85 Wagon halfshaft question - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ashedd · #1 06-07-2009, 09:18 PM

So my brother went and picked up my new winter mobile, an 85 Wagon. He says it sounds like someone is hitting the driver rear wheel with a hammer but that it goes away after a while. I was told by the previous owner that it likely needed new half shaft(s). I am nowhere near the car and will not be for a few months.

When I look on fastlane and such they list Homokinetic, Annular. I have no idea what any of that means. Allparts lists all these shims and stuff. I just want to know what I need to replace the drivers side half shaft. I will take a look at it and see if I think it needs a driveshaft or not before buying.

aaa · #2 06-07-2009, 10:50 PM

Both kinds will work, you probably have homokinetics right now, and annulars are easier to replace next time (but you will still do the same work right now). Just save the shims that are in there right now and reuse them.

ashedd · #3 06-08-2009, 12:31 AM

If I can use either one and it's between $4xx and $13x...... I think I know which one I am using.

Thanks

charmalu · #4 06-08-2009, 04:20 AM

Look under the reources tab, and DIY articles. go down to w123 rear axle replacement, DMORRISON shows step by step how to do it on a 85 300D.

don`t buy new spacers. use the same ones, and don`t mix them up from side to side.

Annular are a 2 piece shaft, and homokenetic are a one piece shaft.

the shafts dmorrison is replacing are the Homo`s, and the ones he installed are the Annular

Charlie

macdoe · #5 06-08-2009, 01:10 PM

Hello, I just finished this job. I bought some cheap axles from NAPA. They look like they were of pretty good quality at first. They also seem to have a small hub right into the diff pumpkin that has many allen head bolts so if I ever have to change the axles again then I will not have to take the cover off the diff to change them, which is a great idea. (difference between old style and annular?)

The one problem that I did notice is that the part of the axle that has that shim on it does not fit properly with the shim? I was not able to use the shims at all which kinda bothers me. If you look carefully at the shoulder of the axle where the shim fits, you will notice kind of a radius on the new axles where the old factory axle has a nice 90 degree cut at the shoulder.

Because of this radius on the new axles the shim will slid on , but not all the way. It is close...... and at first I did not notice the difference but after an hour or so of trying to get the c-clips back on to the new ones with no success I reluctantly took the axle all the way back out to see what was wrong (why the axle would not go in all the way)and I found this discrepancy.

I thought about having them put onto a lathe to have the radius trimmed off but I needed the car so put back together without the shims. (it fit good with no shims)
I reasoned with myself at the time of reassembly that the radius is there to take the place of the shims.

Upon thinking about those shims and the fact that they are different for each diff and they have something to do with how the diff gears are spaced rather than JUST shims,(someone else can explain shim purpose) I think this to be a very stupid assumption on my part.

If I was to do this job again I think I may opt for the more expensive axle from mercedes so that they fit the way they are suppossed to.

That is too bad that they manufactured the cheaper axle this way. It is so close to being a better design.
I think what with the "NO REMOVE the diff. cover" for future axle change idea.
I also wonder if this is another one of these ingenius ideas that was done this way on purpose so that somebody can sell us new differentials down the road after installing these axles because we did not put it back together properly.

Has anyone else experienced the same? What did you do with the shims?

Mine are sitting on my vise. I have to pick them off the floor every time I use the vise . I refuse to put them away for fear I will forget where they are. I also know from my experience that a strange voodoo like phenom will take place and as soon as I move them anywhere else. Then the new axles or my diff will start to have problems. Then I will need to buy the proper axles , then I will need the shims AND because they sat on the vise for years and I got pissed off cause I had to keep picking them up off the floor, and I haven't needed them for years ....so I threw them out. .......but two days after the garbage truck came I needed them....... ever happen to you?
Now I have gone the other way and I keep everything and my garage is a pig stie and I can't find anything because the garage is so cluttered with useless S%#T, that I am to afraid to throw out for fear of the afformentioned scenario happening again... because it will....I have done experiments on the subject. ever happen to you.

The lesson that I learn from this is to buy the proper parts and don't cheap out. NOPE still buying the cheapest stuff I can find.
By the way:
Those NAPA axles I bought are still working fine, with no strange noises, (there never was). Now that I mentioned it I will probably be changing axles in a couple days. (just part of my research on this subject)
Sorry for the ramble. I told this to my brother and he had a good laugh cause it happened to him all the time too. thought to share.

ashedd · #6 06-08-2009, 03:38 PM

Lots of good info... Thanks

winmutt · #7 06-08-2009, 04:31 PM

I would not split the axles at the allen bolts. Bad idea (tm).

These cheapo remans may not even be remans, atleast not from a W123. The shims thing bothered me to but so far no problems related to that. I do recommend making sure those allens are properly torqued. I have 3 of these axles in cars. The first batch were noticeable shoddier than the recent ones. The newer ones have QC stickers and paint on the allens. The first ones I didn't. Surprise surprise one of the first ones allens came loose and the axle tore into the SLS hard lines.

I have many buckets of bolts from numerous W123's I have hacked on. They always come and save me from some huge headache. Or help friends who lose random screws etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by macdoe

Hello, I just finished this job. I bought some cheap axles from NAPA. They look like they were of pretty good quality at first. They also seem to have a small hub right into the diff pumpkin that has many allen head bolts so if I ever have to change the axles again then I will not have to take the cover off the diff to change them, which is a great idea. (difference between old style and annular?)

macdoe · #8 06-08-2009, 05:53 PM

I wonder what spec. a person might torque those bolts at? Maybe I should check them. The previous owner spent a lot of money on the sls system in my wagon. I don't want that to happen. How do you guys place quotes into a reply? Thanks