I could R&R the engine in less time than that.

Sybill the SDL kicked my butt (took a couple of days) when I changed her axles but that was because at some point the stupid PO used the Incredible Hulk to install the wheel lugs and the recessed socket-head bolt that was part of the anti-torque arm on the subframe decided to strip out.

I cannot imagine it taking much more than a couple of hours to do an axle on a W123...maybe a little more on the left side because you have to remove the exhaust over there.

Yeah, that's what I thought. I suppose they don't make enough honest money charging $105.00 per hour so they have to pad the hours to break even. :mad:

Roy is fast. 1.5 hours with the skills and tools and the lift. I could only hope!

BTW, Reverend, I believe that the axles must come out to pull the diff. AFAIK.

I think I have it now
 

I think I get the picture now. I just hope I can find someone to give me a hand with this job or I may have to bite the bullet and pay someone to help me later on. Thanks for the info.

By the way, down at the bottom of this page was an add for accu auto parts. I don't know if you see it too, but they don't carry Mercedes parts. Why in the heck is that appearing in the post???

When you do pull the 3rd member....
Be sure to take pains to support the axles all the time you are working on them... they are not supposed to be allowed to move outward anymore than necessary... certainly they are not allowed to support themselves in the extended position hanging from the wheel hubs... ouch...
If you don't do support them you may be back under the car replacing the axles in short order... now that would be a bummer.... you will be plenty tired of being under there when you get through.... the other end of the car is more exciting to work on .... no one ever sees what you do on that end....

Nope, it can all come out as a unit.

Willrev
Email or PM me when you have decided on a date. I will come over to help if I am free. I am a DIY amateur (putting it mildly) but at least I can fetch and carry.
Regards

...........and then pull the axles after it is out?? :confused:

The diffy can come out either way: with or w/o the axles attached. With the axles attached, it's ungainly and occasionally wants to swarm on you...but, it can be done.

Theroetically, it can go back in the same way but I cannot imagine fighting the diffy AND the axles while aligning those studs with the holes in the subframe.

It is a PITA...so much so that when I steal the 2:88 rear end out of Passion Flower, I'm seriously considering swapping the ENTIRE subframe....

"but at least I can fetch and carry."

It is also very helpful to have someone not under the car to call 911 if necessary.... and I am not kidding about this.... accidents happen.... but fast response time by help can mitigate the long term consequences...

I think about this because If something fell on me it would be 8 hours before someone came looking for me...

The time of 9 hours was for the axle and diff coming out.

When we write up an estimate we can't let the $103 an hour hinder our decision on what to charge. It's the dealer that decides that and gets the 103/hr, certainly not the techs.

Time in the hot tub....lunch and dinner.....and time with their girlfriends I guess... :eek:

You should be thankful. If the SDL falls on me, nobody would be looking for me for a week. :eek: :mad: