82 300D problem installing rear axels ??

Old axel had enough play to remove. Can't get new axel compressed enough to get into wheel hub (can type). Several Internet articles just said to jack up differential housing. This still does not give enough room. Looks like no way to remove hub without removing lower control arm. Any ideas or tricks to this?

Thanks,

Mike

Forums

Transmission / Suspension Specific Aid

Chassis Model Number

W123

I just changed mine in my 83

I just changed mine in my 83 300D I jacked up the differential housing still couldn't get it in. So I put a jack under the lower control arm and took the top of the shock loose. I had to lower it down past the end of the top shaft in the mount. I put the axle in and jacked the shock back in right away and put the nut on.
hope this helps
Pat

Same observation

I've changed axles on two 300TDs, and didn't have to take the shocks loose, just fiddled with it for a while and it worked. But pat is right on the money - take the shocks loose with the trailing arm jacked up, and it'll go down another half inch or so until the little tab sticking off the trailing arm engages the one on the subframe. If you need more room still, you can take loose the subframe mount bushing (with a jack under the subframe near the bushing, 24mm socket required) and have another inch or so there, but you shouldn't need to do this.

Also, if you do any of the above tricks to lower the trailing arm, you might want to disconnect the stabilizer bar link so you don't put extra stress on it. One nut, easy to do.

Trailing arm is a hassle to remove and you shouldn't have to remove it anyway. I did the trailing arm bushings on mine a couple weeks ago.

Changed my 1982 300D

I used the new axles and the instructions from the Mercedessource; I did remove the rear shocks, removed and installed following the steps. Most difficult/time consuming part of the job was removing and replacing the pins in the differential.