Good evening all,
The differential on my 340k mile 82' 300D is sloppy (yes it's the diff, every other part in the drivetrain is new or rebuilt at this point).
A friend sold me a good, tight, 3.07 diff that I am currently cleaning and refinishing before I install it. A few questions:

-on the "belly" of the new diff is this shape I don't recall seeing before. It appears to be from the case casting: https://ibb.co/tLLKLz3
Have any of you seen it before? It doesn't affect anything, but I am curious about it.

-For finishing, I am plan on cleaning very well, wire wheeling, rust reformer, then VHT rollbar and chassis paint. Any other steps I should think about?

-from what I understand, the axle shims are specific to the differential. I have a few shims on-hand + the ones in the car currently, but I am worried they won't be correct and the car will be off the road for a while as I source those pesky shims. Anyone found an aftermarket kit yet?

Thanks much in advance.

If you're using the original hogs head I'd keep the shims in it and install the newer stuff in it. I don't think they are a wear item.

I am not an expert on this subject. Whenever I changed anything back there we took the entire hogs head and transferred it over.

How much slop do you have?

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

All you need is one shim to get the OD and ID. From there you can probably get shims from a supplier like McMaster-Carr, et. Or have you tried MB?


Part # 115 357 5652, 5852, 6052, 6252, et cet

OP posted a more specific question about the shims in a slightly later thread:
W123 Axle Spacer Washers

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

To be more specific, those shims take up the space or play as determined by the space between the rear axle hub and where the axle terminates in the spline and the play between the C clip. The thicker shim will take up the space which will make the C clip snugger. Too thin a shim and the C clip and the axle could drift in and out of the differential