axial play in rear right axle

[kosy33]

Hi,

I am from the south of France and own a dark red 1971 280sl.
I discovered this forum a few weeks ago and it already helped me a lot in solving a few problems I had on the car. So many thanks to all the contributors.
I have a problem which I could not find any answer. in the forum. When the car is on jacks, I have a 2mm axial play in the rear right axle. So I thought it was the bearing.
I had the axle off. It came very easily. The cylindrical bearing seeems to be in a good shape and is well greased. I did not find any steel chips in the grease. I  bought a new cylindrical bearing but it seems to have the same kind of play.
Is that 2 mm axial play is normal because bearing are cylindricals? (There is not any play on the left side) or replacing the bearing will solve my problems?

Thanks for your help

John.

[ja17]

Hello John,

Make sure the bearing seat in the axel tube is not worn. Sometimes the bearing will sieze and spin. Eventually the area will wear causing play. If the bearing has spun, the area where it seats will often  times be polished shiny from the spinning bearing. You can solve the problem by using a center punch and some Locktiite srud and bearing mount to tighten up the housing around the bearing again. See the "rear axel tour".

Take care,

[kosy33]

Hello Joe,

Thank you for your very quick answer. I already visited the topic "rear axle tour" that's what incited me in doing this job on the car.
The play I noticed is when pulling out and pushing in horizontally, the axle moves by 2 mm.
So I can understand from your answer that there should be no play on this axle.
Following your indications, I will change the bearing putting some loctite and see the result.
I will let you know once the job is achieved.

Thanks

John

[kosy33]

Hi,

Thanks to the "rear axle tour" I achieved replacing the right bearing. Everything went ok but I still have a very little axial play. It is much less than before but it still here. May be it is due to the barrel roller bearing. Has somebody experienced this?

Regards

[stickandrudderman]

Changing the bearing should eliminate the axial play you describe. The bearing is designed to act as both a thrust and a roller bearing.

[jeffc280sl]

Isn't this the axle that is bolted to the universal joint inside the pumpkin?  Could the allen bolt also be loose?

[GGR]

Hi John,

Did you check if an earlier bearing has spun in there as JA17 recommended? If a bearing has spun in there you may have noticed both some lateral and radial play. Loctite can take care of some play up to some extent, but 2mm lateral play seems a lot. You should consider fitting a spacer washer between the outer race of the bearing and the wheel tube. This is something recommended in the rear axle workshop manual to reduce play.