Just finishing up my project tonight...replaced and rebooted both rear axles. Been quite a project.

So, of course, there was one last hiccup.

When I was tightening down the bolts that tighten into the end of the axle (inside the hub), the bolt broke...right at the axle end, so it's too far in there to grab onto and back out.

How do I remove the hub, so I have access to the end of the axle for trying to remove that bolt? And, once I get there, any tips on getting that bugger out?

What is the proper torque on these bolts? Apparently, I put too much on there....

So, so deflating...need to drive to work in the morning!


EDIT: perhaps I can just pound out the axle again, toward the diff, since there is essentially nothing holding it to the hub...going out to try.

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1984 300D: 275,000 miles (soon to be for sale)

In search of my 1987 300D in anything but white.

You need a sharp center punch, a high-quality drill bit, a good drill motor, and an EZ-out. Drill a hole in the snapped-off bolt and use the EZ-out to back out the end of the broken bolt.

The torque spec depends on which bolt size you have. Mercedes changed the size and the torque is very much different; if you saw the wrong number you easily could have set your torque wrench too high.

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

Well, not quite as bad as I originally thought. I did, indeed, pound out the axle toward the diff...I was able to barely squeak the splined axle end out of the hub on the inside.

Then, in a moment of both embarrassment and hilarity, I backed the broken bolt out WITH MY FINGERS. Seriously? Yes. Don't know how, but I don't care.

Put the axle back in, used another bolt I had on stand-by, and finished the job. Just got back in from a test drive...pure beauty.

Life is good. I could not believe it, but I'll take it.

__________________
1984 300D: 275,000 miles (soon to be for sale)

In search of my 1987 300D in anything but white.

Aahh yes it is good

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

Those axle end bolts are pretty low torque....I don't recall the number, but its only like 50ft/lbs or less. All of the ones I have removed were easily loosened with a normal small 3/8 drive ratchet.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'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)