Need help with driveline noise

[mussberger]

"Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Carlton
The determination of "differential" or "wheel bearing" can be assisted if the following question can be answered:

Does the noise almost go away entirely when the drive shaft is unloaded?

The drive shaft is unloaded when you are cruising along at a steady speed and you lift your right foot ever so slightly so that the vehicle just begins to slow down. If you lift too far, the shaft will load up in the opposite direction and the noise may return.

Please attempt to reduce or eliminate the noise via your right foot, in the manner described, and report back."

I saw this post in the diesel forum and I think it might pertain to my car. I have an 1982 380SL with an honest 52k miles on it. It makes a whirring noise that starts around 60-65 mph a gets a bit louder as the speed increases. If I lift on the gas pedal the noise will go away until the car slows down and itcomes back when I think the drive shaft is getting loaded? I have checked the wheel bearings and the diff level is correct. Any Ideas?

Thanks Steve Dabney

[mister bill]

I also have a drive line noise. It is only at 40kms an hour and stops at 45 kms an hour. It only happens when you are accelerating. It happens every time. It hasn`t gotten an worse .Any ideas....My car is a 1985 mercedes 280 sl 5 speed manual .

[nobby]

Originally Posted by mister bill

I also have a drive line noise. It is only at 40kms an hour and stops at 45 kms an hour. It only happens when you are accelerating. It happens every time. It hasn`t gotten an worse .Any ideas....My car is a 1985 mercedes 280 sl 5 speed manual .

Hanger bearing.

[mister bill]

What the heck is a hanger bearing?

[aam]

It is the middle support bearing on the drive shaft.
Regards.aam.

[nobby]

Originally Posted by mister bill

What the heck is a hanger bearing?

Your driveshaft is in two pieces. Where they meet is a bearing that is bolted to the underside of the chassis. It hangs down.
Hanger bearing.

[mister bill]

Could the flex discs and u joint be damaged ? How can you tell tell if there is damage ?
Are there any posts with pics showing procedure. Does the drive shaft have to come out?
Thanks again guys..

[aam]

Originally Posted by mister bill

Could the flex discs and u joint be damaged ? How can you tell tell if there is damage ?
Are there any posts with pics showing procedure. Does the drive shaft have to come out?
Thanks again guys..

Go from drive to reverse watch for a clank noise.
But is better to lift car and check the flex discs for cracks, the back goes first, the bearing not that often.
Regards.
aam.

[mister bill]

Crawled underneath and looked at the driveshaft. to work on these cars they must be jacked up . No surprise to you guys I`m sure. There is fibrous material that has squezzed out where the drive shaft bolts around the bottom part . Guess that must be the flex discs your`e talking about. When you umscrew the nuts on the bolts around the drive shaft does it ijust drop down and let you get directly at things. I barely was able to squeeze myself under the car and crank my head around. I saw the fibrous material hanging out and that was enough fo me. ( At the moment )

Let me just back up for a moment. Let me tell you a little about my past . I`m 61 now and when I was 15 to 18 me and my buddies used to spend ALL our time souping up old 50`s cars and drag racing them. I left those times many years ago but still retain a lot of the head knowledge from those yester years but very little getting my hands dirty.
Old fifties dodge`s , chevy`s and fords`s. Never been under a Mercedes until four months ago when I bought this car.
The guy who I bought it from said it didn`t leak oil. He had it parked on the grass in his yard. I should of expected something . It has a small oil leak. The drive line noise was my own doing ....hot rodding hard time through the gears hammering down on the accelerator toooooo often. The motor has 100,000 miles and it was rebuilt 10,000 miles ago. Runs just great. No issues. The rest of the car mechanically just fine. So here we are now.

The reason I have taken this time to tell you a little about myself is because I really respect and appreciate all the time you guys and girls take with me and others helping them with car problems for no apparent reason other than just wanting to be helpful. I respect that a lot. You all now who you are.. Again my hats off to you..

[aam]

Originally Posted by mister bill

Crawled underneath and looked at the driveshaft. to work on these cars they must be jacked up . No surprise to you guys I`m sure. There is fibrous material that has squezzed out where the drive shaft bolts around the bottom part . Guess that must be the flex discs your`e talking about. When you umscrew the nuts on the bolts around the drive shaft does it ijust drop down and let you get directly at things. I barely was able to squeeze myself under the car and crank my head around. I saw the fibrous material hanging out and that was enough fo me. ( At the moment )

Let me just back up for a moment. Let me tell you a little about my past . I`m 61 now and when I was 15 to 18 me and my buddies used to spend ALL our time souping up old 50`s cars and drag racing them. I left those times many years ago but still retain a lot of the head knowledge from those yester years but very little getting my hands dirty.
Old fifties dodge`s , chevy`s and fords`s. Never been under a Mercedes until four months ago when I bought this car.
The guy who I bought it from said it didn`t leak oil. He had it parked on the grass in his yard. I should of expected something . It has a small oil leak. The drive line noise was my own doing ....hot rodding hard time through the gears hammering down on the accelerator toooooo often. The motor has 100,000 miles and it was rebuilt 10,000 miles ago. Runs just great. No issues. The rest of the car mechanically just fine. So here we are now.

The reason I have taken this time to tell you a little about myself is because I really respect and appreciate all the time you guys and girls take with me and others helping them with car problems for no apparent reason other than just wanting to be helpful. I respect that a lot. You all now who you are.. Again my hats off to you..

Ehehe.
Hammering down.
Hmmm.
In heart, you are just a teenager.
Get your self a car jack and stands.
No it is not going to drop, that easy.
After you have the car up safely, it will roll.
You may have to remove the muffler, it's been a long time sins I did that.
Memory is not like it used.
You need a special star socket bit I think it was 10mm.
I thing autozone has them.
You must lose the middle support bearing hanger.
Then you work on the drive shaft flex disks.
Mark the shaft so you put it back the same way.

Regards.
aam.