If there's no play, I'd say yes. I replaced the original axle on Betsie a few months ago, and that one did not have a spacer either. So the new axle didn't get one, 'cause I didn't have one.:P

My apologies. I had started a thread some months back when I got a bad banging noise from the rear that I assumed is my right side axle shaft. I thought I was replying to a post from that thread.

- Peter.

My thoughts exactly.

This is exactly why I replaced both of my axles. I had an intermittent banging that was awful ! It has been over a year since the last time it made noise. Should be never at this point. The right shaft had some play that was not easily evident when installed. I am glad I did the swap.

Cant lower trailing arrn (?)
 

I am replacing the axles on my 1983 300D. The first old one came out easily (it was pretty mangled) but I cannot get the new one into the wheel hub; it is as if it is too long. The new are the DSS brand; the part number on the box matches the correct one in this catalog. I am reluctant to do other side since the one is not happening.
I did swap the old spacer on to the new one, but that seems to regulate the slop at the differential; nothing to do with overall length.
One of the posters here mentioned that a manual recommended dropping the hub by undoing the top of the shocks. This did not make the hub/arm lower. Neither does undoing the sway bar end. I do have the differential as high as it will go, to provide maximum clearance.
Looking at how the rear suspension is put together, I am reluctant to use some sort of hydraulic spreader as has been suggested; seems like it could do other damage.
Lowering the hub seems like the best option. Is there something which would keep the arm/hub from lowering, so I can get clearance? Or is there something else I am missing here

Put a jack underneath the differential and undo the bolts for the differential mount. Then, lower the diff with the jack, and that should create some clearance to get the new axle in.

Thank you, Cersitimo. But I already have the differential detached from mount, and pushed up as far as it goes, but I still am not getting the clearance needed.

Another thing which seems odd, is undoing shock had no impact on clearance; nothing seemed to lower, even though axle is off

Ping .

The shafts "telescope." Do you have them fully compressed?

These aftermarket(China stickers and all) homo axles from the previous owner have been tanking on this car. I didn't know the basic distinctions of this specific job so I acquired a new pair of OE Mercedes W123 annular axles and of course I lack flanges. Are German made flanges critical for this particular hunk of metal? The majority of used flanges on eBay, for example, are going to be aftermarket. I'm about to just buy whatever there is.

This helped a bunch.. Getting ready to change out to a 3.07 or 2.88,still debating this, and the pics are awesome!!

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Probably the most likely source for the flanges is going to be used. EBay or Pick n Pull, look for 87-89 420SEL or 500SEL. I managed to get the entire differential and axles from an 87 420SEL. (2.47 ratio)

Thank you. There are several of those diffs on there with flanges. I could get one, pull the flanges, and resell/reship that heavy sucker.