W123 Rear axle replacement questions - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Sugar Bear · #16 01-05-2020, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmypete

OK thanks, I think I get it now. The spacers are beside the spring clip and the only downside to having play is an occasional clunk, not a complete failure. Is that right?

Yes, that is my understanding.

Don't overthink this job, get in there and get'r done!

Good luck!!!

shadetreemechan · #17 01-05-2020, 09:33 PM

Actually the spacers slide over the splined area of the axle and resides between the axle and the differential, but the space they take up can be measured at the spring clip.
Otherwise you are spot on. The clunk occurs when the axle slides in and out, but no worry of complete failure.

Diesel911 · #18 01-05-2020, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadetreemechan

feeler gauge. I wish I could remember where I saw the tolerance for this. You are correct that it's less than 1/16th. Its probably half that or less, but you don't want to have the axle retaining clip under pressure, so play is preferable to having it too tight. I am putting flex discs in my 84 this morning and it has original axles. There is play on one of them, but its not much and not enough to make noise.

Thank you. I copied what I read in the Mercedes Factory Manual.

ollo · #19 01-07-2020, 03:42 PM

When I did mine, the new axles came with new clips, but they were too thick to fit. However the old clips were a perfect fit. Used them and never had a problem. Still fine when later sold the vehicle.

jimmypete · #20 01-08-2020, 11:35 PM

Thanks everyone, did the job yesterday. Everything worked fine and fit without a problem. No clunks. Next...clutch.

Sugar Bear · #21 01-09-2020, 12:11 AM

Congrats...good work!

shadetreemechan · #22 01-09-2020, 07:31 AM

Congratulations. After working for decades on American lead sleds, I found the clutch in my 240 to be a breeze.

houtrib · #23 02-02-2020, 08:04 PM

This looks like the right thread to report my experience. Replaced the right rear axle halfshaft about 18 months ago. Bought a DSS shaft from Pelican (local Merc supplier said no half shafts in stock in Australia and that it would cost about A$1000 to obtain one from Singapore). Shaft was difficult to fit. I had to unbolt the diff, jack it up, tilt it sideways a bit and unbolt the hydraulic ram from the rear suspension arm to get enough clearance and it was still very tight. I did not unbolt the tailshaft. I had to lever out on the hub bearing area to slide the spline across the backplate. On the inboard end, the original spring clip/spacer fitted perfectly inside the diff -no backlash. Following comments on this forum, I removed and threadlocked the Allen key headed bolts at the inner end. Car has now done about 15,000 km, mainly country miles,with no problems (apart from a very slight diff whine probably related to the original CV failure).

Diesel911 · #24 02-02-2020, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by houtrib

This looks like the right thread to report my experience. Replaced the right rear axle halfshaft about 18 months ago. Bought a DSS shaft from Pelican (local Merc supplier said no half shafts in stock in Australia and that it would cost about A$1000 to obtain one from Singapore). Shaft was difficult to fit. I had to unbolt the diff, jack it up, tilt it sideways a bit and unbolt the hydraulic ram from the rear suspension arm to get enough clearance and it was still very tight. I did not unbolt the tailshaft. I had to lever out on the hub bearing area to slide the spline across the backplate. On the inboard end, the original spring clip/spacer fitted perfectly inside the diff -no backlash. Following comments on this forum, I removed and threadlocked the Allen key headed bolts at the inner end. Car has now done about 15,000 km, mainly country miles,with no problems (apart from a very slight diff whine probably related to the original CV failure).