Main Driveshaft Question
 

I have just removed the driveshaft from my 1983 300SD spares car to replace my worn shaft UJ+center bearing in my 84 300SD.

The problem is when pulling the shaft out from under the car the two halfs split at the collet & spline part in the center. I beleive that the two coupling spiders (tripods) must be in line but that still leaves three ways around to fit the shaft.

Questions to the experts,

1, Will it matter?

2, Are the two halfs balanced together or separatly?

3, Is there a trustworthy shop near montgomery AL, say 100 mile radius that could fit a new UJ and balance this mess. I have a new bearing rubber carrier and flexdisks ready to go on?


Any help with this matter would be much apreciated.


Steve

yes it matter a great deal as to driveshaft balance...you should paint or otherwise mark (don't even think of using tape) its position in reference to the front and rear halves at the slip joint. THey are balalnced as an assy....

I'll be frank you made a mistake doing that. I just had mine out making sure you mark the two parts is essential to balance. I took great care in marking mine, white out marks.:D

What you need to do now is put the new center bearing on and put the drive shaft back together. Then take it to a drive shaft shop to be balance. If their is play in the universal have them replace that as well. I didn't replace mine because I couldn't find any play, at 253,409 miles!

*edit* make sure you replace the center bearing itself and not just the rubber mount.

Thanks
 

Thanks for the quick reply, I marked my original shaft it is just that the one from the parts car is in usable condition but the act of pulling it along the ground from under the car seperated the two halfs. I thought the collet would have had a better grip on the splines.

Still it gave the old ferguson some exersise pulling the car down from the top field then putting it back neatly withe the other parts vheicles.

Steve

There are markings on there from the factory but you have to know what you are looking for. I used to have a pic showing the original marks. I'll try to find it this afternoon and post it. Anyway, the best place for rebuilding them is Driveline Service of Atlanta. Do a google search and they should come up.

You can get lucky and have it fall in the correct spline or need no balance.

As Jim says, there are factory marks. There are two "knots" on one piece and I think one "knot" on the other piece that line up. These knots are sort of a raised hemispherical shape cast into the pieces and are about 1/8" in diameter.

Good luck,

Jim and Larry are both right on the marks. Per the shop manual the marks look oblong (major axes aligned with drive shaft) and were on all units from August 82 production.

I have a 74 240D with the same problem
 

Would the 74 240D have the same factory marks???

Thanks and another question
 

OK its ready to go back in new flexplates center bearing and support. I cannot find marks on the shaft. But I figure that as the tripods should be in line there is really only three ways it will go back in one of which should give minimun vibration.

Question, what is the round rubber damped ring at the front end of the shaft for? it is in good condition I just wonder would it be BAD to leave it off?


Steve

yes, it would be BAD to leave it off.:rolleyes:

Pete,

I don't think he is talking about the flex disk. On the 124 and probably the 126 there is a rubber damper that is nothing more than a rubber weight. It is very common for people to take them off and leave them off. I have never found any ill effects from doing this, but there is no reason to leave it off unless it is torn up.

Good luck,

I once, accidently separated a driveshaft on an early 123 and had to replace it. You should be able to find marks on yours. make sure the rubber dust boot is OK too.

Job Completed
 

Its good to be driving the old benz again. I left the damper ring off coz I lost its location that way it is a lot easier th get at the bolts on the transmission flange. Then i fitted the shafts with the "tripods" inline (first of three tries) removed the rear wheels and supported the car under the suspension and spun her up, WOOOOHOOOO! no vibration at any speed well upto 100mph or so.

Then I put the heat shield back and the exhaust minus the gonads (resonators). I just can't believe this old car 5 weeks of sitting and she was ready to go for a drive. smooth as silk and quiet.

next job the hood pad.


Thanks for the help and advise.


Steve

use 3M 8090 spray adhesive on that hood pad and you'll be glad you did. Great adhesive and best adhesive spray nozzle I've ever seen.