Originally Posted by 83 300D

Hi all,

I drove my '83 300D Turbo cross country and am now in California a long way from home. We have a heavier load than I've ever had on the car and maybe that is what caused the problem initially. The engine did fine but my passenger and I started noticing a vibration and noise along the way. In Colorado I looked under the car and noticed a small differential fluid leak. I had a quick oil change place look at it. The guy said it looked dirty but it was full. I replaced the diff. fluid anyway, but it hasn't helped the problem. I had to drive on to Oregon anyway due to time constraints. The noise progressed and we couldn't figure out the cause.

Now there is a pronounced clunking noise from the rear end, most likely driver side. The noise comes and goes. It is worse on acceleration and going up hills and goes away on downhills. I jacked up the car and took off the wheel. Nothing seems loose. When I spin the wheel hub there is a noise inside the axle near the diff. that sounds like a steel ball rolling around inside the tin can shaped casing. When starting from a cold start the noise is absent but comes back after driving awhile. It is loud and sounds like metal on metal. Unfortunately, I've had to drive it this way for several hundred miles.

The prev. owner had replaced the passenger side axle but not the driver side. The boots are cracked pretty bad but seem intact.

I know noises are hard to diagnose but I'm a long way from home and could use any help. My passenger said it sounds like a uv joint, but I haven't heard that before so I don't know. I know the axles have cv joints.

Does this sound like a bad axle? If it's gone how much does it hurt to drive it? Could it lock up, fall off, destroy the differential?

Anyone know any good MB mechanics in the San Francisco area. I will be in Monte Rio for a few days and need to get this fixed before I head home. I'd tackle the job myself if I was home, but it's much harder on the road. I know there are some forum members around here so maybe someone knows a good indi mech. Oh, one more very important thing, I don't have much cash.

Thanks,
Mark