Diesel RVs: Re: [diesel_mercedes] Re: Rear axle/differential work

Thanks for the replys to replacing the rear axles. Steve, thanks for the tip on pulling the C-clips and locating additional axle shims. Both will be helpful. Did you replace the differential pinion shaft seal or just the axle seals? I just located my brass drift pin this morning and had to buy a 19mm socket to get the calipers off. Had to fabricate a 14mm hex tool to get the differential plugs out. Every place I looked had up to 10mm and none larger. Torsion bar came off Sat. Tonight/tomorrow I'll drain the differential and try getting the old axles off. I didn't see any information on a differential cover gasket so I guess there isn't one, did you use a sealer when replacing the cover?

Thanks again, all. This forum is a great resource. I read all the posts. I'll have to post some pics of the fungus infested diesel fuel I removed from the tank compared to some fresh from the pump fuel.

Blaise

From: Steve Parolin <stevenparolin@yahoo.com>
To: diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, February 7, 2011 9:13:52 AM
Subject: [diesel_mercedes] Re: Rear axle/differential work

You may need to change the axle shims, depending if you use factory or aftermarket axles.
If you head to the dealer for them, bring your VIN, they always give me a hard time when I show up with out it.

When I went to the dealer, they had limited sizes, would have had to order them, and it was going to be iffy if they where thin enough.
Based on my calculations, I needed to go from 1mm to 0.5 mm, the thinest the dealer could get was 0.7 mm. Might of worked, but special order, had to wait, no returns...

I tried a machine shop, they could not help, but the local auto transmission shop hooked me up for free. I had to hog out the center of the shims a bit to fit over the axle, but again they where free and had them in their misc parts draws.

I did the axle seals, the aftermarket ones I got where not as nice as the originals I pulled out, but they are not leaking, so no real complaints yet.

To pull the C-Clips and not loose them, I used safty wire and snaked it through the little hole on the tab, then pulled the wire with a pair of pliers. This way the clip did not fall into the diff or go shooting across the garage.

I did not have to remove the calipers to get them in or out, very worn subframe mounts (since replaced) may have helped give some exta play to make room.

Steve

--- In diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com, Alan Boucher <alstheone@...> wrote:
>
> On 2/4/2011 6:48 PM, Blaise Colasante wrote:
> >
> > Well the time has come to replace the rear axles on my 1983 300D. I
> > don't anticipate any major problems getting this job done (that may be
> > a problem in itself!!) but I know some of you have done this job in
> > the recent past & would appreciate any insights, suggestions or
> > cautions you would be willing to share. I am thinking of replacing the
> > pinion seal and axle seals in the differential during the axle
> > exchange. Did any of you do this while replacing the axles? In reading
> > some manuals it was noted that getting the differential reinstalled
> > was a bit of a headache. Again any advice or commentary would be
> > greatly appreciated. I've just reinstalled my squeaky clean fuel tank
> > fresh back from a boil out at the radiator shop... that should take
> > care of the nasty fungus problem I had!! Also replaced the entire
> > metal fuel & brake lines that had nearly rusted through as they passed
> > over the rear control arms and in several of the rubber mounts.
> >
> > TIA,
> >
> > Blaise
> >
> >
> >
> Definitely replace the axle seals since you'll be pulling the axles
> anyway. I didn't replace the pinion seal because I didn't see any signs
> of leakage. Maybe someone else has done it and can comment on the
> procedure.
>