Crankshaft bearing colour codes

The standard size crankshaft bearings are available in two sizes/thicknesses. See below for the 117.985 (K-jet 4.5 Euro) engine.

A 116 030 05 40 52 which is painted blue
A 116 030 05 40 56 which is painted red

Can anyone tell me what the thickness is for each colour code, or at least which is thicker and which is thinner?

What I have found out so far from the MB documentation is that the standard shell thickness is 2.25mm and that the BLUE coded part is fractionally thinner and the RED fractionally thicker.

The Glyco aftermarket part H801/5 STD is sometimes referred to (but not always) as being equivalent to the A 116 030 05 40 56 which is painted red. I found the content below in the Glyco catalog which shows the thickness to be 2.254mm which stacks up with it being fractionally larger than the nominal size.



The bad news is that the thrust bearings (A 116 030 00 45 - 56
red version) are no longer available form Mercedes or any aftermarket supplier.

Hi Jim,

at least you found something. I searched yesterday and didn't find anything. As far as I understood, the Glyco H801/5 STD is a set that contains all 5 bearings. But, as you stated, not available, at least not right now. Is your engine already in bits? What is your reason to replace the bearings while keeping the standard size?

Regards, Lutz

Hi Lutz,

Luckily the engine is still in the car and is working well, however the engine does have a few issues, minor oil leak from the rear crank seal, minor oil leak from one of the cylinder head gaskets, minor coolant leak from the water pump housing, oil fouling on spark plug 1. I also had an issue with one of the valve guides on cylinder 1. In addition I plan to take the engine out so I can paint the engine bay.

It would be possible to live with these minor engine issues in the short term, but I plan to keep the car for the long term, so while it is out I will tackle them all. Since the heads will be off, I may as well also change the crank bearings, big end bearing, piston rings, lower chain guides, valve guides and crank sprocket etc. My assumption is that the block and crank-main and big end bearings will still be in fairly good condition. I really don't want to get into machining the crank and block.

Over the last couple of days I have started to create an inventory of all the parts I will need and discovered that the crank bearings are not available form aftermarket and that the larger (RED) standard size of thrust bearing is no longer available.

I want to source either the Glyco or the OEM RED bearings as there will inevitably be some wear on the crank and these will take up the slack better than the BLUE alternative.

One possible solution is to use the RED main bearings from MB which are still available and the BLUE thrust bearing which is still available but the price for these two simple shells is ridiculous from MB, Euro 344, although MB sells them for less than 100 in the USA.

Hi Jim,

you could possibly contact Glyco and ask if and when the bearings will be available again.
Just to be certain: you saw that there is not only the standard size but also 4 different repair sizes?

Regards, Lutz

Hi Lutz, yes I saw that, I also sent two parts enquiries and awaiting a response.

The first oversize thrust bearing alone is 320 Euro. No oversize kits are available from Glyco either.

Hi Jim,

usually there is no wear on the crankshaft side. As I understood you don't have an actual problem, so you should buy some Plastic Gauge and check the play first.

Martin

Cool stuff!

Hi Martin, that is my plan to check the existing clearances first. But want to make sure replacement parts are still available before starting the tear down.

It is pretty worrying for the community that rebuilds are being jeopardised by a lack of crank bearings.

Some good news today, I received the last set of standard main bearings from a supplier in Estonia. I may or may not need them but I am relieved to have them in stock now. The MB price for the set (blue only, no red left) is now more than 600 Euro. I have now almost all the parts I need for a rebuild, however my wife saw a new (old) house today that she wants us to buy, that could put the plan on hold for a year.

Congratulations, looks like a real bargain!
I keep my fingers crossed that the house is already sold .....

Regards,
Lutz

In the end my wife decided that the new house was too far away from her mother so the engine rebuild is back on. It would have been nice as it had a large double garage at the back and space to build a good workshop.



I have now collected most of the parts I need to get started but will probably not start till we get into November, still hoping for a few more driving days yet. The existing tensioner is only a few months old and the chain as less than 11k miles so will reuse both. Other parts like big end bearings are still fairly easy to get, the remainder of the parts will be inspected and replaced or reused depending on condition. That lot doesn't look like much but came to ~£1100, a new set of oversize pistons will be £1200 if I need them plus any machining to the block. I will also replace the transmission filter, main front/rear seals, and front O ring, as well as rebuild the power steering box.



Does anyone have any thoughts on whether to use standard or chrome plated piston rings?