Mechanic said the original pinion not only had some oxidation but also some strange wear patterns. They were able to get the pinion (and gears?) from the diff with the snap retained bearings swapped into my original casing. I noticed that a whine I previously heard on the highway is now gone, and I experienced less drag when I took my foot off the gas (but the latter I could be wrong).

The main noise I was experiencing on this is still there -- happens during engine load at lower speeds like when the car is coasting downhill at 10mph. It's something on the end of transmission, perhaps the bearing there is going out. Transmission shifts fine, but this means it was a two-fold issue all along! So no wonder there was difficulty troubleshooting it.

Half way there ... drives fine otherwise though.

-Henry

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1976 Mercedes-Benz 300D, Colorado Beige / Mahogany
www.hmclever.com