General question - When buying aftermarket axles, how many of you that installed them found a need to replace the shim washers?

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

Anyone who installed axles measured OD/ID of spacers on OE axles?

How about the spacer thickness?

The spacers MB sell vary from 0.7 to 1.5mm thickness in 0.1mm steps. They cost from US$5-$10 each (more in Canada!) So can't really buy two complete sets just in case! They are special order, indicating not much demand!

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

I usually put axle in and measure from inside lip of housing to where the clip goes in. Then remove axle and add shims. I have a pile from other cars and mix and match till I find the right spacing. It doesn't hurt anything to run without the shims, but you will sometimes get a clunk out of the rear end during shifts.

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1985 300 TD 448K
1984 300 TD 278K

1983 240D euro 240k
1994 f-250 idi turbo 330K
1986 f-350 IDI
1987 F-350 IDI

1985 JD 1050 4wd
1965 IH 3660

Nice to have a supply! Friend who is helping has a supply of axles, but somehow no shims He is also going to have to find some!

I just don't want to be stuck with axles out and no shim available. I will have to see if dealer has stock of all the sizes so we could get an overnight delivery if need be.

Otherwise, I may have to reboot quickly and put old axle back in.

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

I have bought them before from the dealer and was surprised how quickly they came.

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1985 300 TD 448K
1984 300 TD 278K

1983 240D euro 240k
1994 f-250 idi turbo 330K
1986 f-350 IDI
1987 F-350 IDI

1985 JD 1050 4wd
1965 IH 3660

What would be really useful to me, would be if you could measure the OD/ID of a spacer. It could be that generic shim washers are available or could be made in a pinch.

Cheers

Graham

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

G:

For the ID, measure the diameter of the splines/smooth area of the new inboard stub axle, and add a couple of thousandths for clearance.
For the OD, add 10-12mm to the ID.

Thanks. I went out and checked the axles. The diameter of the inner end of the axle is 32mm and the larger boss that the spacer rides against 45mm. There does appear to be a machined face there. Approx size 44mm OD, 32.67 ID. ID slightly bigger than axle because of small radius. 44x32 would fit if the spacer was rounded slightly on one inner edge.

Would be interesting to measure an actual spacer. Hopefully originals will be OK.

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

Here you go.

Attached Thumbnails

   

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1985 300 TD 448K
1984 300 TD 278K

1983 240D euro 240k
1994 f-250 idi turbo 330K
1986 f-350 IDI
1987 F-350 IDI

1985 JD 1050 4wd
1965 IH 3660

Great! Thanks very much for taking the trouble! So in case pics disappear some time, 32.05x43.05 or nominally 32x43.

There is a machined face on the GSP axles of just about that size.

Thanks!

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

So I checked with our MB dealer. He checked with MB Canada, and apparently those shims are NLA, at least in Canada.

So, if my existing shims don't work with the GSP axle, I have problem!

That may lead me back to re-installing the original. That would mean doing a better job on bench of coating with 3M 5200. Or rebooting.

Would like GKN OE type boots, but can't see cutting cans off and re-crimping, so that means stretch boots (Astoria or Dorman if quicker delivery needed). Otherwise Australia or China. Or ?? We have a pneumatic expander, but just a cheapy. Otherwise need a cone.

Actually, GKN have universal boots that can be installed with cone. And cones seem to have good dimensions. But where would we find these?

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwiYyPLOxM3qAhVSHH0KHVR3DCAYABAHGgJwdg&ae=2&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAASEuRowJ_6SOaCNYRUHfgrXM24qA&sig=AOD64_3OEmFveD3w4TQaq8bTcSaaFGLRWQ&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwi7ruzOxM3qAhUhLX0KHdplD2EQ9aACegQIDRA0&adurl=

G:
This is but an example of a source.
Search for "Arbor Shims", there are multiple sources.

Your post did not include a link.

I have searched using different names. Shims, shim washers, shim rings and now arbor shims. Most end up at same sites. I need a source in my town, or that could ship here quickly. Rules out USA.

I found tons of inch sizes, but not so many metric. 1 1/4" is too small. I did find that 32x45mm was common but even that not same as the 32x43 MB shims. Hard to trim thin material like that if that would be needed.

I will keep checking, but just hoping existing will be close.

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

G:
As I look at the page above your last post there is this:

https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwiYyPLOxM3qAhVSHH0KHVR3DCAYABAHGgJwdg&ae=2&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAASEuRowJ_6SOaCNYRUHfgrXM24qA&sig=AOD64_3OEmFveD3w4TQaq8bTcSaaFGLRWQ&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwi7ruzOxM3qAhUhLX0KHdplD2EQ9aACegQIDRA0&adurl=

and after submitting it, it is still visible.
Can you see it?

NOPE. I do see a Googleadservices link with random characters when I quote your message, but nothing shows in your post. Maybe uBlock is preventing it from showing. Yes, that is the cause. I had looked at Grainger. Lots of shim washers on-line in many places, but as noted above, haven't found any the exact size . (32x43)

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5