Looks like my strategy of getting to 400K miles without major incident has failed. Today at work the 240D started making a nasty banging sound from the rear. It's intermittent in that it sometimes drove for a while with no sound then the sound would appear. Sometimes it would start quietly and increase in volume, sometimes it would start real loud. It's a definite bang bang bang coming from back under the trunk and I can feel a slight vibration as it happens thru the driveshaft tunnel. My guess is either an axel shaft or the diff.

Strange thing is that its so variable. I'd have thought if it was the diff it could only be a broken gear and if so it would be permanent. If part of the axel shaft surely likewise. I mean how can such a thing be there one minute and gone the next? Cars up on ramps right now while I looked for obvious signs of trouble under there but couldn't see anything wrong. Except the driver side axel shaft is a replacement, the passenger side appears to be original and the boot is worn and possibly cracked.

If its the shaft how hard is it as a DIY? Or would it perhaps be better to just try and find a complete rear end and swap the whole thing out?

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S