Hmmm.
how do you use the wire? the hole in the clip is VERY small, just large enough for the pic...

Thanks for all the replies guys. You all are awesome.


I have a jack and stands, can probably round up the basic tools and the dental pic.

What about Gear oil? Does it take more than a liter of GL5? I will have to gather some oil and brake cleaner. What about sealant? Black RTV? "____ stuff" ?

I have someone willing to go into town for me to get 'stuff' needed. I am busy all day.

For those curious, I am putting on a high performance driving event at Virginia International Raceway with Trackdaze.com.

Anyone know how many liters of gear oil and if GL5 is adequate?
What sealant should I plan to use to reseal the cover?

so drive it home --they will go 9 more mos after it first starts clunking. the first benz I bought--Flew out to burbank from texas, picked up in ventura, drove up HWY 1 then headed back, stopped in YV--JT changed the oil then headed across the desert east. styarted clacking in sweetwater --in a downpour so i think the water had someting to do with it, stopped at abiline. made it home no prob. i drove it for 9 mos after that, the clacking comes and goes but eventually its constant and gets worse.

Its a tough call. The military training that I do, we take half beat cars and smash them into each other and keep on going, they just don't quit. But in the end we discard them for junk, not keep them as a family vehicle.
I have 5 hours to get to a bus departure to meet family 5.5 hours later. I don't want any problems.

My concern as VSTech points out is that the axles may not even slide out of the hub making for a control arm swap. Ugh. No thanks.

See what happens.

VStech is awesome for driving up to help, and I know hehasthe knowledge to fix you up.
Just started following this and wish I had more to offer; haven't done any axles yet and much further away

Best of luck and check in next time you are joy riding in the NC mountains

I am an hour away from you. I have all the tool minus the axle.

There is Tank Museum in Danville that I would like to see. Besides, it is supposed to rain all day tomorrow so mower repair jobs will not be plentiful.

The tank museum opens at 10am. I can get to Milton by around 8am and help out if you need me to. I can leave you the tools and just pick them up later in the afternoon.

If your car is disabled, I can pick up a Advance Auto parts axle on the way if they have it.

Call me tonight if you want to do this. 919-933-0988

I've successfully done the wire trick before. You need to have geological time frame patience or a lot of luck.

The best tool I've found for the job is this one

http://www.stanleyimages.co.uk/Catal...//734_prev.jpg

(Bent long nose pliers)

Thanks for the replies everyone. Sorry I have not seen this until now. Internet connection was non friendly last night, and with 2 hours sleep under my belt, I was whipped.

I had friends assist me with some investigative prodding and poking and the general consensus is, (and if I can quote spaceballs the movie) " we've been coming the desert for hours and we ain't found ****".

The axles are tight. The hub has no play, the drum in hat ebrake is intact and working. The caliper is good, there doesnt seem to be any noise or issue in the diff. I have not checked the diff fluid for metal shavings yet per VSTech suggestion as I do not have the tool (14mm allen socket) to do the job. We could not get the car to make any noise or in anyway show symptoms.

What the hell ???

I got a 24 13/16" length replacement axle from Napa that some seem to frown upon here. Maybe I put it in and eat the $80 core charge and rebuild it as a spare. (?)

So I am left with taking the risk to drive it home and leave it along the way some where if there is a further downward progression in this intermittent issue.

My biggest concern is that the axle will not slide out of the wheel bearing requiring a trailing arm replacement. Ugh. For those following along, maybe it is a good thing to check to see if you can slide the outter axle end from the hub assembly. Knowing this will put you one step ahead of the curve when it comes time to service the axles. I am going to try just that.

Again, I want to thank everyone that has participated so far. It is times like this that I am thankful for this online community and knowledge base. You all are awesome and I hope to get the chance to meet many of you in the future.

Stay tuned. If I can update from the road or the paddock here at Virginia International Raceway, I will. If you are near by, come visit. I am the classroom instructor for this driving event. Mention at the gate you are here to deliver parts to a Trackdaze staff member. Sign the waiver and come on down.

Have you seen the Mint sauce (<= sorry I think the combination of the Mercedes and the other word gets censored) video showing how to check axles when removed from the car?

The point of the video is that it is pretty difficult to check them when fitted.

You need to pull the axle cans in and out and wiggle at the same time to feel for any play.

You might be able to replicate the motion on the car...

Back to basics just to be sure

Have you checked =>

Wobble on the wheels - jack up and pull laterally (hands at 3 o' clock and 9 o' clock) and then at 12 and 6

Remove wheel and check for some thing rubbing - brake dust shield - road kill!

Anti-roll bar link bust?

Exhaust pipe rubbing?


Can anyone think of some more?

Update:
Purchased an axle. It sits in the trunk as I am not convinced.
Could not identify an issue.
Drove it home, not a lick of trouble. Car performed flawlessly as it always has minus two segments of travel time the last 10 days.

Bizarre. (but it is home, safe and sound).


Yep, did that several times over the last week.

removed brake hat, and tugged on axles.

Don't think so as the noise is much heavier than what I would expect from an endlink.

Again, this noise is unholy. Nothing like exhaust rub.

The plot thickens...

...at least you're home.

Indeed. Made it home. Then made it to union station and now I am on a boat looking at lower manhattan.
I can continue to say that my W123 has not let me down.

glad you made it home.

when we were talking, while you were under the car, NONE of my tests revealed bad parts... diff, driveshaft, wheel bearing, axles... all passed my tests... maybe you drove over a coat hanger or something, and it got away before you started testing for the noise...?