W124 1987 Wagon axle info & install - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

odie · #1 03-31-2010, 10:47 PM

well, got the axles un boxed. they are slightly different than the OEM axles....i'll do a running write up for anyone who needs axles on an early W124 series....

it seems finding axles for a 1987 300TDT are a bit hard. most sources do not list them but list other W124 series cars....i think mine came from an internet place called "cheap car parts" or something to that effect but the invoice says autopartswharehouse.com..any way, FEQ brand axles #w0133-1715303, about $135-140 a pair delivered

I'm drinking beer and eating gumbo so it might jump around a bit.....

the axles that I got have a toothed circumfrence around the outter part and my old ones where smooth. I had to use a grinder to smooth down the teeth so the axle would fit into the wheel housing without binding. i don't see what the toothed thing was for except for maybe newer 124s need it and early 124s don't...that's probably why you will find late 124 axles listed and you can't find early 124 axles easily....also the axle shaft was noticable thicker.

1. get a 30mm 12 point socket to bust loose the axle nut....don't buy a new axle nut cause the axles come with new nuts...and new axle bolts too, so i kinda wasted money buying new nuts and bolts....

2. on the wagons the exhaust removed easy. i just lifted the pipe and un hooked the last three rubber donut things by hand and dropped the exhaust.

3. 3 different axle bolts...OEM are 12 point 10mm bit. use an impact wrench, not a regular wrench so you don't slip the 12 point bit and strip the bolts....they will pop off easy...using a hand wrench you are gonna strip it out....after market new bolts are external 6 point star??? and the new free bolts with the axles are internal hex. i like these the best since slipping and stripping them is least likely i think.

4. use a deep socket as a punch to tap out the old axles...they where not frozen, surprizing after 25+ years....i dabbed some axle grease on the new axle splines as an anti sieze...

5. new bolts don't have blue thread locker, but old bolts have evidence of it...you can wire brush the old bolts and dab it with blue thread stuff or use new bolts and do the same..

6. time for more beer and cigars....axles installed and axle end nuts torqued down...i'll install the new axle bolts tomorrow since i need to flush the flange mount with brake cleaner to get the old axle grease cleared so i can lock tite and torque the axle bolt properly....

cheers for now

odie · #2 04-01-2010, 11:55 AM

i'll try to add some pictures tonight after I finnish the axle install after work.

odie · #3 04-02-2010, 12:05 AM

finnished tonight.!!! some additional thoughts...the new axles have a little grease in the bolt holes...i ran a piece of paper towel thru them a few times to clear them out so the thread locker could bond better. a second person to work the brakes would speed up torquing the axles bolts as you rotate the axle to get to each bolt.

over all, a very straight forward process, just wish i had more than an hour of good daylight afterwork...could have done it in an afternoon instead of 3 nights...

drives good, no issues with the ground down toothed gear thing. still don't know what it's for but my old axles didn't have them and the new ones would not fit without the teeth ground off.