"FEQ" Half Shaft (Axle) - Quality? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

86-300sdl · #1 05-21-2012, 07:56 PM

Thinking of replacing my 350,000 mile rear axles...Boots are ok etc but they are getting kind of sloppy.

I see FEQ offered in several locations for around $85 but not so sure if they are any good. I'll probably only need them (i.e. want to semi retire the car soon) for a 100,000 or so mile life expectancy.

Any thoughts out there?

Much appreciated!!!

vstech · #2 05-21-2012, 07:58 PM

Chinese axles are not worth spending any money on... many have gotten less than 5K on them.

define "sloppy" on your axles? perhaps the diff mounts are sagging? the original MB axles are nearly indestructible, unless the oil leaks out. if your boots are undamaged, it's unlikely anything is wrong with them.

86-300sdl · #3 05-21-2012, 09:53 PM

Vtec....By "sloppy" I mean:

1) That with either wheel off the ground (or both) I can rotate a wheel / axle with some play, maybe 5* or so, before the ring gear seems to engage / pinion - drive shaft. UJoint seems rock solid....or another way of describing the play is grasping the drive shaft with one hand and another hand on a half shaft I can twist one or the other a little (several degrees) before one drives the other or turns the other. Hope that makes sense. Kind of a backlash sounding thing when driving. May Just be the differential I suppose.

2) I also get a little slop when holding the inner (diff side) flange and twisting by also holding the wheel side flange.

Thanks

P.S. Thanks for the chinese mfg tip...I'll pass on them

sleepstar · #4 05-21-2012, 10:40 PM

if those FEQ are the ones made in china, a trusted mechanic told my friend to never ever ever put those on the car

Can't Know · #5 05-21-2012, 11:10 PM

I am ALWAYS suspicious of those who name their products so as to suggest some big positive thing about them.

First
Equipment
Quality

rings that suspicion bell very, very loudly.

vstech · #6 05-21-2012, 11:23 PM

hmm... if there is torsional play in the axle itself, then yeah... it's gotta go.

I am pulling axles from my parts cars, cutting the OE MB boots off, and cleaning them out, and repacking them with Mobil1 75W140 gear oil, and rebooting them with the fresh Astoria Flexx boots, and selling them outright.
I have ONE 126 booted axle ready to sell, and I'll have more soon if you want a matched set. I haven't found any with torsional play in them yet.
are you sure your boot has not torn and leaked out the oil? have you had the car it's entire 350K miles? perhaps they have failed in the past, and someone rebooted them poorly?

86-300sdl · #7 05-22-2012, 07:20 AM

VSTEC...Re axles service history

We've had the car in the family it's entire life. I've had it since 2002 (172,000). I've never done a thing with the axles. As for my dad (now 88) I'm not sure and he can't remember lol...Just today went under the car and inspected the boots and they look amazingly good. Not exactly fresh rubber but no signs of leaks, no cracks or surface rot. I did refresh the diff oil about 10k ago with dino 90 wt.

1) Maybe I should just swap them right for left as I've read in the archives.
2) Replace the boots.
3) Repack with Mobil 1 90–145(?) wt

Of course an additional question…when I think "repack" I think of heavier grease i.e. wheel bearing grease vs an oil/lube like 90-145 wt. Are we talking the same thing? And are the axles lubricated from oil in the differential or individually i.e. when installing the boots.

Thanks all for your advice!

P.S. Re Chinese replacement goods...I'm passing and will take up VSTECH's offer if needed.

barry123400 · #8 05-22-2012, 08:51 AM

Heavy oil is the better lubricant as they came from the factory with it originally. It makes sense if you examine old grease on a front cv joint tht has failed for example sometimes.

Absolute best other than mercedes new axles within reason is to get a pair from our member posting on this thread I would think. Second best is a lower milage pair from a pick and pull with good boots.

Flush the old lubricant out and replace it on them and then install reversing sides with them in the process. Third is to relube what you have and reverse the axle position. Fourth has got to be those chinese axles.

If you do go the pick and pull remember to get the spacer washers that are on the inside of the differential. I suspect what allows these cv joints to survive so long was the use of oil rather than grease as the original lubricant.

vstech · #9 05-22-2012, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry123400

If you do go the pick and pull remember to get the spacer washers that are on the inside of the differential. I suspect what allows these cv joints to survive so long was the use of oil rather than grease as the original lubricant.

NO!
do not mess with the spacer washers on the vehicle. the spacers are individual to each DIFFERENTIAL.
keep the spacers from YOUR OWN diff!!!

all axles have the same length from face to clip, it's the diff and it's gearing that's always different.

and the axles have actual gear oil in them, it's sealed separately from the oil in the diff itself.

86-300sdl · #10 05-22-2012, 05:10 PM

Thanks all for the valuable points for consideration & guidance...

VSTECH.....For starters I'm just going to pull the axels and check for wear... hopping I can get away with the old swap sides to take up the wear related slack. However I would like to further explore your rebuilt units. Verify fit, check $$$ i.e. purchase & shipping so I'll send you a PM.

Bottom line y'all helped me avoid temptation to go with the Asian low price units. I really just want to do this once like I'm sure many do.

You guys are amazing!

odie · #11 05-23-2012, 10:33 AM

I put a set of FEQs on my wagon...I have had no problem with them...the only thing was they were not listed for my 87 300TDT but for newer 124s...the axles had a gear ring of some kind on the out side and the OEM ones were smooth so they did not slide into the hub....I ground the teeth down and they slipped right into the wheel hubs.

I'm very happy with them...now just wish my head didn't blow :-(

Stretch · #12 05-23-2012, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Can't Know

I am ALWAYS suspicious of those who name their products so as to suggest some big positive thing about them.

First
Equipment
Quality

rings that suspicion bell very, very loudly.

Ha and I thought it was

Free

Engineering

Qualification

(with every packet of Kellog's Frosties)

vstech · #13 05-23-2012, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odie

I put a set of FEQs on my wagon...I have had no problem with them...the only thing was they were not listed for my 87 300TDT but for newer 124s...the axles had a gear ring of some kind on the out side and the OEM ones were smooth so they did not slide into the hub....I ground the teeth down and they slipped right into the wheel hubs.

I'm very happy with them...now just wish my head didn't blow :-(

WOW, I knew the company sold cheap junk, but I had no idea it'd blow the headgasket on a car!!!
totally not gonna try them NOW!