I searched and it is unclear to me if these two different types of axles are interchangeable on the W126 chassis.

Sybill has a pair of bad annular axles and I have a pair of good homokinetic units from a 126. Since from what I've read, the annular axle assembly is an upgrade which can be performed to cars with homokinetic axels, It seems like I should be able to open the diffy, pop the snap rings off and remove the entire annular assembly and go back in with the homokinetic pieces I already have.

What you think?
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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

yup, just did it when I converted my wifes 300SD rear end to the 2.82 euro.
In fact you can use one of each on either side !!

You need to use the washer/shims if they came with it.

email me if you need more info.

regards

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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

This is excellent news!

I do have a question about the shims... are you sying that I should use the shims (if there are any) that are with the existing axles and place them on the new axles?

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

I think that the shims should stay with the axle as long as the donor car is also a 126 chassis. Axles from a 123 can be used, I believe, but there is then a different shim requirement.

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1961 190Db retired
1968 220D/8 325,000
1983 300D 164,150

I replaced the axles on my wifes 123.

One is annular and one is homokenetic. The annular axle would not fit with the shim in place. (I couldn't get the clip on). Removing the shim and I could just barely clip the axle on.

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'84 300CD Turbo 132k (Anthracite Grey) - WVO - My daily driver - Recently named coo-coo-coupe by my daughter.
'84 300D Turbo 240k (Anthracite Grey) - Garage Queen
'83 300D Turbo 220k (Orient Red) - WVO - Wifes daily driver

I'm not a certified mechanic, but I did stay at a HolidayInn Express last night.

OK, so I have the annular axles out of the car and have installed one on the homokinetic axles....there were no shims with the homokinetic axles and, with the axle seated into the differential, I'm not sure that I could install the retaining clip if there was any sort of shim spacing the axle outwards.

As it sits, I think there's probably .02" space between the retaining clip groove and the spider. Is this right?

What will happen if I need a shim but don't install one (because I don't have it)?

Enquiring minds want to know.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Believe that it will cant the wheels at a non-standard angle, ie: either a more positive or negative camber than desired if the shimming is wrong. However it sounds like yours is going to be OK. Like I said above, I am pretty sure that the spacers stay with the axle if going from w126 to w126. There was a thread that dealt with this issue some months ago, at least before I changed mine in early August 2004.

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1961 190Db retired
1968 220D/8 325,000
1983 300D 164,150