K1 Spring Kit installed in 722.3 Transmission - Big WOW

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Mon, 08/04/2013 - 01:00
H1LM002G55
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Mercedes-Benz 722.3XX transmissions are known for being very reliable and robust.

That being said, there are some peculiarities that are particular to these 4 speed gearboxes.

One issue is harsh shifts, particularly from second to third gear.

They are also known for "flaring" issues. 

The K1 portion of the transmission valve body has a captured spring array that can be upgraded. 

You need a K1 Spring Kit from Mercedes-Benz to do the upgrade.

The entire packet of upgraded components costs all of $8.00 USD.

Very worthwhile. 

I just installed the K1 spring Kit in my 500 GE this evening.

All I can say is: Big Wow.

Shifts silky smooth, even smoother than the G55. 

I think I may decide to even dial up the vacuum modulator

to get a firmer shift, it is shifting that nicely. 

Highly recommended to install this kit if you have a 722.3 automatic transmission in your W463. 

Here is the tech article I followed. Very easy to complete this job. Took about 30 minutes.

The procedure was identical for my 722.3 equipped 500 GE. 
 

http://190rev.net/forums/showthread.php?t=37987 
 

Post installation, I drove the 500GE on a highway road trip for about 35 miles. 

The spring kit made a GIANT DIFFERENCE in the driveability

and shift quality of the 500 GE. 

I should have installed this on day one. 

Giant difference. 

Highly recommended. 

Not sure why this is not mentioned more on the W463 forums.

It appears that W124 and W126 owners have known about

the revised K1 spring kit / "Thrust Pin" for years... 
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Sat, 13/04/2013 - 21:02
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gav.helme
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Re: K1 Spring Kit installed in 722.3 Transmission - Big WOW

Hi

A126 270 44 77 Thrust PIn / Spring Kit

£3.60 + vat and in stock at MBUK if anybody is interested....

Gav

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Mon, 15/04/2013 - 01:32
#2
H1LM002G55
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Re: K1 Spring Kit installed in 722.3 Transmission - Big WOW

Highly recommended. Suprised more of the chaps haven't commented on this as of yet. Tech Forum seems slow. It is the time of year? 

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Mon, 15/04/2013 - 23:49
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gav.helme
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Re: K1 Spring Kit installed in 722.3 Transmission - Big WOW

I guess there are not too many V8 500's or 55's about in the UK?

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Tue, 16/04/2013 - 07:29
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Re: K1 Spring Kit installed in 722.3 Transmission - Big WOW

Gav is right there! I think for 2001 alone there were only about 18 in total (both LWB and SWB), for some reason I can only see about half the page  - but for £3.50 - will have to see if I should get one fitted!

cheers for the heads up!

Spider1V

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Tue, 16/04/2013 - 11:51
#5
H1LM002G55
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Re: K1 Spring Kit installed in 722.3 Transmission - Big WOW

Lads:

 

This APPLIES TO ANY G with a 722.3 TRANSMISSION.

 

This transmission is NOT exclusive to the 500GE.

 

The G55 AMG uses a completely different transmission!

 

 

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Tue, 16/04/2013 - 11:51
#6
H1LM002G55
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Re: K1 Spring Kit installed in 722.3 Transmission - Big WOW

Please advise about only being able to see half the page? What do you mean? It shows fine on my screen??? 

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Tue, 16/04/2013 - 21:47
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gav.helme
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Re: K1 Spring Kit installed in 722.3 Transmission - Big WOW

From reading this post and also the original article it looks like this will fit most 463 Auto's on the road

G Wagen 4 speed Auto Box Types

722.3XX - W 4 A 028 - 722.372,722.382,722.396,722.397,722.399 are the common G ones fitted in 300GE and 300GD etc.

Also other 4 speed MB types

722.4XX - W 4 A 020

And maybe 5 speed MB types

722.5XX - W 5 A 030

The later two don't appear to be used in factory G's but may have found their way in from a Car Engine / Box conversion

It does not however seem to suit the later...

722.6XX W 5 A 330 and W 5 A 580 and W 5 A 900 boxes 722.630 is the common V8 one.

That are fitted in the later 463 V8 petrols and high powered diesels

or the very late types

722.9XX W 7 B 700 and W 7 C 700 and W 7 C 1000

That are fitted in the V12's!!!!

This also does not seem to apply to the early types

722.1XX - W 4 A 018 as fitted to the 460 series Auto Boxes

If anybody wants to know what box type is fitted in their G, just send me a PM with your chassis number and i can reply with the details.

Cheers

Gav

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Wed, 17/04/2013 - 09:41
#8
Spider1V
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Re: K1 Spring Kit installed in 722.3 Transmission - Big WOW

Hi Lambo King!

This is what I see, though it is a bit better than when I first read it, can make some more sense of it now yes

Hope all is well in Sunny USA?

Spider1V

 

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Mon, 14/10/2013 - 00:03
#9
Lego
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Re: K1 Spring Kit installed in 722.3 Transmission - Big WOW

Have to agree- Big Wow.

I had the K1 pin upgrade done earlier in year and it has made a huge difference. I  barely notice the auto box changing now. So smooth and quick ,  where as before, the slow and jerky changes were a constant irritation to me.smiley

 

 

 

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Mon, 14/10/2013 - 22:15
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gav.helme
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Re: K1 Spring Kit installed in 722.3 Transmission - Big WOW

Well done Marko

I have supplied 5 of these this year and all report a remarkable improvement

Maybe some of that is down to the correct fluid level / new fluid after the job is done

But it still seems to do a good job

Gav

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Mon, 14/10/2013 - 22:31
#11
kyrad
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Re: K1 Spring Kit installed in 722.3 Transmission - Big WOW

hiya Gav, we have this jerking too, would one of these pins do the job for us too?

Yvonne

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Mon, 14/10/2013 - 23:24
#12
Lego
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Re: K1 Spring Kit installed in 722.3 Transmission - Big WOW

Your right Gav, the new fluid alone would have made an noticeable improvement, but the bigger  stronger spring just kills any hesitancy,  giving a much quicker/slicker change i think.

thank you Parts Guru!

PS. I need a thermostat.

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Mon, 14/10/2013 - 23:21
#13
gav.helme
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Re: K1 Spring Kit installed in 722.3 Transmission - Big WOW

Hi Yvonne

No it would appear not, yours is the later 722.638 type W 5 A 580 - 5 speed box

A completely different Gearbox type to the earlier 4 speed

A fluid level check / change is never a bad start with any Auto Box especially if you dont know when it was last done

Poor oil quality and low level can soon upset the fine balance of the gear shifts.

Dont forget that there is a Filter in there too and the Sump Gasket on the Box usually needs replacing once disturbed

Hope you all good

Did the dash light ever show its face again?

Gav

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Mon, 14/10/2013 - 23:25
#14
gav.helme
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Re: K1 Spring Kit installed in 722.3 Transmission - Big WOW

LOL

You have PM

Gav

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Tue, 15/10/2013 - 22:43
#15
kyrad
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Re: K1 Spring Kit installed in 722.3 Transmission - Big WOW

Thanks for that, will get garage to check it out, think the transfer box message is connected too.

all on the backburner now cos a numpty crashed into the back of it so its in the body shop at the moment  sadbroken heart

Yvonne

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