85' W123 300DT rear wheel bearings or axle joints - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

gradyg3 · #1 10-01-2009, 12:09 AM

Have been getting a steady click click sound from the rear driver side as the car is slightly turning or leaning to the right, worse at low speeds. Axle is old and boot cracked but not through and never has leaked its fluid. keep it lubed pretty well to extend life. Think its the bearings or axle joint??

winmutt · #2 10-01-2009, 09:30 AM

Probably bearing. One of the more challenging DIYs on the W123.

mobetta · #3 10-01-2009, 09:53 AM

I vote cv joint. I had one loud one, even though the boots were still good. I used a turkey marinade injector to get some more lube in there, got another 30 K out of it before I finally removed because 1 of 4 boots failed, I ended up re-booting a spare par of axles and installing.

in my experience, usually bearings will be a low growl sound the gets worse w/ time.

the rear bearings are not too difficult, but do require some special tools to do, so unless you have a fleet or plan on driving a 123 forever, it may be worth farming out.

lift suspected corner of car, turn wheel, listen/feel for roughness. grab at 12-6 oclock, shake, same @ 9-3 oclock. excessive play will tell if its a bearing.

winmutt · #4 10-01-2009, 10:39 AM

I said bearings because axles usually will hum at speed and click when going into reverse for instance. Excessive rototational play is good sign of axles being shot.

gradyg3 · #5 10-01-2009, 11:30 AM

Will lift her up and check out rotational play. have a good used axel I bought a while ago in anticiaption of boot failure, but surprisingly still waiting. Axels are pretty easy to do as I did a couple on a 300TDT I had a while back so hoping it is that.