To make this short - I just replaced all rubber parts in rear end and shocks and springs. Raised car 1inch. Immediately noise started from rear. Took to dealer - reputable. Replaced rear bearings on driver's side. Noise lessened. Mechanic said pinion bearing making noise and left rear brake caliper piston sticking badly. I pulled rotors and they are deeply grooved, pads ok, parking brake shoes are shot. I planned to get caliper rebuild kit, rotors, pads pkng shoes, and new brake hoses.

Could this be mostly brake noise I am hearing or pinion noise? Did car riding too low for too long cause pinion to wear uneven and now that is raised - to start noise? Changed fluid - put in straight 90 weight. No difference in noise.

Which differentials will fit a W126 1982 300SD? I found a diff with 60k miles but the owner said his car was a 116 chasis 1980 300sd but the part # off diff he gave was 1233510101 and my dealer said part # is no good. He wanted $100 plus shipping of $150. It was on ebay, nobody bid on it. Nice guy but ...

Any suggestions? Thanks.

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1982 300SD Light Blue
2002 Honda Accord SE
1974 Toro Wheel Horse Tractor
2000 Toyota Tundra Pickup

some here have raved about the results of putting a lower ratio diff in - one on a 82SD recently.

__________________
'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

Willrev,

About a third of the way down the page of this thread, Well - I have found the MB diesel "easter egg" a table should give you the info that you need on the various differentials that are compatible with your 82 300SD. Your car has the 3.07 ratio in it. I have an 84 300SD. I just converted it over to a 2.47 and couldn't be happier. Finding a differential should not be difficult. Evidently, they are pretty bulletproof and jillions were made for the various Mercedes models. Consequently, easy to find. If you get desperate try car-parts.com and input the necessary info. You may find something near you.
Good luck.

Tom

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1993 300TE
1984 300D
1984 300SD
1976 BMW R90S

I was not sure what years were applicable to my car. I will check the table you included in your post. I used the search but came up empty handed.

Table was helpful. Looks like Breckmann99 must have put a 2.88 diff or a 3.46 diff in his car. but the 3.46 wouldn't make sense because that would be worse than the 3.07

The table is a help, but Breckman99's original post is not clear of which gear ratio he ended up with.

I don't think a 2.47 diff would work in the diesel. It would be a slow dog off the line.

__________________
1982 300SD Light Blue
2002 Honda Accord SE
1974 Toro Wheel Horse Tractor
2000 Toyota Tundra Pickup

Willrev,

I put the 2.47 in my car because I primarily drive it on the highway and I am old and decrepit, so I don't really care too much about accelerating off the line. Several people here have stated that the 2.88 is the right ratio for them, but it seems to be more rare than the 2.47, which was offered in a bunch of models. Someone mentioned that it all depends on the type of driving that you do, and I couldn't agree more. But that 2.47 sure is quiet out on the highway.

Tom

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1993 300TE
1984 300D
1984 300SD
1976 BMW R90S

I put the 2.47 in my 1981SD and have never looked back. Yes, for the first 10 feet it is slower off the line, but it makes all the gears taller so it stays in them longer.. I think overall it's just as good 0-60. the 617 makes the most torque at 2450 rpm, and that's where it sits most of the time with the 2.47
Read this thread.. You can have my 2.47 differential......

Good luck..

Which cars ran the 2.47 that will fit into a w126 300sd. Mine is a 1982 model. I want to start looking for this differential since my pinion gear is getting so noisy.

__________________
1982 300SD Light Blue
2002 Honda Accord SE
1974 Toro Wheel Horse Tractor
2000 Toyota Tundra Pickup

I saw a number of 2.47 diffs that had the large single mounting bolt, and some people say you can just swap rear covers with those. I didn't want to gamble. The 2.47's that I used with the trapezoidal mount on the back were from a 380 and a 420 SEL. Even though the housing is bigger, it will fit. The alignment is tough for the 4 upper bolts, and it will look for a few minutes like there's no way it fits, but it does. Good luck, you will be very pleased. Keep us informed as you go..

Those two posts referenced here on the Easter Egg and the cold dead fingers post by Astroman are the most helpful.

Looks like I have to find a W126 model 380 or 420 SEL to get the 2.47 diff or go with a more common 2.88 which many people are happy with. I am sure I have a OM617 engine. These two sound superior to the 3.07

I wonder what if any increase in fuel economy anyone has seen?
Having just replaced the trapezoid diff mount, the bolts shouldn't be seized. Hope the diff mount I just put in will work with the 2.47

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1982 300SD Light Blue
2002 Honda Accord SE
1974 Toro Wheel Horse Tractor
2000 Toyota Tundra Pickup

I picked up a 2.65 rear end from an 81 450sel to transplant into my 123 wagon. I figured I would split the difference from the 2.47 and 2.88 (right now I have the 3.07 unit. The cases look a little different but so far all of the mounting points seem to be in the right places. It also "seems" like the axles will interchange. Has anyone else swapped to the 2.65 ratio? How do you test a used diff to make sure it is solid without actually installing it? The car I got it from only showed about 100k miles but there was not alot of oil in it though there was oil coating everything, when I opened it up (I think/hope the picnpull yard drained it).