Awful noise in my rear axel, 82 240 D
 

So, just when I thought I finally had this car running really well....

When I drive my 240D, once it's warm, there is a progressively louder (as the car gets warmer) thumping sound that seems to be coming from the rear axels. It seems to be louder on the drivers side, but it's hard to tell for sure since it's only when I'm driving it. The axel boots are starting to split, so I figured I just needed to clean out the axels with brake fluid and replace the boots and CV lube. I duct taped the axels, and squeezed some lube in there as a temporary fix until I had time and help taking the axels off.

So I kept driving it. However, now the car is actually getting resistance from the rear axels, especially on the uphill. It's like there's an occasional pulsing in my speed even though I'm keeping the acceleration steady. I wasn't sure I was going to make it home the other night it was so bad. The noise is also still there, and it's also louder on the uphills and louder when I'm curving to the left.

Are the axels my problem or is something else going on here? I don't really know the car's history but I'm guessing it spent a few years of it's life sitting a lot.

It sounds like your CV Joint has gone bad.

If the sound went away for awhile or was quieter after you did the duct tape and lube thing you will pretty much have narrowed it down to the axles as being the problem.

It's your axle. Find a decent used one.

All the older boots will have some cracking on them. Don't let that discourage you, they'll go that way for years before leaking.

Jim

I had a similar speed-sensitive thumping on the rear passenger side since last November. The inner CV boot finally split a week ago, sending oil up into the undercarriage and down onto my driveway.

I bought new axles (not remans) at Advance Auto last wednesday ($99 ea), and got them installed this past weekend. A little time consuming, but not a bad job at all.

No core charge, so now I have a set to send to CVJ for proper rebuilding....

REbuilds are available for a very reasonable price. I would not try using a used one, myself.

Driving it with the cvs so bad will result finally in a car that will not move. I would try to fix it as soon as possilble.

Tom W

thanks...I'm off to get some rebuilds
 

Yeah, that's what I thought it was. I had just been hoping it was something cheaper. :-)

The car is garaged and I'll be fixing it as soon as I can.

deanna