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Rear Axle Shaft Spacer (Shims) Part Number

4890 Views 10 Replies 2 Participants Last post by  Clarkz71, 
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I need to change the shims for the rear axle shaft to get the right end play adjustment because I replaced the rear axles and the new ones are just a little different.

I understand there is a kit from MB that has varing sizes of these shims. Does anybody have the part number for this kit?

I called mercedes Benz here in Austin and they couldn't help. I have done a google search and found information about different sized shims but no part numbers. I have no way of grinding down the existing shims to get the right end play adjustment (no end play).

If I had a part number then I could go to MB and say order this part.

Thanks
Steve
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Hey thanks for the information. I talked to MB up in Georgetown Texas. The parts guy was telling me that the shims cost about $6 a piece. I read somewhere there was a kit for about $50. so if you bought all the shims that would be around $59.

I guess to narrow it down I could stick the drive shaft in fully without the original spacer. Put the retaining clip in, then measure with a feelers gauge the distance from inside the clip to the spider gear. That may get me close to the appropriate shim size needed.

I'm woking on the drivers side now, I'm sure the passengers side axle shaft end gap will probably be different.

The adjustment calls for the axle shaft to be shimed so that the clip turns freely in it's grove but the axle shaft has no end play. I read something simular to this here in the forum somewhere.

Thanks again,
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I am working on the drivers side. The original drivers side spacer is 2.9mm. By the way the passenger side spacer is 3.1mm.

With the new shaft and the original spacer, the shaft doesn't go into the spider gear far enough to put the C clip in. The spacer is too thick. I would need a thinner spacer just to get the C clip in.

I tried this, I put the new axle in with no spacer. Put the shaft in all the way, then put the C clip in. I then measured between the C clip and the spider gear and came up with .032 inches or .812mm just to see if I could get in the ball park of the spacer I would need. There isn't a spacer that thin.

Now I'm scratching my head as if I just confused myself. Now I'm thinking this would need to be a one off custom fitment to get the end play right.

See the pic of the new axle next to the old one. the new one isn't made exactly the same. Maybe the parts supplier isn't correct that the new shaft will replace the old one. Unless you do a one off custom fitment.

I think I'm going to back up and rethink this whole thing.

Steve
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shoot forgot the pic

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I think your right I may not be measuring it correctly. If the thinest spacers don't work then these new axle shafts wont work.

I would have just tried to put new boots on the old ones and saved some heart ache but they are bad.
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Yes I did measure the stub, from the flange to the clip grove. The old shaft measures 65.11mm. The new shaft measures 64.45mm difference of .66.

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thinking about this, I'm starting out with a stub that is too short by .66 to match the old one. If I took the original spacer size of 2.9 and reduced it by what the new shaft is short I'd come up with 2.3.

The thinest spacer is 2.6, it might just work but .3mm is a lot when your looking at this end play adjustment.

I'm getting that sick feeling that says this "aint" gonna work!

Steve
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