722.6 Master Overhaul Kit with Frictions and Steels

This is a master overhaul kit for the Mercedes-Benz 722.6 five-speed automatic, the unit Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep sold under the NAG1 name as the W5A580 and W5A380. It covers the friction and steel plates for the clutch packs plus the overhaul rubber: O-rings, sealing rings and the molded pan gasket that carries the solenoid seals around the conductor plate.

The 722.6 went into service in the mid-1990s and stayed in production for well over a decade, so it turns up under C-, E-, S-, ML- and CLK-class cars, Sprinter vans, and on the Chrysler side under the 300C, Charger, Magnum, Crossfire and Grand Cherokee. Confirm which unit you have before ordering: the 722.6 family covers several torque ratings and the clutch plate counts differ between them, so count the plates out of your drums as you tear down and match them against the kit.

What sends most of these units to the bench is burnt frictions. Slip on the 2-3 shift, a flare between gears, delayed engagement when the car is cold, or a drop into limp mode with fifth and reverse gone are all signs the clutch material is used up. Once the frictions cook, the debris goes through the valve body and the conductor plate circuits, so pull the pan and inspect before you assume a clean rebuild.

Soak the frictions in the correct Mercedes-spec fluid before assembly, set clutch clearance on every pack rather than trusting the stack, and replace the sealing rings instead of reusing them. Note what this kit does not include: the filter, the conductor plate, bushings and the torque converter are all separate purchases, and most rebuilders replace the filter and inspect the conductor plate at the same time.