What does a bad axle sound like? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

i-osprey · #1 09-21-2009, 10:20 PM

1993 W124 300D that I have owned for about six months and 28K miles has always had a thunk/clunk in the rear end.

It only does this when starting from a stop and until yesterday it was "just" the thunk/clunk.

Now it is more of a dull grinding/binding sound and I am pretty sure it originates from the driver side axle that I recently noticed had a torn boot on the differential end of the axle.

My next question is, what is likely to happen if this is the problem and I have a catastrophic failure?

I ask because I have a 375 mile work trip planned for tomorrow.

I can reschedule it(luckily) but I would prefer to not miss it if possible.

How do you check if an axle is bad?

Could it be the differential itself?

I replaced the oil in the rear end a few months ago and it looked fine with no noticeable metal in the old oil.

I don't know for sure how long the boot has been torn either.

I do know that it looked bone dry when I noticed it a few weeks ago.

I didn't see any tears in the other side and I am pretty sure that the sounds I am hearing now are coming from the driver side.

Is this a job where I should replace both at the same time or should I just replace the one with the torn boot?

aaa · #2 09-21-2009, 10:31 PM

Axles take forever to go bad. So if the boot wasn't torn a few weeks ago then you should be fine. On the other hand, the clunking that you've had for a while implies that there has been a problem for a while (maybe it was torn and you didn't notice?).

FineOlBenz · #3 09-21-2009, 10:32 PM

Don't bother taking that car on a long trip. If your axle boot is torn the oil is gone and so will your axle shortly. Yes a major failure is in the near future.

i-osprey · #4 09-21-2009, 10:48 PM

I just noticed a few weeks ago the boot was torn.

I have been pricing axles and they are OUTRAGEOUS.

Hardly anybody has them either.

Apparently you can just replace the inner CV joint and I am pretty sure that is my problem.

Has anybody done this?

dieseldan44 · #5 09-22-2009, 12:05 AM

I dont know if they do 124 axles, but for the 123 the best place for quality rebuilds in my opinion/experience is CVJ axles in Denver. Other folks have had luck with Autozone / Advance rebuilds.

You could always find an axle in a junkyard and swap it out. Or even better yet, take a pair of good junkyard axles, have your indy reboot and regrease them, and put them on the car.

dd

vstech · #6 09-22-2009, 12:33 AM

advance auto parts will order a new axle for around 90$ or less, depending on your company affiliation with them. but even at 90, it's a good deal. however, this axle is certainly going to be a china built wonder, so YMMV...

i-osprey · #7 09-22-2009, 12:38 AM

Will an axle from any W124 except the 4-matic ones work?

sixto · #8 09-22-2009, 01:24 AM

Go for early years and avoid V8s to be sure.

Sixto
87 300D

i-osprey · #9 09-22-2009, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixto

Go for early years and avoid V8s to be sure.

Sixto
87 300D

Well, I have checked online for matching part numbers for earlier years and they don't match.

'92 and '93 300D axle assemblies have different part numbers.

When you do a part search for the older versions, two part numbers come up. Evidently you can use the one for the '92-'93 or the less expensive older one for the older models.

Only the more expensive one comes up for a '93($345 vs $117 for older version).

What are the odds that the less expensive part for the older models will actually work on my '93?

#10 09-22-2009, 11:46 AM

I agree with the recommendation to call CVJ axles in Denver. I have been using a pair for about 200k miles. Replacing them is too much labor to play with used parts.

tobybul · #11 09-22-2009, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieseldan44

I dont know if they do 124 axles, but for the 123 the best place for quality rebuilds in my opinion/experience is CVJ axles in Denver. Other folks have had luck with Autozone / Advance rebuilds.

You could always find an axle in a junkyard and swap it out. Or even better yet, take a pair of good junkyard axles, have your indy reboot and regrease them, and put them on the car.

dd

You can reboot them youself..... pretty easy, just need some muscle.

tobybul · #12 09-22-2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

advance auto parts will order a new axle for around 90$ or less, depending on your company affiliation with them. but even at 90, it's a good deal. however, this axle is certainly going to be a china built wonder, so YMMV...

I noticed the GSP axles are down to $69 at Advance. Go get 'em!!!