I have decided that it is finally time to take my MB for its first visit to a mechanic. With good German engineering and the help of this forum, I have been able to do all of the neccesary projects myself. But now the rear axle is thunking and I really don't want to tackle that project myself. I read about axle replacement in the DIY section and decided that this would be a good job to pay someone else to do (and therefore hopefully get it right the first time). I called Phil to order an axle and it seem that I must determine whether my car needs a annular or homokinetic type axle. Phil was, as usual, very helpful but was not able to advise me on this one. So ---- my question is ---- how can I determine which type of axle to order, prior to taking it to my mechanic? He (the mechanic) said that he would be happy to install the axle assembly if I would provide the parts -- he's a darned good mechanic, but not to versed in MB workings. So I need to determine which type axle is the right one before he starts to work on it. Don't need to tie up his bay while I wait (and pay for) shipping the wrong axle back. How can I determine which axle to order before it goes into the shop? And ------ from all I've read, it's a better bet to pay appx. $250 for a remanufactured MB axle than to pay $90 for a new Chinese one. Any thoughts on this are appreciated. Thanks in advance.

__________________
John Schroader
bio burnin' 83 300D, '83 300 SD, '79 240D
"I've never met a man who was good at making excuses who was good at anything else" Ben Franklin
"You cannot permanently help a man by doing for him what he could and should do for himself" Abraham Lincoln