Axle Gremlins
 

I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY 123 CHASSIS 240D
SHAKING AT SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH . WE FOUND THE
CULPRIT TO BE A BAD AXLE THAT MOVES IN AND OUT
IN BETWEEN THE CV JOINTS AS IT TURNS . THE AXLE ON THE OTHER SIDE RUNS TRUE . I REPLACED BAD
THE AXLE WITH A REBUILT ONE ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ! WE HAVE HAD THE CAR RUNNING ON A LIFT
AND THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING .

CAN THERE BE SOME OTHER PROBLEM THAT IS CAUSING
THESE AXLES TO " BOUNCE " IN THIS WAY ?

THANKS FOR ANY ADVICE .

AXLE GREMLINS
 

OBVIOUSLY , CHEAP ( AND PROBABLY EXPENSIVE )
REBUILT AXLES DON't HAVE NEW CV JOINTS .
WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF HAVING A REBUILT
ONE THAT IS BAD OUT OF THE BOX ?

STILL LOOKING FOR ANSWERS
 

HAS ANYONE SEEN THIS PROBLEM ?

I GUESS THERE IS NOT A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE
 

ON THIS TOPIC .

First, please turn your caps off. It's considered shouting, and makes it very difficult to read your posts.

On those axle assemblies, it's possible to get a bad reubuilt unit. I replaced the driver's side axle on the 190E 2.6 three times before getting a good unit. Luckily I bought from a good shop that took back the offending units.

I also changed the wheel bearings. Have you checked the rear suspension bushings as well? If you have play, they might contribute to the early demise of an axle.

Give us a little better description of the movement you are seeing. Is the axle shifting side to side (in the same direction as the axle shaft) or are you seeing a movement front to back (relative to the car).

And which part of the axle is moving oddly? The center portion of the shaft between the CV joints?

If you wanted to isolate the problem at minimum cost with a little labor, you could switch the axles and see if the movement goes with the axle or stays on the same side of the car.

I'm no expert, but I've replaced axle shafts with new units. No problems with new units at all, but they cost a lot.

Ken300D