Diesel RVs: Re: [diesel_mercedes] Rear Axle Service

Thanks for all of your all your help and comments. I got locked out of my yahoo account and I just got it back so I apologize. I will also be adding in the chassis number in the subject next time, that k you for the reminder. You guys are very nice to help a noobie out like me.

-Dexter

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

That's it ! .

Now imagine it painted like a circus clown .

I might have seen the film @ The Classic Center , they always have some loop playing of old promotional films .

-Nate
       Mark wrote :

I couldn't find that video, but here's a good photo of the Mercedes swing axle (for some reason, it's upside down...):

https://www.daimler.com/Projects/c2c/channel/images/791464_1451302_800_530_eingelenk_pendelachse.jpg

While I was looking around the internet, I found this heartbreaker, supposedly caused by this rear axle system (though the Gullwing's version had two pivot points along the axle housing instead of just one):

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/attachments/vintage-mercedes/86193d1288330561-low-pivot-swing-axle-gullwing-disaster.jpg

The problem was that with the more powerful cars, the inside wheel tended to jack up when accelerating out of a corner, ultimately causing the rear of the car to break loose and fly out. This became evident when MB began to drop V8s into the W108/109, especially the 300SEL with the mighty 6.3 from the 600 limo/pullman.

Mark
From: "vwnate1@... [diesel_mercedes]" <diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com>
To: "diesel mercedes" <diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2015 2:53:17 PM
Subject: [diesel_mercedes] Rear Axle Service

Thanx Mark ! .

I know *exactly* what you're talking about having watched an old Mercedes sales film where they painted the various parts bright primary color then drove it over some really weird undulating pavements with a camera hung under the trunk showing how it all moved .

-Nate
       Mark wrote :

Well, there's NO torque tube nor DeDion rear axle. It's the old Mercedes "Swing Axle" that uses an exposed drive line from the transmission to the ring and pinion assembly. It has a u-joint in the middle and a center, carrier bearing, and is not much different than what the w114/115 and later cars used (from about 1968 on). The real difference is that instead of a the ring and pinion assembly being mounted on the frame, with two cv-style axles going out to the wheels, this old system has the ring and pinion attached to a mount that pivots at the frame, and a second pivot that splits the otherwise solid rear axle housing into two. The axle that's inside of the housing side that's not mounted with the ring and pinion has a constant velocity joint. This allows for "independent rear suspension", sort of. There's a hefty coil spring that tries to push the two axle housings away from each other. (On the higher priced cars, the w108, w111/112 and SLs, this spring was replaced by a hydro elastic damper which would compensate for loads to keep the car level. Elegant in it's simplicity, and an advantage over the later, fully independent rear axle system, but that hydro elastic unit is big $$$$$ to replace!) It's a lot easier to explain using pictures rather than words alone.

The upshot is that the axle bearings are not that much different to replace than on any old American car or light truck with a live, solid rear axle. The two axles are pulled using a slide hammer, the old bearings are pushed (or cut) off, and the new bearings are pressed on.

Mark

From: "vwnate1@... [diesel_mercedes]" <diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com>
To: "diesel mercedes" <diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, November 9, 2015 12:00:40 PM
Subject: [diesel_mercedes] Rear Axle Service

Hi Dexter ;

First , you must put the chassis designation in the header box _every_time_ so those who just skim , but know , will stop and read , maybe be able to offer help .

Next : which particular bearing is bad ? there's a bunch in there , if just a wheel bearing I suggest replacing both and the attendand oil seals .

If a pinion or ring gear bearing , I suggest getting another entire used rear end , re sealing it and then install , drive way happy .

Torque Tube final drives are very sturdy and long lived . if it's failing , one needs to know why before doing more than wheel bearing service to it .

I hope this helps you to proceed .

-Nate
      Dexter wrote :

My 67 Mercedes 200d has bad rear bearings. The rear axle is honestly weird and I'm not confident enough to tear in yet. From what I can tell it has a torque tube and design based on a De Dion axle. Does anyone have any experience with these?

-Dexter
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android