I have the chance to pick up a differential from a '79 300CD tomorrow for my '79 300SD, so I tried to read up on diffy swaps. There was some mention that shims might be needed in order to keep from leaning the tires out a hair and affecting tire wear, but there were other posts that seemed to indicate that the swap could be made with no problems without shims. Can anyone out there relate their experiences doing this swap? (i'm not worried about the higher ratio, just the actual fit and functionality.)

Thanks!

I am interested int he answer to this as well. From what I have been able to tell - 116 and 126 interchange, but shimming is needed for 116 to 123 swaps. Also, annular shafts on the same axle have shims whereas homokinetics do not.

Having recently done a 126 (1980 euro) swap into my wife's 1982 300SD - heres what I have found :

If you want to use the annular shafts then a shim washer is needed

homokinetic shafts do not need a shim

you can mix and match shaft types


Please keep me in the loop and let me know what you find

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1982 300SD (214 k, excellent shape) kidmobile running mostly biodiesel, gets 31 mpg hwy with 2.82 rear from a euro 500SEL



1976 115 body 240D 4-speed (traded for Jeep parts) - Engine lives on in my CJ7

Grim,
Thanks so much for the info. I'll let you know what I find out tomorrow.

Do you remember what the shims cost, and were they a MB dealer item?

Regards,
Darren

no cost, I just stripped them from a couple of 300SDs that were in the yard I go to.

__________________
1982 300SD (214 k, excellent shape) kidmobile running mostly biodiesel, gets 31 mpg hwy with 2.82 rear from a euro 500SEL



1976 115 body 240D 4-speed (traded for Jeep parts) - Engine lives on in my CJ7