Axle won't go in

[Stretch]

Originally Posted by ggenovez

Thanks Stretch. Hopefully it's not too bad of a job.

Can the flexplate take any hammer blows or penetrating oil?

Sorry but I have to slap your wrists! It isn't a flex plate (that between a flywheel and a torque converter) it is a flex disc. But to answer the question =>

If you need to "screw driver" or pry or hammer it off the yoke you need to replace it.

If you have to be rough with it then you need to replace it. The damage a failed flex disc can cause is not pretty. Any cracks - replace - oil contamination - replace (see where it is going?)

When you fit a new or good old flex disc it is best to apply a very thin wipe of anti-seize grease (really really thin wipe)

[ggenovez]

Hey Jim,

Yes the new axles do fit properly on both sides. THe clip fits in the diff. the new ones are actually a hair shorter than the old ones.

Putting in the old ones is not possible. I had to use a pry bar to get them in.

I'm in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

I'll send out a ping on the Diesel side.

Thanks!

[leathermang]

Originally Posted by Stretch

........
2) Remove the differential and lower that much lower than the wheel hubs so that you can fit the axle "the other way"...

I've still got a feeling something is wrong with the axle or the fitting of the axle....

Since this brought back memories of the worst mechanicing experience of my life... dealing with my 81 wagon ( read LONG OVERHANG at the back ) on ground...not concrete... and not jacked up high enough.... me on my belly and trying to deal with stuff above my head....

So I did not have a choice on some of these conditions..
but as far as I remember..... #2 of what Stretch mentioned is what needed to be done... I think I got the FSM after that....and had one of those ' no wonder it was so hard ' moments when I found that information..

and I was putting the same axles back in ... I was replaced the wheel bearings... so I know they were the correct length... but a sixteenth of an inch ' too long' when you have to line up those splines perfectly ... is too long by a mile...

I also think that one is not supposed to jack up the car by the ' third member'...... first because it is supported by a rubber mount.. AND that the FSM shows proper jacking points elsewhere... .of course a LOT of people use it to jack up the car...

[charmalu]

The Third Member has 4 Studs that go through the Sub Frame and are securely held with 4 19mm Nuts. So it is fairly solid.

I do see your point on the Differential mount though. I have jacked my vehicles by the Diff from time to time. ......and I do have a pile of FSM`s too.


Charlie

[Stretch]

The weird thing is that we have been looking through the FSM and it hasn't helped.

The W114/W115 FSM has a very similar chapter to the W123 one. The parts in question are the same as the W123 - procedure is the same. The only advantage of the W114/W115 is that they seem to have four handy holes in the trunk / boot to help you drop the differential...

[ggenovez]

Ok. What is the fsm. And 3rd member?

[Stretch]

Originally Posted by ggenovez

Ok. What is the fsm. And 3rd member?

FSM - factory service manual

That's the thing you found on BenzWorld

I understand the third member is related to the third policeman...

[ggenovez]

Great news! Dropping the differential allowed one of the axles in. Unfortunately, the axle bolt is too wide and I need a smaller one

Thanks to everyone especially stretch. Unfortunately, my 250 does not have holes in the trunk, so I had to crawl and get them

[Stretch]

The bolt and the washer that fits on the outer side of the hub and goes into the axle?

[ggenovez]

Correct

[Stretch]

Well that doesn't give me a good feeling - that makes me think the axle isn't quite right.

If I remember correctly that bolt on my W123 axles has an M8 thread. Can you rig up a temporary bolt of the correct size?

[ggenovez]

It's an aftermarket part so I'm not surprised. I'll find an adequate replacement bolt.

[bsharp8256]

I can throw in here about the different bolt! Early axles (before 73 I think) used a larger bolt which I believe was 17mm. Apparently it could cause a clicking sound when driving, so MB changed to the familiar M8 bolt with spacer that we all know and love. As long as you use the correct bolt and spacer it's interchangeable. I wasn't sure how long the spacer needed to be so I just went to a junkyard and pulled a set off another car, bolt and all. They didn't even charge me.

Of course I can't find a link to the literature that I read this in right now...

[ggenovez]

Hey Guys.

I'm having a hard time getting the 3rd member to separate from the subframe. Any advice?

Thanks

[ggenovez]

Oh the flex disk is still attached if that makes any difference