1. Home
  2. Mercedes Autos and SUVs
  3. replacing axle on 1982 300D

replacing axle on 1982 300D

At highway speeds my MB will intermittently get a vibration in the drive train which ceases upon stopping the vehicle then taking off - ah! the vibration is gone. I thought it was simply the driveshaft so I changed the driveshaft and flex discs which lessened the vibration considerably but it is still present. Now, I think it is the driver's side axle. There is some play in the shaft. The MB is a 1982 300 D turbo with 205K. According to the manual it does not look that difficult to change the axles but I wanted to get some informed opinion on doing this job. How difficult is it? Any tips appreciated. Ray

Reply to
Ray Fenio
Loading thread data ...

Are you sure it is not the rear wheel bearings? Jack up the car and set it safely with safety jack in place... grab the wheel and tell me is you can rock it... you shouldn't be able to rock it at all.

It is usually the passenger side that wears twice as fast as the driver side in the back.

Reply to
Tiger

I checked the wheel bearings and they do not appear to be the problem. There does seem to be some play in the driver's side axle on the differential end of the shaft. While driving I notice a subtle vibration that will cease if I stop, then take off. When I feel the vibration, about half the time as I am slowing to a stop and when I first take off I hear a a couple somewhat loud or clacks or clicks. Then it is quiet. I can often go 100+ miles with no problem.

Reply to
Ray Fenio

I believe there is a bolt/nut that tightened up that axle to the hub... Check in that "hole" and make sure that nut/bolt is tight in there.

Reply to
Tiger

I checked those nuts and neither side was tight. I tightened both and hopefully that will solve the problem. Have you experienced that loose a loose hub nut will cause an intermittent vibration? There is a little lateral movement in the shafts but maybe that is normal. Thanks for the tip.

Reply to
Ray Fenio

Careful! I don't know about that particular design, but in some designs that hub nut should NOT be tight. If it is retained by a castlated nut, sometimes tightening it, will squeeze the wheel bearings and cause very rapid failure of them.

Don't know if that applies here, but since you said they were both loose I would certainly check first!

Marty

Reply to
Martin Joseph

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.