My 82 300TD started making a thud thud thud sound that varied with speed today. It does it only when I turn right, and it feels like it is right under my feet when driving. It did the same thing a few months ago and it turned out that the bolts in the passenger half shaft were loose. The shop tightened them up and had to re-tap one of them and the sound went away.

So I check the bolts again to see if they were loose again, but they seem to be tight. But I noticed that I could push the shaft back and fourth between the wheel and the differential. Is this normal? When I had the car in to have the shop look at this a few months ago they also said that the steering was loose, and I think they said the tie-rod ends needed to be replaced. Could this be the problem now?

Thanks
Andrew

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the half shaft is the prob. loose tye rod ends will just rattle over bumps.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I agree, if you only hear/feel it on corners it's one of the half shafts. Mine was worse if I "coasted" around a corner.

been there, done that, a month ago.
make sure you check the driveshaft support bearing too, especially if it feels like it's just below your arse when driving... but it's probably the axle shaft. if you're having them done, you might as well bite the bullet and do both at the same time to save the labor on dropping the diff twice.
make sure you get good rebuilt ones if you go rebuilt- there are some shoddy axles out there...
best,
k

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Cannondale ST600 XL
Redline Monocog 29er
2011 Mini Cooper Clubman
2005 Honda Element EX

www.djugurba.com
www.waldenwellness.com

That's the same sound my parents make when I am trying to sleep.

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1982 240D.
My name is Michael, and I am an 18 year old binge-drinkin', cigar-smokin', novel-writin', all around unsavory and unnattractive guy. I tell long-winded stories, and I only shave once a week, although I've had to do it every day since I was 16.

So does a half shaft from sedan work on a wagon? And are the right and left side interchangable?

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All of the half shafts from any W123 should be useable, either right or left. There are a couple of different styles and at least two different bolt sizes where they attach at the wheel end, but even there you just need the right bolt. New half shafts are the best, but cost the most. Used ones, if they look good on the outside, can be a reasonable choice and will likely be the cheapest. Re-manufactured ones are not always what they are billed as in the quality dept. And they will run in the middle of the pack as far as price. If you get a used one that looks good, use it on the other side of the car. You might just get a pretty good life out of it, since it will be turning the other way and wearing in a different area.

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

had good luck with rebuilts.

at 22 years of age buying a used one seems not likely to yield good results. best hope there is that it has already been replaced. and if so was it a new one or rebuilt?

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

If I was planning on keeping the car, I would replace both sides with rebuilts.

So of course I have family comming from out of town today for the weekend. How many miles can I drive with the shaft the way it is? I realize if it breaks completely I will have a huge disaster on my hands. Can I get fifty miles out of it? Am I going to be able to wait it out untill next week?

Andrew

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this sounds like a good theory, but what about the oil grooves on the radial sealing surface on some of these axles? They are directional and also call for slightly different seals. There are so many changes and variations in the axle parts, it's just nauseating to look at the FSM and try to figure out what week your vehicle was made based on the axle parts

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'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

When my transmission mount died, I would get a thud thud on heavy accel and/or hard right turns. All the rubber in one side (left side) of the mount had pretty well disintegrated. Felt it right under my feet. I first thought half shafts or center support bearing, but they were all OK. New tranny mount everything is

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85 300D, 96 F-250 CC PSD, Farmall 656 D and other assorted gas powered stuff

look for a nail or a rock stuck in one of your tires.

if it's the half shaft... you can drive it until it breaks, but not much after that...
good luck!
k

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Cannondale ST600 XL
Redline Monocog 29er
2011 Mini Cooper Clubman
2005 Honda Element EX

www.djugurba.com
www.waldenwellness.com

Mine does the same thing. I have a used shaft from the left side of a 240D that will work on the right rear of my car. I have been driving mine like that for about 7,000 miles so far. Yep, I'm a procrastinator. I may tackle that this weekend. Maybe, unless it can wait till later

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2005 Accord Hybrid (Wifes)
1995 Subaru Impreza L AWD (Snow car)
1984 GMC Sierra 1500 (Mine)
1983 300CD Best $ I ever spent. (Mine)
1984 190D (sold and glad I did)
1983 300D (sold and wished I hadn't)