Reman axle came apart - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JamesStein · #1 08-31-2004, 04:06 PM

Well.. one of the reman axles I bought not quite 2 months ago failed on Saturday. Fortunately it failed while accelerating from a stop.

It was an annular type where the input shaft bolts onto the axle. Aparently the bolts weren't torqued down properly from the factory.. and well I didn't check them. The input shaft disconnected from the axle. I haven't had time to get under the car and take a good look at the axle or the differential yet. Hopefully it didn't damage the diff when it came apart.

Eskimo · #2 08-31-2004, 09:10 PM

That stinks! I'm glad it didn't happen under worse circumstances, though.

So, are you going to ask them for another axle, or just for your money back?

-- eskimo

JamesStein · #3 09-01-2004, 09:06 PM

I'm thinking I'll demand another axle.. and I'll make sure its homokenetic..

Eskimo · #4 09-01-2004, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesStein

I'm thinking I'll demand another axle.. and I'll make sure its homokenetic..

If you're dealing with the seller in person, you can use the old axle as an "emphasis pointer" when discussing it with them...

JamesStein · #5 09-13-2004, 12:56 PM

Well I'm dealing with an independant carquest shop. Who frankly won't get another dime from me.

Getting the axle replaced was mostly painless. Figuring out if the store was actually going to still be open when I got there was the hard part. Once I managed to catch them open they swapped the axle out without incident.

Unfortunately its another annular joint. I checked the bolts on this one and couldn't loosen them with my L allen wrench. I suppose I'll just resign myself to inspecting them periodically.

Glad I bought those ramps...

madsen · #6 09-13-2004, 01:19 PM

had the same issue with my new axel. but the bolts were loose. same type same store. i got lucky and noticed when i changed the oil.
JOHN M

JamesStein · #7 08-07-2005, 10:58 PM

Another annular axle bites the dust. I've been checking the thing every oil change. Last one 1000 miles ago. Last week accelerating from a stop (got up to about 20mph) and pop. Crunch, crunch, crunch. Sure enough the stupid axle had come apart. This time at least all the bolts were still there. Only one of the bolts bent, so at the time of failure, only that one bolt was holding the axle together.

Found an axle at a different local carquest shop and called them to find out if it was annular or homokenetic. Unfortunately it was another annular. I told the manager of this store about my previous experience nearly a year ago. He agreed it was nuts to have 2 axles fail in about a year and ordered 3 more axles from the warehouse to make sure he'd get a homokenetic one. Luckily one of the 3 others he ordered was homokenetic.

Not sure what the problem is, I can't imagine that these axles are that prone to failure. All I can say is, if you buy a cheap (non mercedes) annular axle perhaps even specifically carquest, be on the lookout for the bolts working themselves loose, or demand a homokenetic one.

leathermang · #8 08-07-2005, 11:11 PM

Good work James ... putting this ' rest of the story' onto the first thread... an axle a year is a real bummer....
Was the one which went today the rebuilt one from last year...or the other side ?

JamesStein · #9 08-07-2005, 11:17 PM

It actually went out a week ago. I re-installed the replacement last weekend. It was the same side that came apart the last time.

Both failed axles were annular. I originally replaced both axles. One reman was annular, the other was homokenetic. The homokenetic one is still going strong.

Wes Bender · #10 08-08-2005, 09:22 AM

Trying not to be critical here, but that's a lot of work. After your two experiences, would you recommend buying the higher priced units rather than the cheaper ones?

... and I second the "thanks" for adding the rest of the story to your original post. We need more of that on these forums.

Wes

leathermang · #11 08-08-2005, 09:57 AM

"but that's a lot of work."

There is a real understatement.... as an old VW guy.... where replacing the half axle is only about 16 bolts... this taking the axle end out of the inside of the 3rd member is really discouraging.. I suspect many people put off fixing torn axle boots just due to this factor.

JamesStein · #12 08-08-2005, 11:08 AM

I would still get the cheaper ones. However, I would stay away from the annular ones if I did. If all I could get were annular, I'd go with the more expensive axle.

That aside, its actually not that bad a job. (Now that I've done it 3 times.)

1) Losen lugs on tire.
2) Chock front wheels, remove parking brake.
3) Jack up rear end (put on stands)
4) Remove tire
5) Remove fill plug on diff, then remove drain plug. (fill plug first just in case it won't come off.) (17mm hex)
6) Pleace jack under diff.
7) Remove diff mount bolts from frame (4 12mm)
8) Lower diff
9) Remove diff cover. (8 15mm bolts)
10) Pull snap ring.
11) Remove wheel side axle bolt. (12mm on mine)
12) Raise diff with jack all the way up.
13) Remove axle from wheel side first
14) Pull axle from diff.

reverse for assembly.

I think I've got it down to about an hour labor now if I have all the needed tools/stands/etc onhand before I start. To be honest I find valve adjustments to be more of a pain.