Help. Broken Diff or Axel shaft? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

pj67coll · #1 01-16-2016, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stretch

If you mean 400 USD to replace + the cost of the part I reckon you should consider doing the job yourself.

No. It's actually $380.42 all inclusive. I just don't have the cash right now. Only good thing is my truck seems to be behaving itself now so I have another vehicle to drive while this is being sorted.

- Peter.

pj67coll · #2 01-16-2016, 06:33 PM

So I took it to the local hardware store today. Had to get some drywall supplies to fix a leak in the garage. I had my cell phone ready to record the noise so I could upload it for you all to hear. Not a sound. Nothing! Quite as a mouse. Well. Quiet as a 240D I guess. What the hell? I thought the thing was going to blow apart when I drove home yesterday.

- Peter.

pj67coll · #3 01-16-2016, 07:49 PM

When I was under there this morning. I took some pictures of various components that might be relevant. This is the prop shaft connection to the transmission. Looks decent to me. It may have been replaced back in 2009 as the first maintenance record I have from the PO was dated 09 and it refers to a manual transmission flange at a cost of $100.00.

Then there's this one. Is it the center shaft bearing? Covered in grime so hard to tell its condition. But I wonder if the splines on that shaft should be so visible so far out?

A closer up shot.

This is the last coupling. Where the driveshaft joins the diff. Looks ok to me here as well.

This is the driver side axle shaft. It was replaced sometime in the past. I don't know when as the PO only had the car since 09 and there is no record of this being done under his ownership. I have all records since his ownership which is why I assume it was done prior to 2009.

This passenger side one I assume to be original.

Wider shot of the right side axle.

It doesn't look to bad but when you get up closer to the boots you see this.

I'm not actually sure that the crack is all the way thru the rubber. I thought it might just be a deep groove in it or is the shiny portion the inside of the boot showing thru?

- Peter.

Diesel911 · #4 01-17-2016, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

When I was under there this morning. I took some pictures of various components that might be relevant. This is the prop shaft connection to the transmission. Looks decent to me. It may have been replaced back in 2009 as the first maintenance record I have from the PO was dated 09 and it refers to a manual transmission flange at a cost of $100.00.

Then there's this one. Is it the center shaft bearing? Covered in grime so hard to tell its condition. But I wonder if the splines on that shaft should be so visible so far out?

A closer up shot.

This is the last coupling. Where the driveshaft joins the diff. Looks ok to me here as well.

This is the driver side axle shaft. It was replaced sometime in the past. I don't know when as the PO only had the car since 09 and there is no record of this being done under his ownership. I have all records since his ownership which is why I assume it was done prior to 2009.

This passenger side one I assume to be original.

Wider shot of the right side axle.

It doesn't look to bad but when you get up closer to the boots you see this.

I'm not actually sure that the crack is all the way thru the rubber. I thought it might just be a deep groove in it or is the shiny portion the inside of the boot showing thru?

- Peter.

You have Annular Rear Axles. If they are stock Mercedes Axles they are easy to replace the Boots on as you can take apart the end with the Bolts on it to slide the Boots over the Axle.
Annular Axle Taken apart
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/277503-w123-annular-style-axle-rebuild-2.html

If they are Chinese Annular Axles no one has posted anything about how to reboot them.

Stretch · #5 01-17-2016, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel911

You have Annular Rear Axles. If they are stock Mercedes Axles they are easy to replace the Boots on as you can take apart the end with the Bolts on it to slide the Boots over the Axle.
Annular Axle Taken apart
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/277503-w123-annular-style-axle-rebuild-2.html

If they are Chinese Annular Axles no one has posted anything about how to reboot them.

Good point - I didn't notice the type of axle!

Oh well - wood and trees and all that.

The main handy point about the annular axles is that you don't have to undo the rear cover on the differential so long as the bolts come out nicely on the flanges that stick out of the differential.

If you don't mind working on your back in the dirt you don't really have to jack the back end too high. The connection at the differential once undone only needs to be pulled away by about 2 cm to get clearance from the flanges in the differential so the axle doesn't have to be completely extended.

This make the job about 35% easier in my opinion.

For my W201 I can jack up the back end of the car and reposition it on the ground on the tyres in an artificially high stance and then get under there for this type of job. Not 100% ideal - very cramped - but possible if your axle stands happen to be somewhere else at the time...