Author Topic: Rear axle replacement  (Read 1818 times)

Davek1

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Rear axle replacement
« on: November 12, 2022, 19:53:02 »
Hello all, I am hoping someone can advise me. I am in the process of swapping my 4.08 axle for a 3.27 one. With the forums help all is going well, replacing all bushings as I go. Could some one advise me on the torque settings for the trailing arms. I am after the torque settings for the 3 front plate nuts, the 22mm nut going through the front trailing arm bush and the two hollow bolts connecting the trailing arms to the axle. I have a Haynes manual but can not figure it out. Thanks

ja17

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Re: Rear axle replacement
« Reply #1 on: November 13, 2022, 01:43:30 »
These specifications are from my factory "Technical Data Manual Issue 1966" page 90. The hollow bolts have lock plates, torque to 20 mkg then deform the lock plate to secure.  The big 22 mm nut uses a lock nut or cotter pin (early versions). Torque spec for those are 10 mkp. The torque for the three small bolts on the triangular safety plate is not specified in my TDM. You can measure the diameter of the bolt shaft and use a standard metric torque table for a guide. With the early MB cars like the pontons and 190SLs, the trailing arm mounting was the same. They did have a 22mm nut with a cotter pin to secure the trailing arm to the chassis, but did not have the additional 3 bolt safety plate. Well, terminal rust, left un-treated, caused the mounting points to fail on these early MBs models. The trailing arms would then drop down to the pavement at speed. Not good! Mercedes added the three bolt safety plate on the pagodas and all other models which followed.
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
1989 flu419 Mercedes Unimog (US Army)
1998 E430
1974 450SLC Rally
1965 220SE Finback

Davek1

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Re: Rear axle replacement
« Reply #2 on: November 13, 2022, 14:56:38 »
Thanks for the torque settings. Interesting and also freighting about the triangle plates, just imagine a trailing arm dropping at speed.

ja17

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Re: Rear axle replacement
« Reply #3 on: November 17, 2022, 00:44:52 »
The tri-angle plates also offer some "skid plate" type protection.
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
1989 flu419 Mercedes Unimog (US Army)
1998 E430
1974 450SLC Rally
1965 220SE Finback