I need to find a complete driveshaft for the 86 300 SDL. I'm assuming it's the same as for the 87, and if anybody had any leads that would be great, and if anybody could supply the part number that would be very helpful.

Thanks

Find a reputable driveshaft shop and have the bearings replaced. You will not find a new driveshaft anymore, everything is rebuilt. Too bad you're 2 years too late, I had a rebuilt one with less than 10K miles on it that I offered up here as "free to good home, just pay shipping" and literally could not give it away. Got scrapped with the car.

__________________
Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Thanks for your response, and thank you retrospectively for your generosity!

Don't you think I could find a rebuilt or remanufactured one? I don't work on cars myself, and I would have to leave my car somewhere… The only place I would trust is my mechanic.

First of all, what's wrong with your DS?

If the problem is a u-joint or weight, your mechanic can remove the DS and take it to a shop that specializes in DS repair and balancing. So your car can stay with your trusted mechanic. If it's a matter of replacing flex discs or center bearing, your mechanic can do that himself, without sending it out for balancing, as long as he matches the DS halves correctly.

__________________

Don't Chrome them; polish them

Well, I'm mystified why he didn't suggest that. He's an extraordinary Mercedes trained master mechanic, and honest to boot. I guess I'll ask him on Monday.

How much does it usually cost to repair one of these things?

And would anybody happen to have the part number for the entire driveshaft, which is what my mechanic says I need. When I looked on some parts places I didn't see a complete driveshaft I saw center driveshaft rear driveshaft, etc.

Thanks for the responses.

I had the 80 240D and the 85 300D both done.
Took the shaft to a Drive Line shop, they sent it to
a machine shop to cut out the MB joint. Then the
DL Shop pressed in a joint I think he said for a
Mustang. Worked great.

Only problem I had was the crappy Chicom Center
support bearing, after 33K miles the rubber was
deteriorated and ripped about 3/4 way around. I
was detecting a vib or noise and took me a while
to locate exactly what it was. I installed it, not the
shop. Amazing the original factory MB one can run
under there a couple hundred thousand miles w/o
coming apart.




Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

I am surprised that your shop had to send out your DS to a machine shop. A good driveline shop can either stake in a new joint, as per original, or install one via C-clip - all done by their own machining.

__________________

Don't Chrome them; polish them

I don`t know the reason, just what he told me.
I does have C-clips to hold it in.


Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

P4:

280EZ's question is key; what is the specific problem?

With regards to my 300 SDL, all I can tell you is the symptom which led me to take my car to my mechanic. At certain points in acceleration, there is a kind of rattling vibration which seems to come from the rear, and possibly left side of the car. It's definitely coming from the turning of the driveshaft.


My mechanic said I needed new driveshaft, and he has never steered me wrong, no pun intended, and never taken advantage of me financially.

Classic symptom of a deteriorated rubber mount of the center support bearing. It is a common service part known to (most) MB mechanics.

Peter, where are you located? A friend of mine here in Texas has a 300SDL and can sell the driveshaft.

I live in the hilarious city of Los Angeles.

What's the condition of his driveshaft? I never thought about the longevity of driveshafts before. Now that's all I think about.

Thanks

No idea, car parked at 230k miles and its engine is very much alive in my 124

The rattling noise you are experiencing can come from CV shafts, unless you did some in depth testing

Found two companies that make new driveshafts that are supposed to be up to spec with OEM.

One of them is a place called drivetrain.com, which has a local repair company in Sparks Nevada.

The other is Dorman.

A gentleman at the first company put it this way, that an original driveshaft is well used if high mileage, and sitting unused if low mileage. His argument is that a new one would be better.