Need help identifying the right drive shaft part number

[janos_z]

Car's at the shop getting a new transmission and chasing down a squeaky noise it makes at low speed under load. My shop seems pretty confident it's the driveshaft joint itself (center support/bearing has been done). They recommended getting a new driveshaft but I can't seem to find the right part number.

I thought I found the right thing at the Mercedes Classic site (part number 124-410-64-02), but when I emailed them to confirm, they said the correct part number is 140-410-24-01. However, looking up that second part number, it appears to be only the first half of the whole shaft.

My shop is not sure which way to go, so I'm phoning a friend. What's the right part number, and if what the Classic Center has isn't the right thing, where can I find one?

Attaching photos of the driveshaft that was removed from my car.

Many thanks as always!

 

[gsxr]

AFAIK... the driveshaft has been NLA for many years. Only option is to repair / restore the existing parts. MB used to sell the front half & rear half separately, along with a complete front+rear assembly. Part numbers are in the attached screenshot, but you'd have a better chance locating the Ark of the Covenant (with or without Indy & Short Round) than finding any of those NOS.

FYI, the front & rear "bushings"... the holes shown in your photos, in the center of the shaft... are replaceable separately and those are still available. I believe @liviu165 may have mentioned these are difficult to R&R and I don't know how much difference it will make.

Are you 1000% certain the squeaky noise is coming from the center of the driveshaft area? Or the driveshaft at all? In rare cases, I've heard rear wheel bearings make some weird noises. Not sure what else it might be.

 

[TerryA]

Janos, Is there anybody in your area that rebuilds and balances driveshafts?

A long time ago I had my 190SL driveshaft rebuilt by a company in Orange County. Not sure if they are still in business.

Just asking

Edit: I just googled driveshaft repair. There are many shops here in the LA/OC area including the one I used 30 years ago that is still in business.

 

[janos_z]

Dave, to answer your question: the car's been making a squeaky bearing-type noise that's audible from outside and inside the car, mostly at low speeds. The sound occurs under load only and seems to be coming from the middle of the car. A previous shop diagnosed it as the center support bearing and replaced that. The noise went away for a short while (maybe coincidence?) but has come back. My current shop said it's most likely the driveshaft u-joint itself. I'm inclined to believe them, especially since the noise is audible only under load, and I don't think anything external to the driveline like the support bearing would depend on that. And it's not a diff whine for sure. I was hoping it was the torque converter, which is getting replaced along with the transmission. But I have no idea if that's a noise torque converters ever make -- I've never had one fail on me in the past so I have zero experience with them.

They also said that it might be possible to find the rear shaft separately, but if we did that, the shaft would be out of balance and they don't have anyone they work with who could re-balance it (though I suppose I could figure this out on my own). There do seem to be some shafts around with the right part numbers, but I'm not 100% sure they're what I'm looking for. I also couldn't tell from my research if the front driveshaft, rear driveshaft, and the entire driveshaft (front+rear assembled) have three separate part numbers -- if I read Dave's screenshot correctly, that's indeed the case. So I guess I'm searching for the rear driveshaft or the entire driveshaft. That's helpful to know, thanks.

Terry, I'm in the SF Bay Area and there's certainly a strong car culture here. I'm sure somebody does driveshaft work. I looked into it a long time ago for a different car, and I found some places but I couldn't tell if they were the sort of shops that would know how to handle a car like this -- they all seemed to focus on trucks and vans and stuff, or hot rods. If anyone has a recommendation, please post or PM me.

I was hoping the driveshaft is shared with another, more common, model, like the r129 500SL or something. I guess not.

 

[gsxr]

The U-joint can be service or replaced, despite not being designed to be. Torque converters don't make noises unless something is very wrong, and would be aligned with engine RPM, not vehicle speed.

There are a handful of shops in USA that can balance 2-piece driveshafts. @jhodg5ck may know a place to recommend. Most likely, a competent shop can service/repair the U-joint and re-balance if necessary. Make sure to not damage the rubber center support, it's NLA now.

