[W126 Coupe] 7" of play in park

[FPecar4525 at aol.com]

In a message dated 9/15/2009 6:20:00 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
dan at landiss.com writes:

So let's  see if some arithmetic works.

8 teeth = 0.125 turns maximum of the  drive shaft before engagement

2.47 axle ratio so 0.125/2.47 = 0.0506  turns of the rear tires

0.0506 turns times 80 inch tire circumference =  4 inches of travel maximum 
(2" average) before a tooth falls into  place

That's to GAIN locked position. Anything after that has to be  drive line 
free play?


And herein lies the problem.  When this happened on all the  MBZs I have 
owned from the day they left the dealership new, I never got out and  measured 
the distance the car rolled nor did I keep a log to determine if it  
occurred each and every time I parked the car in my garage.  It could have  been 
only 4" but since most cars I owned up to that point did not do that, I  
noticed the event and it "felt" significant and unusual.  
 
What I am saying is that this discussion has evolved to where  numbers are 
being thrown around between 4" and 12" and solutions being provided  that 
are making assumptions about a disaster scenario.  It would appear  that 
proper troubleshooting procedure would have the actual travel distance  measured 
and disregard as a problem if it is 4" or less.
 
My thanks to Dan for doing the math on this issue.
 
Frank Pecarich
Ventura
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