Differential fell out on the highway! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DeLorean · #1 07-09-2006, 08:53 PM

well this was really something... I was going along route 287 in NJ at about 75 mph when all of a sudden it felt as if I hit a bolder and got stuck on it! look in my rear view mirror, and I see a shower of sparks shooting out the back of the car. Obviously I pulled over as soon as I could. Upon investigation, my diff fell out of the car (still attached to everything) and fell right onto the ground and started dragging. it looks as if the 4 bolts to the frame are what did this. 1 was broken off and the other 3 were missing. So far it looks like what broke is -

Rear differential got punctured by dragging on the road at high speed
Homokenetic joints both broke
rear drive shaft and joints are now questionable
both rear wheels are tilted way wrong, but I think they would re-align if the diff were bolted back up where it should be
and the exhaust got taken out by all this.

I was about 100 miles away from home when this happened, and lets just say AAA was not very fast about getting me a tow

Anyone else every have this happen? the car is a 1983 300-SD

jwhughes3 · #2 07-09-2006, 09:10 PM

DeLorean,
I'm sorry about your misfortune - If it was mine, I'd have to say I'd be thinking about parting it out or replacing it and keeping it as a parts car only after something like that. I just wouldn't trust it anymore.

Sorry to hear about that.

John

pawoSD · #3 07-09-2006, 09:12 PM

Whats the overall condition of the car? It sounds to me that it underwent some shady maintenance or work on it in the past for something like that to happen....bolts rarely are just "missing" If the overall damage isn't that bad I'd bet you could be back on the road and repaired for about $500-800 if you get lucky....otherwise parting it out or keeping it as a parts car would be an alternative too...

OMEGAMAN · #4 07-09-2006, 09:20 PM

I would trust that car again after it's repaired you just need to inspect it well. I think the most important part of an oil change is the inspection. I used to charge around $100 for an oil change and inspection most of my customers had no problem with it as long as nothing fell off the car.

Post a picture of the hole in that diff. You might be able to weld the hole back up and save yourself some money.

DeLorean · #5 07-09-2006, 10:01 PM

well I was planning on exchanging the diff and rear suspension unit with one from a gas model (it should give me the better ratio). The damage seems to be localized to the rear suspension and drive system, so I should be able to fix it in a day by just swaping rear sub frames if I have all the parts I need on hand. also, the car is not ruaty at all.

It really seems strange... My trans always has shifted rather hard, maybe this had something to do with the failure of the bolts.

#6 07-09-2006, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeLorean

My trans always has shifted rather hard, maybe this had something to do with the failure of the bolts.

I managed to break a flexdisk on my TD from tuning the tranny to shift very firm. It wasn't an instant thing, but it tore the bolts right out of it.

mespe · #7 07-09-2006, 10:43 PM

Wow that is amazing, glad to hear you're OK.

It's unbelieveable that this c ould happen, I've removed several differentials on parts cars and I usually cut a hole in the floor because the nuts are on there so tight. I wonder if the car was made in-between shifts (or does that only apply to chevys and Fords?

You're right about the tires, the diffy holds up the rearend of the car by those 4 bolts. you're probably gonna need two tires too, as I'm sure they rubbed up against the wheel well.

Good luck in fixing your ride.

Marty

www.benzbonz.biz

#8 07-09-2006, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeLorean

both rear wheels are tilted way wrong, but I think they would re-align if the diff were bolted back up where it should be...

I suspect there is more damage there. The differential and half-shafts don't support the rear wheel alignment.

#9 07-09-2006, 09:18 PM

The damage sounds pretty nasty. You might be better to just replace the entire subframe assy with a used one.

Palangi · #10 07-09-2006, 09:20 PM

Being a rust belt car, Ya gotta wonder if the Iron Moths got hold of it.

Sounds like a scary ride.

Glad nobody was hurt.