Difference in axles between 460 230/280/300d???

3 replies [Last post]
Sat, 09/10/2004 - 19:42
mercfan
mercfan's picture
Offline
Joined: 31.07.2004
Location: Hertfordshire
GWOA Groups: Members

Hi everyone,
Is there someone out there who can tell me whether there is a difference strength-wise between 460-model 230, 280 or 300d axles,differentials and diff-locks?
I am looking for the strongest possible set-up for a conversion in the near future...
Many thanks

Top
Sat, 09/10/2004 - 21:17
#1
mortinson
mortinson's picture
Offline
Joined: 06.11.2003
Location: Old beehive, Madrid, Spain
Re: Difference in axles between 460 230/280/300d???

mercfan wrote:
Hi everyone,
Is there someone out there who can tell me whether there is a difference strength-wise between 460-model 230, 280 or 300d axles,differentials and diff-locks?
I am looking for the strongest possible set-up for a conversion in the near future...
Many thanks

The axles / differentials / diff locks fitted to the W460 230GE / 280GE / 300GD sold in the UK are exactly the same, with no other difference than the gear ratios of the differential. Therefore, in terms of strengh one should expecte the same from either of them.

In some countries and also for the military, the W461 was offered with heavy-duty axles which had wider track and some beefed-up internals taken from the W463. A handful of these entered the Uk in the nineties as chassis-cab in Puch guise to be sold to the firefighters once bodied by Saxon or other companies, but they are still going strong so don't expect to find a second hand axle of these for sale!

Cheers

Top
Sun, 10/10/2004 - 00:12
#2
mercfan
mercfan's picture
Offline
Joined: 31.07.2004
Location: Hertfordshire
GWOA Groups: Members
Difference in axles between 460 230/280/300d???

Thanks Jesus,
I really appreciate that!
While we are on the subject, is there anything else strength-wise to look for in drive-line components?
And in fitting a powerful engine, is there any advantage in going for a specific model 460 donor vehicle or is everything from the gearbox onwards identical?
Many thanks
Werner

Top
Sun, 10/10/2004 - 17:56
#3
mortinson
mortinson's picture
Offline
Joined: 06.11.2003
Location: Old beehive, Madrid, Spain
Difference in axles between 460 230/280/300d???

mercfan wrote:
While we are on the subject, is there anything else strength-wise to look for in drive-line components?
And in fitting a powerful engine, is there any advantage in going for a specific model 460 donor vehicle or is everything from the gearbox onwards identical?

Within the W460 class the only differentiating component really is the gearbox, given that transferbox, axles, halfshafts, propshafts and CV joints are all equivalent.

The following gearboxes were fitted to the W460:

G1/17 711.2 (G1/18 711.1), four-speed manual, fitted to older 230 G, 230 GE, 240 GD, 300 GD and (in brackets 280 GE).

GL 275 717.42, 5-speed manual, made by Getrag. Fitted to virtually all 460s.

GL 76/27 K-5 717.439, 5-speed manual. Fitted to virtually all 460s and to some 461 and early 463s.

W4A018 720.1, 4-speed Automatic. Fitted to 230 GE, 280 GE and 300 GD.

Apparently, the most robust is the 4-speed automatic, then the 4-speed manual, then the 5-speed Mercedes and then the 5-speed getrag, which is admitedly the weakest of them all. If you fancy a 5-speeder then you have to find out which gearbox is fitted to the car in question.

Arguably, the best gearboxes for off-road use are the G1/18-5/4,7 711.117 and the G1/18-5/6,15 711.116 (both 5-speed manuals). The only difference between the two are the lower ratios fitted to the second one, with a ultra-low 6.17 first gear (as opposed to a 4.7 in the first one). Neither were ever fitted to the 460 and are to be found in the W461 (4.7) and the W461 Military (6.15). I believe that they were fitted to some older Mercedes vans as well, so that's the best way to get hold of one of these.

However, bear in mind that if you are going for a turbo conversion (OM 617 A) no manual transmission will be able to cope with the enormous torque delivered by this engine, so it would be best to use the automatic gearbox mated to the donor engine.

For reference, it's best to use Harols Pietschmann's excellent webpage on G-Wagen gearboxes at: http://4x4abc.com/G-Class/transmissions/getriebe.html , which I have obviously used to write this post (don't ever think that I have so many data in my mind!)

Cheers

Top