Anybody ever work on the driveshaft of an 82 126, 300SD? I'm not home and my kid called this evening saying my SD made a noise, and wouldn't drive anymore. He pulled over. When he put it in Park, clearly the trans was still turning, because he could hear the parking pawl skipping as it went into Park after a while.

His budy pulled him home with strap. My kid say that half of the driveshaft spins, while the other half doesn't! Can this be? Any ideas what happened? I'll be home Friday to check it out, but would like to know something about this problem.

Thanks in advance.

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Thank You!
Fred
2009 ML350
2004 SL600
2004 SL500
1996 SL600
2002 SLK32
2005 CLK320 cabrio
2003 ML350
1997 C280 Sport

Could have possible broken a flex disc but that would have made alot of noise and caused condierable damage.

Take a look and let us know.

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'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

Sounds like a flex disc let go, hopefully the damage isn't to bad.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Bad flexdisc wouldn't explain why part of the shaft is turning and part isn't. It sounds is if the spline that joins the two halfs of the driveshaft let go. Never heard of that happening before. As I recall, there's a big nut that holds the spline in position. Perhaps that loosened up.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Please take pictures and post them here when you find out what it is.
my 82 has nearly 400K Miles and I am NOT looking forward to a driveshaft breaking.
John

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
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My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

They slid, with a busted disc they can slid forward. The spline never wears out, I checked mine at 250k miles and it was as tight as can be. I could not feel any play.

W126's are tough, the flex disc and maybe the center support bearing are the only parts under there that can fail.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Isn't there a UJ in there? If that snapped, wouldn't that make each half independant, and one end could spin while the other doesn't? I know that would be a rare case, but...

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1989 300E 144K

If they slide, do the two sections of shaft disconnect from each other? I agree that a spline wearing out is virtually unimaginable. However, I also can't imagine any way in which one half of the shaft can turn and the other half doesn't other than the spline failing or the two halves disconnecting.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

It appears I had some sort of failure in the differential. That's probably what snapped the shaft.

So - anybody have a differential that needs no work other than to put it in? How much, shipped to zip 49085?

1982 300SD. Must be form a 300SD, correct?

__________________
Thank You!
Fred
2009 ML350
2004 SL600
2004 SL500
1996 SL600
2002 SLK32
2005 CLK320 cabrio
2003 ML350
1997 C280 Sport

It can also be from a 300D W123 I think.

My center spline/locking bolt on the shaft was loose when I had it inspected for vibration at the dealer a couple years ago. He said it was completely loose, and tightened it up for me again. So I guess they CAN come loose. yeesh.

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'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)