Shift,THUNK!, Shift, THUNK!, Shift, THUNK!
 

For the last month, on My 1995 E300D, this is what happens. I jacked up the car, crawled under, had a look and Thor was not under there with a hammer but it sounds like he is. "everything" I could see looked okay except for the boots on either side of the differential they are torn. I couldn't get a look at the 'U' joints, if there are any, the rear flex disk looked fine. The heat shield is in the way of seeing the entire drive-shaft.
There are 220,000 miles on this car any suggestions?
Is there a split boot kit that doesn't require taking the entire rear end and or axles out to replace?

it could be the rear diff bushings, or the axles.

the axles unbolt from the diff, and there is a nut on the hub end, take it apart, and out comes the axle.
you will need a 12mm tripple square/xzn bit for the diff end bolts, and a 12 point 27mm I think deep socket to get the hub end nut.

Thanks, are there photos of someone doing this job here? If it's the axles should I be able to feel some play? Car is still jacked up so I can rotate the rear wheels. anything I can check to help diagnose?

If it is the Differential bushings is that a special tool, expensive nightmare?

Is a triple square/xzn bit the same as a torx bit? I googled it, and they appear similar, but I figure better to ask. Thanks.

no it's completely different. don't attempt to use a torx driver on an xzn fastener either, or you'll strip it out and have to drill it out. ever tried drilling out a grade 12.9 cv bolt? it ain't easy...