Well, Ive just made it back from a glorious failure of a road trip. Along the way home which consisted of pumping the clutch to switch gears (bad clutch master cylinder?), getting a flat, and a crack in the windshield, I also developed a lovely new sound coming from the back of my 82 240d. I recorded the sound and have attached the audio. It began by sounding like a "clap" or something smacking the undercarriage of the car. By the end, it divulged into the recorded sound and was shaking the rear of the car pretty terribly. I found that as I slowed down it would also slow, and if I came to a stop it would disappear for a few hours then reappear. I did a couple visual checks to see if anything was hanging or snapped, but nothing. Maybe a joint on one of the axles or something gone wrong in the diff? I took out the differential last year, and I really hope that I don't have to do that again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYbcqIcFMj0&feature=youtu.be

WHAT ? It does it with the car not in motion ?
Where was your microphone located ?

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=10414

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=156207&highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

I'm guessing you put that video on a still image for the youtube...

give us a hint. where do you feel the noise? vibration in your seat, or in your feet?

left or right bias?

any change in pitch when cornering one way vs the other?

acceleration bring it on?

coasting change it?

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

It only makes the sound when moving. I did have to add an image to upload it to youtube. The microphone was placed behind the passenger seat (passenger was holding it). It sounds like it is coming from the rear of the car, and by the end of the trip I could feel the vibration in my feet and seat. When looking in my side mirror, the rear of the car was shaking pretty bad. When cornering, the sound appeared to get worse. If I had to guess, it was coming from the rear driver side of the vehicle. At a rest stop I jacked up the back of the car just to make sure the lug nuts were on snugly and there wasnt any vertical motion of the wheel (yaw?).

I'd say axle failing.

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1979 300D 040 Black on Black - 1985 300D Maaco job (sadly sprayed over 199 Black Pearl Metallic) on Palamino

http://i.imgur.com/LslW733.jpg

The Baja Arizona Oil Burners Send a message if you'd like to join the fun
Left to Right - UberWasser, Iridium, Stuttgart-->Seattle,, mannys9130

Visit the W123 page on iFixit for over 70 helpful DIY guides!

Me too...

Next time it starts... stop and backup a few feet... and tell us if that changes anything... even temporarily......

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=10414

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=156207&highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

When I jacked the car up at the rest stop I spun the wheel forwards and backwards. I then drove a good 2 hours with no issues, then it started rumbling again.

When an axle started going out on my wagon I could back up and it quit making noise for several hundred miles...

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=10414

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=156207&highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

get a quart of gear oil, and a syringe and squirt 10cc's of oil in each boot on the side you think it's coming from...

if the problem goes away, you need new axles.

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Until I read that you stopped, turned the wheel backwards by hand, and the noise went away for a while....

I was going to suggest a delaminating tire. I have driven two cars where a tire was failing internally, and one where road debris had cut a big chunk almost completely out of the sidewall -- and that is pretty close to what I heard.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

Im on the hunt for some axles that will fit this car, but Im not entirely sure of what to go with as far as the part number. I found these guys, and the website says that they'll fit, but they look a bit different than whats on the car now.

First Equipment Quality W0133-1598484 Axle Assembly | Auto Parts Warehouse

Does anyone know of a website I can check out to find the exact part number?

They look different because they are the "updated" annular variety. See this thread for a discussion on the difference.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/226587-annular-vs-homokinetic-axles.html

Those axles will work. However, the quality is questionable.

I'd suggest either getting with vstech (posting in this thread), as he reboots good axles and sells them. Or, look up CVJ and see about getting some of their rebuilt axles. I have the latter on my car (CVJ) and they are great. Highly recommended.

__________________
1979 300D 040 Black on Black - 1985 300D Maaco job (sadly sprayed over 199 Black Pearl Metallic) on Palamino

http://i.imgur.com/LslW733.jpg

The Baja Arizona Oil Burners Send a message if you'd like to join the fun
Left to Right - UberWasser, Iridium, Stuttgart-->Seattle,, mannys9130

Visit the W123 page on iFixit for over 70 helpful DIY guides!

Make sure you don't accidentally get S-class axles by mistake, o believe if you look at the center of the shaft there should be a couple rings and it's different between them

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1982 300D Turbodiesel, daily driver. Mods so far: Fram 8038 paper filter, 4 brake light mod, Gen II w126 (front) rotors/calipers, boost turned up to 12lbs, non-egr manifolds, water/methanol injection, 4-speed manual
1980 300SD Turbodiesel, project car, nearly ready to hit the street

1974 240D, New paint

I have both axles and the rear end from my '82 auto with 299K miles.

PM me if you need them.

Shipping from Rotterdam, NY

Update!

I managed to drop the differential and remove the axles. The end boots feel really stiff, but Im not sure if that is par for the course or if I should throw new ones on since everything is apart.

When removing the drivers rear axle, I discovered the enclosed picture. Bearing? Is this what could be making that ridiculous sound, or is it simply an effect of a bad axle?

Regardless, Ive got to change it and I dont know the what tools/the first thing Ive gotta do. Ive changed the carrier bearing, but I think this might be a bit more involved..