JHZR2,

I have had the CV joints on the passenger side on my 1982 240D begin making a lot of noise on the 77th mile of a 600 mile round trip to Upstate NY from CT. I took it slow, as the speed limits then were 55, and the noise got worse at certain load conditions, but if I held it just right I got no noise. By the time I got home it sounded like it was cracking and snapping, but I never got any smoking. Or signs of leaking fluid.

So, I think you did the right thing, as the consequences of a real failure at speed could be unacceptable. I stopped regularly and inspected things but still feel I was very lucky. The joint itself seems exceedingly robust, but I would probably not drive over 500 miles with a CV joint protesting like that again. Youth is a strange influence on decision making.

Hope your car gets back on the road again soon, Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)