Any way to remove a rear end (diff, half shafts, possibly entire sub-frame) without taking of the exhaust? I guess what I mean is can the exhaust be lowered out of the way enough without actually being removed from the car?

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Axels you can do with the exhaust on, I think. Much more and its not that hard to drop the exhaust and get it out of the way entirely.

dmorrison did a good step by step on axels, others have documented clever ways to drop the whole subframe if you search for them.

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CC: NSA

All things are burning, know this and be released.

82 Benz 240 D, Kuan Yin
12 Ford Escape 4wd

You're four times

It's hard to

more likely to

concentrate on

have an accident

two things

when you're on

at the same time.

a cell phone.

www.kiva.org It's not like there's anything wrong with feeling good, is there?

And I would also say that you can get a pair of pliers with a bent nose at harbor freight that is perfect for the circlips that hold the axels in.

__________________
CC: NSA

All things are burning, know this and be released.

82 Benz 240 D, Kuan Yin
12 Ford Escape 4wd

You're four times

It's hard to

more likely to

concentrate on

have an accident

two things

when you're on

at the same time.

a cell phone.

www.kiva.org It's not like there's anything wrong with feeling good, is there?

Thanks for the tips. I'll do some searching. I'm at the point where it looks like I may have to rebuild the entire rear end.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

I'd get the exhaust out of the way. What's wrong with the rear end? They are extremely long lived. If its leaking of course i'd replace all the seals.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

The intermittent banging scraping noise that has plagued the car since I bought it a few years ago has just returned with a vengance. Could be half shafts, could be diff, could be bearings, could be who knows what. I found a rather large and suspiciously automotive looking bolt sheared in half in the gutter just outside my driveway the day after it started again last week and I can no longer ignore the reality of potential catastrophic failure somewhere in the rear end. So I've switched to driving my truck again until I can sort this out. I'll be getting it up on ramps again this weekend and having a thorough inspection under there to see if I can find what is going on. If there is no visual sign of anything wrong I have to assume it's internal to the diff in some way.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

I just did the rear end on my w115 240D. I had a rear bearing seize on me. I don't think I could have done it without removing exhaust. If I wasn't changing my whole exhaust system anyway I would have tried to separate the pipe, but if not possible I'd just chop it then put a sleeve on to re-join. I think that's an easy option.

I installed new bearings both sides, then did new axle boots and of course grease. I also installed a diff from a 300SD b/c of the different gearing I wanted. Search some of my threads to see some of the problems I had. Basically at every turn I ran into issues.

I haven't driven the car yet, my next step is swapping in the engine from the 300SD. Tonight I'll move the car in the shop so I can roll in the engine lift, remove the final engine mount bolts and pull the engine and trans. My manual 4 speed will go back in after being mated to the 617.

Cheers!

I have a few subframe and diffs if you end up needing anything...

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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 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I did my 240D 2 weekends ago, I just dropped the rear rubber mounts and the mid rubber mount and supported the rest of the exhaust..it moved out of the way easily with having to do a total removal.

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Brad

Bunch of old metal, trying to keep it on the road....