New Futures of M45/M46
M45/M46
Shift Selector Rail
Transmission housing contains one shift selector rail (previously 3).
Spring And Stop Lugs
Spring on transmission cover keeps reverse shift selector in position. Three stop lugs for selector plates are also included on cover. Recess for one shift selector rail has been removed, making cover flatter.
Input Shaft
The input shaft has 22 splines (previously 10). Clutch disc is changed to accommodate the new shaft.
5111 Centering Drift:
Centering Drift
Centering drift for new clutch plate. Centering drift P/N 999 5111 is required for centering the clutch plate on the new M 45/M 46 transmission.
Gear-change controls
The gear-change controls consist of gear selector rail, gear selector, two (shift) forks, flange and selector plates. Gear selector rail is located in transmission housing. Shift forks move on gear selector rail. The flange also sits on the gear selector rail but is held in position by a pin.
Selector Plates
The transmission has two selector plates which are controlled by three guides in the transmission housing. They are held in position by the return spring and transmission cover.
The selector plates contain slots in which the flange, shift forks and reverse gear selector run.
Selector plates are designed so that both plates are actuated by the flange and move sideways.
When the gear lever is moved forward or rearward the flange actuates only the lower (small) plate which moves rearward and forward. Gear-changing movement is transmitted (as described above) to the shift fork or gear selector (reverse) which engage the desired gear.
Synchronizing Parts
Sharp points are machined into the teeth on third and fourth gears.
The recesses in the synchronizing rings are narrow to facilitate changing gears.
Shift Forks
The shift forks are made of steel and have loose brass lugs.
Gear Lever
The bottom section of the gear lever (ball end) is a one piece design. (Previously the parts were welded together.) This change allows the pull rod to operate on the outside (previously inside).
- Longer interlock sleeve prevents jamming
- Wider diameter ball.
- Ball locating spring is replaced by two rubber dampers.
- Reverse slot is on left side of lever instead of the rear.
Gear Lever Carrier
The carrier consists of a rectangular tube and bracket welded together. Four bolts secure the carrier to the transmission housing. (These same bolts secure the transmission rear cover.)
Oil Change
Another interesting new feature is the exclusion of oil change every 30,000 mi. The oil is changed only in connection with the warranty service. The oil level is subsequently checked at the ordinary servicing.
Gear Lever Cover
New gear lever cover in black leather on all 6-cylinder models with manual transmission.
Manual Transmission
Manual transmissions have been equipped with needle bearings for first, second and third gear. This does not affect the repair methods for manual transmission.