300SDl... noise....in rear end.

[Plantman]

What kind of noise would the SDL make if the half axles were bad when hitting a bump?

The rear end?

The last mechanical issues I have to tackle before the paint job are:

Leaking Ip(next week @ indy shop)

It clunks every now and again when shifting between gears,

and most annoying is the loud thud when I hit a bump with the rear end. Sounds like a door slamming,

I believe I have some abnormal differential play that is causing.

How can I tell if my half shafts are bad? Differential?

Thanks

[gasman]

Could it be a failed sway bar link? That's what it was on my car when I heard a clunking sound from the rear end. An easy fix.

[TMAllison]

I 2nd.

Buy two, they're cheap and help handling.

[turbodiesel]

If you hear a crunching from the rear when you go over bumps, it's the sway bar links. As for the clunking in the rear during a shift, check the flex discs and also check the rear differential fluid level.

Check the rear diff mount too, it's rubber on a W123, may be the same on a 126, but not sure. The tranny may make a bang noise on a bad shift, doesn't mean its the diff or anything. But the sway bar links are a big cause, check them! A good way to do so is to crawl under and push/pull the sway bar near the link. If it makes noise, or there is play, they need to be done.

[Plantman]

Sorry for being ignorant, but what exactly is a sway bar link?

Anone have a diagram?

[turbodiesel]

Once you take the rear tire off you will see a vertical bar with two bushings on it connecting the rear swaybar to the hub. Takes two minutes to replace them.

[Bruce Bonds]

Thanks to all who posted about the sway bar links. I just replaced mine and no more noise when I go over bumps. Before it sounded like a load of scrap iron was in the trunk. Cost $8.50 per side and took about an hour. Tools required were two 17 mm wrenches, one of which must be open ended.

[Plantman]

I have come to a conclusion, sort of, regarding my rear end noise.

I have narrowed the noise down to certain times during the shift sequences.

For example, if I were pulling out of the house and were driving took my foot off the pedal, just prior to the car shifting into the next gear, I hear a clunk.

If I accelerate enough to cause the car to downshift, there is no noise. However, if I take my foot off the pedal as it is downshifting, causing it to go back to the great it was in, I hear a clunk.

Additionally, when I have the car in nuetral, or in park and I place it in fwd or rev, I hear a slight clunk, yet it is more pronounced going in reverse.

Ideas?

Does this make any sense to anyone?

[Plantman]

bump

[driad_98]

Sounds a lot like a U-Joint to me.

[suginami]

Originally posted by driad_98
Sounds a lot like a U-Joint to me.

I was going to post the same thing, more or less: sounds like either a U-join (center support bearing), or a flex disc.

At times I suspect you have broken differential mounts (based on your description).