Half Axlel Homokinetic or Annular Joint Does it matter? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

raslaje · #1 03-20-2007, 02:16 AM

My 85 300D turbo makes a rear end noise after traveling 25 miles. I've been reading the threads on possible causes and threads on half axle replacement (there are some really good ones) and am starting to think maybe CV joints. I've had the sway bar links replaced (didn't solve the problem) and then since I've driven the car for 7 years with hardly a problem brought it to an indy who I think is pretty good with Mercedes and told him just go ahead and replace the flex discs and center bearing. I didn't want to find out the hard way they were bad. He did. I asked him after replacement if he thought they were bad. He said no. Well he was right. I still have the noise, but happy to have new flex discs anyway. When it made the noise again I brought it right in and we took it for a ride but of course no noise with him in the car. His visual inspection didn't find anything. I see the outside boot is cracked but nothing leaking. If I have to go the half axle route I'm pretty much biased toward CVJ from reading threads here and would tell him that's what I want.
I'm confused though when I see there are two types 'annular' and 'homokinetic'. Are they interchangeable? Do like have to be replaced with like?

DeliveryValve · #2 03-20-2007, 03:46 AM

They are interchangable. You can have one homokinetic and one annular on each side.

Schmohey · #3 04-10-2007, 02:30 PM

Which one can be easily fit without extra tools or parts? Like, which one would be a direct bolt on? Which of the two are better?

chetwesley · #4 04-10-2007, 02:38 PM

go with CVJ, not the cheapies. I learned the hard way: 5months/3000miles and claiming on the "lifetime warrantee."

Schmohey · #5 04-10-2007, 06:32 PM

Which version did you get and how much was it?

tobybul · #6 04-10-2007, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chetwesley

go with CVJ, not the cheapies. I learned the hard way: 5months/3000miles and claiming on the "lifetime warrantee."

Which aftermarket brand did you have problems with and where did you buy it from? I know Carquest and Autozone carry them.

Stevo · #7 04-11-2007, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmohey

Which one can be easily fit without extra tools or parts? Like, which one would be a direct bolt on? Which of the two are better?

I have not done one yet but from what I understand the homokinetic one is the easiest one too do, maybe some one with first hand knowledge will chime in.

Lycoming-8 · #8 04-11-2007, 02:05 AM

In August of '04 I replaced a bad original (without the bolted housing) with a nearly new one from a parts car. The new one was the type with the bolted housing that goes toward the differential. Could not see any difference in removal vs replacement procedure, other than the new one was way cleaner and easier to handle. Don't think it really makes a difference. However I would probably go with a reman from CVJ if I had to do it in the future, and did not have a nearly new one at hand. It still had the paper tag on the middle of the shaft!! That one item more than paid for the parts car.

Schmohey · #9 04-11-2007, 09:52 AM

What year was the parts car?

Lycoming-8 · #10 04-11-2007, 12:13 PM

The parts car was an '85, but that probably does not have any bearing on what type would be expected to be installed. It turns out the axle in question had been newly installed on the parts car only about 3 - 4 months before it was wrecked and thus became a parts car. At this point, I am not sure that the other axle, which had not been replaced, was actually the same type. Sure saved me a bundle on a nearly new axle though, and as I mentioned it is not the same style as the one on the other side of the '83 that it ended up on.