My Differential FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING!! W126 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Fulcrum525 · #1 10-04-2010, 08:46 PM

That's a new one....has there been any work done on the rear end recently?

tinypanzer · #2 10-04-2010, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fulcrum525

That's a new one....has there been any work done on the rear end recently?

Not since I've owned the car, about 2.5 years. While the back end hasn't seen any work that I know of, I and several mechanics have inspected the suspension. How I missed this, or how long it has been going on, I just don't know.

This whole experience has been very informative, and although I already had a healthy respect for inspection and entropy, I have really had my eyes opened by this. The fact that I made a last minute choice not to get on the interstate has interesting philosophical implications as well.

As an engineer and technician, I comprehend well what happened, but in many ways it has yet to really sink in. I cheated, at a minimum; a horrible accident at high speed. Possibly more...

shawnh · #3 10-04-2010, 09:33 PM

Did someone take the "cover" to the driveshaft off at some point in time? It seems to me that the driveshaft being held up would have kept the differential from falling very far. I just removed a differential today at a wrecking yard(to get at the axles, since i did not have the 12 point star bit to remove the flanges on the "upgrade" axles). It took a lot of work to get that differential to the ground. They added a "hanger" on the differential cover on the later 126s, that gives it a redundant support. Maybe those will fit on the older differential as well.

Glad to hear fate/God intervened in your situation.

tinypanzer · #4 10-04-2010, 10:03 PM

Not sure, I don't think mine has a cover. It's a '90 so maybe that didn't exist on a 300SE. Was the car you picked a V8?

tinypanzer · #5 10-11-2010, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shawnh

Did someone take the "cover" to the driveshaft off at some point in time? It seems to me that the driveshaft being held up would have kept the differential from falling very far. I just removed a differential today at a wrecking yard(to get at the axles, since i did not have the 12 point star bit to remove the flanges on the "upgrade" axles). It took a lot of work to get that differential to the ground. They added a "hanger" on the differential cover on the later 126s, that gives it a redundant support. Maybe those will fit on the older differential as well.

Glad to hear fate/God intervened in your situation.

To answer your question, no the cover was there all along. It wasn't strong enough to keep the diff from hitting the ground though, it bent.

Got a new sensor Saturday and PnP. Bought about $85 worth of stuff, didn't even get charged for the sensor. What a PAIN to put it in though, you have to remove the back seat! I pulled it off a '91 300SE that had 354,000 miles on the clock! Oddly, the wood trim on the center console was PERFECT and a really nice piece of zebrano. I scored that and all the switches for $10, and I am a really happy camper at the moment.