 

[gerryvz]

There's a driveshaft repair specialist in Portland, OR that is very very well known and has extensive experience with Mercedes-Benz driveshafts. Let me see if I can get their info and I will update this post. I have never used them, but I know a LOT of shops all over the US send their driveshafts there. I also know there is another one here on the East Coast somewhere, but don't know much about it. A West Coast shop would be a better alternative for you in CA, anyway.




Driveline Service of Portland

Driveshafts.com

Extensive experience in MB and BMW driveshafts.

http://www.driveshafts.com/products/Automotive-Parts/BMW-Mercedes-Benz

 

[leftyflyer]

I have used Southbay Driveline in San Jose to lengthen a w124 driveshaft and then balance the whole thing. They are not a Mercedes specific shop so I don't know if he can source european joints and whatnot. When he balanced it he wanted two fresh flex disks so that he could balance the complete driveline together, I've never had any driveshaft related vibration issues with it. I think they are pretty well known in the racing/non mb community.

Edit: I forgot to mention, I just brought them the shaft on its own, not sure if they will remove and reinstall from the vehicle but I don't think so.

 

[Jlaa]

Terry, I'm in the SF Bay Area and there's certainly a strong car culture here. I'm sure somebody does driveshaft work. I looked into it a long time ago for a different car, and I found some places but I couldn't tell if they were the sort of shops that would know how to handle a car like this -- they all seemed to focus on trucks and vans and stuff, or hot rods. If anyone has a recommendation, please post or PM me.

I was hoping the driveshaft is shared with another, more common, model, like the r129 500SL or something. I guess not.

Ask Benny where he would go for MB driveshaft service.
Benny is the one-man-show at Millbrae motors. He used to work at the MB dealer, he's an MB expert, and @kegmankipp is good friends with Benny. @dionphaneuf has also received good advice from Benny too.

Benny is also the guy that bought Scott Shell's @RUN.EXE car so many years ago, which I think is when Scott divested himself of 500Ecstacy and @gerryvz took over and reconstituted our happy meeting place as "500eboard.com"

 

[janos_z]

Thanks, everyone - very helpful info. I'll pursue those leads.

 

[Wagoneer300te]

I have used this company for a 450SLC shaft. Had it in exchange.

http://www.driveshaftspecialist.com/Import%20html/Mercedes.html

 

[liviu165]

I believe @liviu165 may have mentioned these are difficult to R&R and I don't know how much difference it will make.

It might had been me; I don't remember. However, those u-joints are staked and their replacement requires a press with special centering capabilities (pretty much a specialized device). I saw once such a special device on YouTube, but I just can't find it. If I see it again, I will get back and update this thread.

If you have a squeaky noise, I would ask: Did you have it before the transmission replacement too? If yes, I would suspect the support bearing, not the u-joint. If not, then why does the mechanic think all of a sudden is a component that was there before their work, but worked fine before and after their work it does not??

 

[liviu165]

This is the video I was tallking about:

 

[janos_z]

Thanks for the video, @liviu165.

I'm picking up the car soon and will be able to report back afterwards.

 

[janos_z]

I picked the car up today:

-New transmission from Sun Valley
-New driveshaft from Driveline Service of Portland (thanks, Gerry!!)
- ...and for good measure, new lower wiring harness, new valve cover gasket, new rear main seal, new A/C compressor, and new starter

It drives great! It cost a LOT!

The squeaky noise is gone, and the car is much more responsive than before. I'm pretty sure the torque converter was on its last legs.

A huge thank-you to everyone who provided suggestions and referrals. I love this forum.

 

[anderzen]

I am in the middle of trying to find a shop lengthen a Mercedes driveshaft for the manual swap, luckily in my case my front manual half is from a Chrysler crossfire so I didn't have to say the brand they don't want to hear lol... The reason most people don't service them is because like most BMW and Subaru driveshafts they are pieced together via friction welding. Spinning them up at high rpm in opposite directions until they become one.... I do have the front half of the automatic if you need it and it's in good shape, I am in WA, the back half I will be re-using....

AND I just saw your last post haha! Glad you got it sorted!!