thanks for the comments Army. The stripped bolt is one of the rear diff mount bolts. The rear diff mount is held to the underside of a body frame member with 4 bolts, it's one of those 4 that I stripped. I think you are talking about 4 bolts that hold the diff itself to the subframe.....I didn't touch those.

About the axles rubbing the diff. output seals, I don't think that is the case. When I slid the axles into the diff. I heard them both bottom down solidly against metal. If the seal was rubbing I wouldn't have heard that metal-on-metal clink. I'm mostly concerned that the axle stub ends in the diff may somehow effect internal gear clearance within the diff. and if so I'm worried about having taken out too much clearance.

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1985 300D 231K anthracite grey w/black int.