Looking at replacing the axle halves on my '83 300D, and I'm noticing two different lengths: 26 1/16" and 24 13/16" total length. Is there a way to see what is installed on mine BEFORE removing them?

Thanks,

Lance-

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1985 300SD, 300k.....gifted to Daughter
1987 300SDL, 320k.....gifted to Son
1978 300CD, 230k....Sold
1983 300D, 175k....Dead

26 is the axle for the SD/126 24 is the axle for the D/123

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

The two different lengths depend on the differential and axle combination. From what I've found, the W123 came with the narrower differential (185mm) and therefore the longer axles.

The more absolute method would be to compare the markings of the axleshaft to what is in the FSM but it takes some time to sort it out.

Here are a couple of links to help:
Mercedes Service Manual Source, CD/DVD/Paper (35-500)
2.47:1 or 2.88:1 Axle for 116.120: (post#68)

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

Go with what VSTech tells you on this as he has had more dealings with this, especially the different models.

I went through this on the W126 and it took quite a bit of sorting to figure out what replacement combinations I could use from salvage cars to replace the differential and axles simultaneously.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

Hmm... I suppose a 210mm diff would require the 24... and the 185 would be the 26... I wonder.

what is measured? distance between cans, or distance between axle stub ends... compressed, or extended, or centered...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Some of the Part Sellers list the Axle length measured when the Axle is compressed.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Thanks guys....we'll see how it goes this weekend.

__________________
1985 300SD, 300k.....gifted to Daughter
1987 300SDL, 320k.....gifted to Son
1978 300CD, 230k....Sold
1983 300D, 175k....Dead