I have read what forum members think about getting good axles;
while i agree on buying quality, this repair I can't afford it.

So, while digging around for cheapo axles, I discovered Napa sells 'new' half shafts for the same price as their reman ones. $100. both 'lifetime' warranty.

Anyone hear of or have experience with Napa or other 'new' axles?

Constant Velocity (CV) Driveshaft - Left Rear - New (Ultra 8)
w/ 8mm Threaded Bolt ATM 0651401 $103.99

just for laughs I saw this i another post:
Buying auto parts is a little like buying oats. If you want nice new clean shiny oats you have to pay the price, but if you are willing to settle for oats that have already been through the horse...

__________________
Think Alternative Energy!
300CD '80 (now gone but not forgotten...)

If your going on the cheap I suggest the junkyard. I got one for $35 with brand new looking boots. Def go with synth in the rear....

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

I put rebuilts on my car when they were less than $78 but now they have gone up to $98 for the rebuilts.
I would buy the new ones even if they are Chinese (CJV or CVJ I do not remember the intials) type ones if the warranty is good. But you have to make sure to safeguard the recepit.
The reason I think it is worth taking the chance is you can also get a bad rebuilt one and one from the junk yard can also go bad.
You might want to do a search on those initials as last year around Oct there was 2 members who bought new axles and they have had them on there car for at least that long and could give you some feedback.

__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

However, the left rear is $100 and the right rear is $300! Are not those half shafts interchangeable? One also says 8mm bolt, while the other says nothing of bolt size. Are there really different sizes?

__________________
Think Alternative Energy!
300CD '80 (now gone but not forgotten...)

afik they are the same.

Tom W

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I've herd it said to "get a half shaft from the opposite side you need because of the ware" So I would think that would indicate they are the same from side to side. I know there are two different styles also, Annular and homokinetic (sp) but I have not had too done the job as yet.

__________________


1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

i still don't get the difference of those two cv joints, but they may just be the joints themselves and not affect anything else (like the conections).

Anyway, for those who might find themselves looking around for half shaft answers, here is an excellent thread (thanks Jeremy):
W123 axle R&R job--some questions?

__________________
Think Alternative Energy!
300CD '80 (now gone but not forgotten...)

You might want to check out some other parts places just to look at the part numbers and see if they interchange.
On my 300D some places show right and left but if you look both R&L have the same part number.

__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

The Annular ones cost more and for my car the manual said I could use either (and it came with the homokinetic type with what I call 2 "cans" on each half shaft.)
If you buy rebuilts over the counter you will not know which side of the car they origionaly came off of.

__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Excellent point...

__________________
Think Alternative Energy!
300CD '80 (now gone but not forgotten...)

Jimmy,

Andrew in Santa Maria on the Central Coast has a bunch of spare parts. If you want to contact him, send me a PM. He hangs out here sometimes.

I'd go with junk yard or CVJ. CVJ inspects and reboots, they don't "rebuild" or torch on new joints.

__________________
84 300DT Puke Yellow. Totalled after 438,000
84 300DT Orient Red. 169,000 (actual mileage may vary)
2002 Explorer EB (wife's)

I looked at 2 different parts places and the Left and Right axles for a 300CD had the same part numbers at those sites.

__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I got one at schucks $72 lifetime warranty, but it looked pretty cheesy. It`s been on there about a yr now I think.

__________________
81 240D 116,000 mi. motor, car 283,000 81 300D 155,000 81 300 unknown 81 300SD 221,000

Left and right are the same. I've read about "swapping" side to side because of "wear" but have had no experience. If you can keep the oil/grease from leaking out of the boot, I suspect that the CV joint would last "forever."

The 8mm bolt style is the older one; most rebuilt axles come with the later 12 mm hardware. Either kind will fit any 123 car. Likewise, the "annular" and "homokinetic" types fit any 123. There is a spacer and washer that are installed to correctly position and tension the 12mm bolt. An axle with the older 8mm hole in the end can be adapted to the newer 12mm bolt -- there's an adapter kit available. My '85 had the 12mm hardware already when I took it apart for the first time. I think it was only the early versions of the 123 that had 8mm hardware and I don't know the changeover date. Most "rebuilt" axles will be 12mm.

I would be suspicious of any axle sold as "new" for $100, even made in China, and wouldn't want them in my car in any case. There's a German firm making new axles, but they are about $400 each. M-B factory new axles are $900 each.

CVJ has a very tight spec when they pick axles to "rebuild." The "rebuilding" consists of a careful (tighter than factory) check of dimensions plus cleaning and rebooting. They are the best of the rebuilders, AFAIK.

The cheapo rebuilt axles aren't held to the same tolerance -- some will be OK, others not so good. If you have the time to tear the car apart again when they fail (to take advantage of the lifetime warranty) then that can be a good option for saving a few bucks. A junkyard axle with good boots is an even better bet -- more of your time (to pull the axle from the junkyard car) but even less money.

Jeremy

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

Thanks Jeremy, you have become the Godfather of the half shafts!
The 8mm type axle is available to me, i haven't taken mine apart yet to look, but if I have the 12mm style, where can I source that adapter kit?

__________________
Think Alternative Energy!
300CD '80 (now gone but not forgotten...)