Never a problem on my w123 but I had the exact same symptom you describe on a w201. Bearing was completely gone to the point of destroying the carrier.

Parts were cheap but removong the driveshaft was not my idea of fun. Not too bad, though.

__________________
Best Regards,
Sam

'76 280 Time Capsule
'00 S430 Long Trips
'91 190E Seeing how far it will go. 366k
'04 American Eagle Motorcoach