Check for "free" motion in the diff -- if you get more than 4" rotation before the gears "catch" by rotating one wheel off the ground, the spider carrier is worn or the pinion crush washer is squashed.

Don't forget to check the vac connection to the modulator, either -- no vac will cause hard shifts, and the tranny gets out of synch going into reverse, so that it's turning forward before the reverse band engages -- bang!

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!