Need advice - 1969 280sl brakes / axle

[Ed Riefstahl]

Greetings folks,
We are finally getting to where we can work on Ms Magoo, our 230SL.
My shoulder is pretty much back to normal and my wife has only 2 Chemo treatments left and is doing fantastic.

We have the rear axle out of our 230SL. The center slip / U joint broke at the yoke. We started to remove the axle from my 280SE parts car with help from my wife. 
After some encouragement from my wife we decided abandon it and not mess with the axle from the 280S. It's just not a very good one to put the work and money into.

However I have a line on 2 axles.

1st one is from a 1969 280sl with 3.92 ratio. It's refurbished with new seals, bearings, split boot etc. No calipers, so would need rotors calipers, compensation valve (maybe could use the one from my 280SE parts car). I'm told the slip joint in 280Sl is beafier in the 280 than early 230sl, but not sure this is true.

Calipers seem to be really hard to find and very expensive for some reason. I have spent considerable time looking into calipers.
This axle would cost about $650.00 plus $500.00 shipping, plus calipers, rotors etc.

2nd option is from a 230Sl wtih Ratio 4.03. it's identical to the axle in my car including same gear ratio. It's out of a California car. Slightly refurbished with new wheel cylinders, new brake shoes, new boot, but doubt bearings and not sure about seals. i believe it would pretty much be bolt it in place except maybe replace pinion seal and of course brake hoses.
This axle would be $650.00 delivered to my door.

I already have all new rubber mounts.

Could use some suggestions. It's tempting to just bolt it in place.
If anyone out there had a line on a axle / differential.

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions or comments.

Ed Riefstahl
Erie, PA

[ja17]

Well if you stick with the 230SL you will save money, not have to deal with the speedometer being inaccurate and won't have the brake problems to work out. In addition, you will need the two emergency brake cables for the disc brake rear axle since the SL and SE are different.

[Benz Dr.]

Well if you stick with the 230SL you will save money, not have to deal with the speedometer being inaccurate and won't have the brake problems to work out. In addition, you will need the two emergency brake cables for the disc brake rear axle since the SL and SE are different.

Yes, that's all true plus the 230 and 280SL use different E brake cables as well.

[Ed Riefstahl]

Hi Joe,
I'm really leaning towards keeping the car original. The money really isn't the issue as much as the ease of doing the job and our physical abilities becoming more limited.

The car is on my lift in my garage with the axle out. Finding someone to help thees days is getting nearly impossible. I like the idea of the higher gears and the disk brakes, but starting to feel that the difference wouldn't be that great.

At one time I had a this 66 230SL and a 69 280SL, both automatics I and can't say I really recall much difference in the two as far as gearing or stopping.

Thanks for your comments,

Ed R.
Erie, PA

[Ed Riefstahl]

Hi Dan,

I was considering the advantages of the disk brakes and slightly higher gears. But keeping the car original has its appeal too.

I was wondering about the comment I heard about the heaver duty slip joint / internal u joint. Maybe I'm just trying to over engineer. I'm always trying to make things last forever.

Thanks for you comments.

Ed R.
Erie, PA

1966 230SL (Ms Magoo)
1970 280S (Miss Daisy)
1989 300SE (Majestic)
1999 BMW Z3 5 speed
1991 BMW 318I 5 Speed
1997 Toyota Paseo Convertible - Red 5 speed (have you ever seen one?)
1997 Ford Ranger (Step Side 54K)
2023 Mazda CX 5

[Ed Riefstahl]

Hello again,

We've decided to purchase the 230SL axle out of California. It should arrive about the end of Feb. It was the first and only 230SL axle we've come across in the 6 months we've been looking and didn't want to take a chance of loosing out on it.
 
The partly refurbished axle was $690.00 including shipping and was one of the most reasonable axles we've come across and pretty much ready to install. At this time in our life, easier is a huge plus. My wife says she'll help me (hand me tools / operate the floor jack etc.) put it in the car. Can't beat that.

Thanks again for comments and suggestions.

Ed Riefstahl
Erie, PA

1966 230SL (Ms Magoo)
1970 280S (Miss Daisy)
1989 300SE (Majestic)
1999 BMW Z3 5 speed
1991 BMW 318I 5 Speed
1997 Toyota Paseo Convertible - Red 5 speed (have you ever seen one?)
1997 Ford Ranger (Step Side 54K)
2023 Mazda CX 5