All the parts stores are asking if it has a 8 or 12 mm bolt axle? What bolt are they talking about? Second question where can I get my axles rebuilt? Hopfully on the west coast

Lost in MM Land

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1984 280SEL, 62,000 miles
Euro model in the USA
1983 300D (Totaled out 10/2004)
New Factory Mint Green paint
Palomino int
1982 240D (Steak dinner for two)

I don't know about the bolt size question, but I've had good luck with my rebuilt axles from CVJ Axles in Denver, 303-297-2448.

Does the guy at the parts counter know what bolt it is? If not, maybe try another parts store. Around here, the NAPA is staffed mainly by older guys with tons of knowledge. Kragen is a regular parts store staffed by younger guys who know a thing or two. Autozone is mostly a loss unless you get the guy with the '87 300D. I had the pleasure of dealing with him today while getting a new alternator belt for my 240.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

I believe the bolt size refers to the bolt that goes through the hub into the outer end of the half shaft. There is also a beveled washer that it goes through. Don't over tighten, don't ask me how I know......

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

I agree with JimmyL. Seems like all the ones I have ever run across used the larger size, but I thought it was 13mm.....

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

There is a bolt that retains the half-axle shaft into the hub. You can see it when you remove the wheel or at least the center cap of the wheel. The size is the wrench needed to remove this bolt. In your case I believe the overwhelming probability is that it will be 12mm.

It does no harm to remove this bolt while the car is sitting still and take it with you to the parts place to test fit it in the replacement axle for thread compatibility.

Never seen an 8mm bolt here, those must be in the really old girls.

Ken300D

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles