question about A Euro 300TD Axle
 

I am helping a friend with replacing his right rear axle. I wanted to make sure his car has the same as a unites states version. It is a 1980 300TD factory equiped with a turbodiesel, and is a european model. Will the 1980 300TD parts sold here fit? ALso, The outer boot is completely cracked, but I wanted to make sure the symptom is being caused by the axle. When accelrating hard, the car vibrates/clacks/shakes/hops. it makes you want to acclerate very slowly. I think all of those describe it well. It depends on how hard you accelerate, and hose fast you are going, the harder the accleration and the slower the initial speed, the worse it is. Thanks alot!

Something doesn't sound correct. You said this is a euro 1980 300TD turbo. Just to be clear, a 300TD is a wagon and a 300D is a sedan, is this a wagon? Also, the first year for the turbo engine was 1981 for the 300TD and 1982 for the 300D. AFAIK, the euro version of these cars did not originally have turbo engines. How do you know this is a euro car? Does it have cloth seats, manual windows, manual heat/AC controls? Are you sure of the year?

These symptoms could be caused by a bad half-shaft, and if the boot is torn that's likely. How does the CV joint act if you jack up the car and turn the wheel?

Actually, turbocharged 300TDs were sold in Euro guise, but this would not apply to this guy if it's a 1980, as they didn't appear until 1981 like you stated before.

I wasn't sure. Were there a limited number of euro turbos? I thought that at least most of the euro 300D/TD were n/a. :confused:

I would think the normally aspirated 300TDs in Europe would've outnumbered the turbos since the turbos I believe were primarily intended for the US market, but Euro examples were made. From 1981 to 1985, the turbocharged versions outnumbered the normally aspirated versions built each year. The only exceptions were in 1979when 2 turbocharged versions were built while 11,180 normally aspirated versions were built, in 1980 when 1,852 turbocharged versions were built and 7,523 normally aspirated versions were built, and in 1986 when 3 turbocharged versions were built and 4 normally aspirated versions were built.

it is my understanding that factory turbos sold in euro form are extremely rare. i believe most sources say they were not offered there.

the half shafts should be the same as any other 123 car. also the same as most 115s too, i believe. it sure sounds like a trashed cv joint. (the clack sound is the clue.) if you park car so that all pressure is off the rear end (chocked wheels and tranny in neutral) you should be able to grab the half shaft and wiggle it. if it is good it wont wiggle at all.

good luck

tom w

I think a few Euro turbo models were made, but they are very rare, maybe only special order wagons. Of course, none of the RHD countries had any.

I was wondering the same thing about the engine, I will pull some numbers and provide some pictures. Maybe someone here can help me decode whether or not the engine is original or not.

Regarding the Axle, I can slide it in and out (from hub to differential) about an inch, simply by grabbing it with my hand while its in park.
Another question I had was the fill level on the rear end. When I removed the plug, I had to stick my finger down about 1/2" to touch fluid, but it is clean, and when I pulled my finger out it came out with it. Is that full enough? thanks JOhn

There is a clip inside the diff that holds the halfshaft in place, and in proper mesh with the diff gears. Clip may have popped off. I don't think the fluid level is going to matter, as it sounds like diff cover may have to come off.....

I will have to do some more research on that clip, is it a c-clip like other cars? I need to find an article on changing the rear axle. I hate flying blind with someone elses car. thanks

I tried to go out and find a link at one of the online shop manual sites. The Skinnerbox site once again isn't working, which is common. The braingears site allows me to get to disk 2, pull up the menu, but when I click on it, I get the ole url not found message. :rolleyes:
Couldn't be more straight forward, though. Remove diff cover, look for clip on shaft. Also, make sure you don't let the clip get away when you remove cover. I don't think it could make it out the drain hole, when you drain the fluid, but it could flow out when you remove cover.
Also, make sure you can loosen both the fill and drain plugs on diff prior to removal. Sounds like you got the important one loose already.

**OK, timeout!! When you pull the half shaft side to side, where is your play? Seems like you will be able to tell if it moves in/out of the diff, or if it moves in/out of the hub assy (also an 8 or 12mm screw holding that end secure).
If neither, slop would appear to be in halfshaft itself...**

All though this is info on how to replace the rubber boots it
might be helpfull.
Since removal of the half shaft is needed when replacing the boots.
Direct link:http://www.diymbrepair.com/CVboots/
http://diymbrepair.com/
Hope this helps.

Louis.

Check out this link.
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w123-e-ce-d-cd-td/1255215-axle-removal.html

It's not really complicated, just rather involved.

Don't forget the differential oil.