (W123, ML 350, W108, W111) to them for years and they do quality honest work at a reasonable rate. The owner is Robert Wong.

Thanks for all of the suggestions, I’ll get it to the shop and have look when they get it air.

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1981 240D Four on the floor, Orient Red over Parchment, bought with 154,000 but it's a daily driver and up to 180,000 miles, mostly original paint and all original interior.

There is a gauge to tell if the clutch friction plate is won.
Of course Oil on the flywheel will also cause the same symptoms.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

if high mileage motor use a dial indicator, on crank pully,have some press clutch.If to much movement thrust bearing are shot. Seen people put new clutch in every 3 months

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran, deutschland deutschland uber alles uber alles in der welt

The clutch can chatter due to the friction material drawing moisture from sitting too. I had one that did that and I just concentrated on giving it a bit more rpm when taking off and wore off the chattery bits. After that I just drove it normally and it was fine.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.