Hello Benzers,

I have an '84 W123 and my left rear axle keeps failing. I'm currently on the 3rd one since I bought it in 2009.

When I bought the 300d, the axles were original and just the left side had play in it. About .5" to .75".

I replaced both with cheap FEQ brand, (crap I know). After a year of use the left one snapped (at the axle allen bolts) during a "take off". I ordered a new, much more expensive EMPI axle and now, after about a year of use, has the same play and I'm assuming it will soon snap.

To determine play, I jacked up the rear (in Park and parking brake off) and rotated the tire by hand back and forth, and watch the shaft. The axle shaft will rotate, then, "engage" inside the "cylinder" of the axle (differential side). Not the spline into the differential, and the axle bolts are not loose.


The right side, FEQ, axle is still in great shape and has no play.

Has anyone experienced this and if so, what was the solution?

Thank you for your time and help.

Why did you replace the original axles?

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

Because the boots cracked open and I didn't have access to a flexx boot system. And the left one had play in it.

My solution is to get a junkyard axle, and reboot it.
I perform this for members and I either repack with grease, or fill with a range of gear oils depending on preference.

the original axles are FAR superior to anything you can buy.

period.

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

^X2. I bought an axle from Vstech 3 years ago and it's still just perfect. No problems at all. (I hope I'm not jinxing it now!

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[/SIGPIC]~cirrusman

1983 Mercedes Benz 300SD - Wife calls him "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"
[SIGPIC]




1983 Toyota Tercel (Tommy, The little Toyota that could)
1965 Ford F100 (Grandma Ford)
2005 Toyota Sienna (Elsa, Wife's ride)


Gone:
1988 Toyota Pickup
2004 Subaru Outback

1987 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham
1986 Volvo 740 GL Station Wagon - Piece of junk.
1981 Volvo 242 DL 2 Door - Hated to see it go. R.I.P.
1987 Pontiac Fiero GT