Gerry, More commonly the noise is an axle or the diff. mount. After 23 years, if that mount is original, it surely is dead and the rubber is hard as a rock. 'Tis a relatively easy job (need a pretty big socket to remove the mount from the diff) and the mount-to-body screws are supposed to be renewed on principle due to micro-encapsulating coating.
That noise can be isolated if you put the car up on axle stands, have someone start engine/engage drive/gently increase throttle until noise is present, then use mechanics stethoscope to very carefully listen to various components while crawling around under the car. Not a test for the faint of heart, need to take many safety precautions and have safety observer present. Probably would be best to send this job to your mechanic and let him diagnose. Very respectfully, /s/ Meade Dillon Charleston SC '87 300TD 287k miles '85 190D 2.2 5 spd 106k miles '85 300TD Euro 5spd 327k miles *sold* -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of archer Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2006 5:51 AM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] Differential noise and leaking boot Thanks, Meade. It sounds like my best bet is a good used half axle with good boots from Kaleb or Potomac. When I turn the right rear wheel there isn't any play between the "cans" and the axle shaft or the drive shaft. I wonder if the differential type hum I hear could be coming from the driveshaft carrier bearing or the transmission (which is the original with 250,000 miles on it.)? I just changed the ATF fluid and filter, and there was no metal in the transmission pan. I'll check the spider joint by weaving on the road before ordering anything. Gerry Archer '83 300D and 240D ---------------------------------------------------- ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dillon, Meade LCDR" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Mercedes Discussion List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2006 9:12 AM Subject: Re: [MBZ] Differential noise and leaking boot > Gerry, > > Depending on your preference, either get a good used OE joint (boots > still intact and decent looking is criteria to meet) or get a new > joint from Rusty. Rebuilt/aftermarket joints have very poor > reliability. The labor and parts required to simply change the boots > approaches the cost of a new axle (special press required to make > metal-metal seal on can), and if the joint has already been > contaminated with dirt, it will fail soon anyway so that path is > fraught with risk. I put in a used axle in my 123 wagon (can annular) > to replace a homokinetic. > > There is no connection/path from diff. oil to boot lubrication for > spider joint. > > If the axle spider joint is bad, noise will change as you load and > unload that side of the car by gently weaving back and forth at > highway speeds. Noise when turning left/listing to starboard/loading > right side axle indicates bad joint(s) on that axle, and vice versa. > > Differential failure is very rare. Noise from diff. is typically > resolved by replacing the diff. rubber mount. > > Very respectfully, > /s/ > Meade Dillon > Charleston SC > '87 300TD 287k miles > '85 190D 2.2 5 spd 106k miles > '85 300TD Euro 5spd 327k miles *sold* > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of archer > Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2006 4:36 AM > To: Mercedes Discussion List > Subject: [MBZ] Differential noise and leaking boot > > > The right inside axle boot on my '83 300D has a big split in it and it > has thrown out quite a bit of grease. > > The differential is still full of oil. > > There has been a noise when the car is neither accellerating nor > decellerating that sounds like the noise an old Chevy differential > often > > makes: a steady hum. > > Could the right side differential bearing be making the noise or can a > bad axle shaft make that sort of noise or is it most likely the > differential > > ring gear/pinion? > > Thanks, > Gerry Archer > '83 300D and 240D > > > _______________________________________ > http://www.striplin.net > For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ > For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net > > _______________________________________ > http://www.striplin.net > For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ > For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.5.5/333 - Release Date: 5/5/2006 > > _______________________________________ http://www.striplin.net For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net
