Voith Retarder Remanufacture — What the Process Actually Involves

The Voith hydrodynamic retarder is fitted to a large proportion of the Mercedes-Benz Actros MP2 and MP3 fleet operating in Southern Africa. When it fails — typically through seal deterioration, bearing wear, or internal fluid contamination — the options are a new OEM unit (expensive and often on long lead), a used unit of unknown history, or a properly remanufactured unit.

At BC Services, we remanufacture these units from the ground up. Here is what that process actually involves.

Why the Voith Retarder Fails

The Voith retarder works on the hydrodynamic principle — it uses transmission fluid circulated through a rotor and stator blade pack to generate braking torque. The most common failure modes are:

• Seal and O-ring degradation leading to fluid leaks and loss of braking performance
• Bearing wear on the input shaft and rotor assembly
• Blade pack erosion from contaminated or degraded fluid
• Valve block solenoid failure affecting engagement and pressure regulation
• Housing cracks from overloading or impact damage

The Remanufacture Process

1. Stripdown & Inspection

Every unit is fully stripped — valve block removed, rotor and stator separated, housings split. Each component is inspected dimensionally and visually. We measure bearing clearances, check blade tip clearances, inspect the valve body galleries for blockage or corrosion, and test solenoid coil resistance. Units with cracked housings or severely eroded blades beyond tolerance are rejected at this stage.

Side profile — hydraulic valve block and output coupling

Front face — rotor/stator blade pack and centre bearing

Top-down — input spline shaft, ports, and new seals fitted

Rear profile — turbine housing and mounting feet

2. Component Replacement

All seals and O-rings are replaced as a matter of course — not just the ones showing visible wear. Main bearings and input shaft bearings are replaced. Valve block solenoids are tested individually; any showing resistance outside spec are replaced. Where blade pack erosion is within tolerance, components are retained; outside tolerance, the pack is replaced.

3. Cleaning & Surface Preparation

All housings and metal components go through a cleaning process to remove old fluid residue, sludge and corrosion. External surfaces are re-painted to the original specification before final assembly.

4. Assembly & Testing

Assembly is carried out to OEM torque specifications. Before the unit leaves our workshop it is tested for correct engagement, pressure build-up, and absence of leaks. Units supplied on an exchange basis are shipped with the same level of remanufacture quality as direct fitment units.

Exchange vs. Direct Fitment

We offer two options. Direct fitment means we remanufacture your specific unit and refit it to your vehicle. Exchange means we supply a remanufactured unit immediately from stock — your old unit is returned to us as a core for the next rebuild cycle. Exchange is typically faster and minimises workshop downtime.

Parts Availability

We stock seal kits, bearing sets, solenoids and gasket sets for the Voith retarder units fitted to Actros MP2 and MP3. These parts are also available separately if you are carrying out your own remanufacture. Search our parts catalogue or contact us on WhatsApp for availability.