Bad diff ... W115

[vwnate1]

Glad to hear you dodged the bullet .

Odd that oil cooler hoses for an older W115 are still available but not for the much more common W123....

[cleeves]

Originally Posted by Frank Reiner

The diff that I linked to does not have SIDE covers! It does have a rear cover that is indeed retained by eight bolts.

Ended up not fitting but I only lost 100 bucks.

I had a transmission shop take it apart and the pinion has pitting on it which has presumably caused this issue. So weird.

Shop owner has called all of his connections and can't source a used differential for this.

Any leads on one would greatly appreciated. Happy to pay someone to take it out of their old car sitting around and ship it to me. W115 300D. I'm getting desperate! Car has been at the shop for 2 months now.

-Henry

[cleeves]

This one has the correct casing but it appears to be a 3.58. Mine is a 3.46. Minor.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/154806799940?hash=item240b344e44:g:3eoAAOSw6jdh7B5H

Do I have to worry about the carrier having the correct spline, or can I assume it will work?

-Henry

[cleeves]

Mine is a 3.46 stamped 1153511301
Ebay is a 3.58 stamped 1153513208
OK?

[Frank Reiner]

Originally Posted by cleeves

This one has the correct casing but it appears to be a 3.58. Mine is a 3.46. Minor.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/154806799940?hash=item240b344e44:g:3eoAAOSw6jdh7B5H

Do I have to worry about the carrier having the correct spline, or can I assume it will work?

-Henry

That one is in Latvia; this one is in NC, and 1/3 the price.
The seller is a PeachParts member. Flip a coin.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/224998712375?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D23948 6%26meid%3D2f2fd474a914425b99d720a32e5b4d90%26pid%3D101113%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D154806799940%2 6itm%3D224998712375%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2563228%26algv%3DDefaultOrganicWeb&_trksid=p2563228.c101113.m2108

[Frank Reiner]

Originally Posted by cleeves

Mine is a 3.46 stamped 1153511301
Ebay is a 3.58 stamped 1153513208
OK?

What is the problem with the first 3.46(?) replacement that you bought?
Pictures would help.

[vwnate1]

Sorry to hear it didn't work out Henry .

Where are you located ? .

there are two W115's in LKQ yards in So. Cal., maybe more I only checked a few for some parts I'll go harvest tomorrow .

It is not clear to me why the one you bought isn't any good .

[cleeves]

Originally Posted by Frank Reiner

What is the problem with the first 3.46(?) replacement that you bought?
Pictures would help.

The first replacement I bought has the wrong casing. They even took it apart to see if the pinion would fit in my casing to replace my pitted one, and that doesn't work either. The casing is like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/174835378657?hash=item28b50029e1:g:knYAAOSwGOpg6mw6

I don't have time to post pictures (i need to rescale them or make them fit here and I can't find password to my imgur) at the moment because things are crazy at work this week and I also need the car asap, I'll upload my pictures at a later date.

[cleeves]

The correct casing has 6 bolts around each of the carrier/axle outlets.

[cleeves]

Originally Posted by vwnate1

Sorry to hear it didn't work out Henry .

Where are you located ? .

there are two W115's in LKQ yards in So. Cal., maybe more I only checked a few for some parts I'll go harvest tomorrow .

It is not clear to me why the one you bought isn't any good .

That would be a godsend. Must be 300D though as I believe the 240 and others have a 3.92 diff.

But maybe the other one Frank linked to just now will work (not the old one). It appears to have the right casing.

[cleeves]

@vwnate I'm in New York City. Happy to pay you shipping and handling if you find a 3.46, as well as a fee for your effort (you name it). If it's a 3.58 though (unlikely for a 300D) I might as well just get the ebay one to save you effort.

[Frank Reiner]

Originally Posted by Frank Reiner

What are the symptoms?

On the sides of the diff housing where the inboard stub axles enter there are two versions. Your original diff has the first version with bolted on covers/bearing carriers. The one that could serve as a replacement is of the second version which has the bearings retained by snap rings. The two versions are visually different in that area, but functionally the same.
The shop that does the swap needs to be aware that there are selective shims/spacers that are used to set the end play of the stub axles in the side gears. Those spacers would be encountered irrespective of the version of the diff housing.

Originally Posted by cleeves

The correct casing has 6 bolts around each of the carrier/axle outlets.

Over a year ago you were advised of the visual differences; see above.

Originally Posted by cleeves

The first replacement I bought has the wrong casing. They even took it apart to see if the pinion would fit in my casing to replace my pitted one, and that doesn't work either. The casing is like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/174835378657?hash=item28b50029e1:g:knYAAOSwGOpg6mw6

c:
For the best of reasons, the visual differences between the earlier diff cases w/bolt-on side covers, and the later version w/snap-ring retained bearings were explained to you. The two versions are interchangeable.

[cleeves]

Originally Posted by Frank Reiner

Over a year ago you were advised of the visual differences; see above.



c:
For the best of reasons, the visual differences between the earlier diff cases w/bolt-on side covers, and the later version w/snap-ring retained bearings were explained to you. The two versions are interchangeable.

OK -- so they are interchangable as in the shop should be able to fit the version with snap-ring retained bearings on the car with no further issues? The mechanic (seems to be pretty knowledgeable) said it could not be done.

-Henry

[Frank Reiner]

Originally Posted by cleeves

OK -- so they are interchangable as in the shop should be able to fit the version with snap-ring retained bearings on the car with no further issues? The mechanic (seems to be pretty knowledgeable) said it could not be done. -Henry

From post #8 this thread:
"The shop that does the swap needs to be aware that there are selective shims/spacers that are used to set the end play of the stub axles in the side gears. Those spacers would be encountered irrespective of the version of the diff housing."

The "mechanic" should treat this as a bench job first, with the objective of fitting the half-shafts, and setting their end play. It is much easier on the bench than in the chassis.

Once that is done the center section can be bolted into the sub-frame, the driveshaft attached, and the half-shafts installed.

[cleeves]

Originally Posted by Frank Reiner

From post #8 this thread:
"The shop that does the swap needs to be aware that there are selective shims/spacers that are used to set the end play of the stub axles in the side gears. Those spacers would be encountered irrespective of the version of the diff housing."

The "mechanic" should treat this as a bench job first, with the objective of fitting the half-shafts, and setting their end play. It is much easier on the bench than in the chassis.

Once that is done the center section can be bolted into the sub-frame, the driveshaft attached, and the half-shafts installed.

Sent you a PM.

-Henry