Question on differential bushing replacement in 300CE
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 56
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Question on differential bushing replacement in 300CE
The differential bushings are cracked in my 1990 300CE and starts to have a loud knocking noise. I have the new bushings and also the tool to remove them.
I had done few years back in 1989 300TE wagon.
Support the differential with a jack and wood.
The way i remember was to disconnect the rear flex disk, remove it, slide back the universal shaft forward.
Remove the bolts of the CV joint on both sides of the differential. Detach the CV joint from the differential . Support the axles on both sides.
Remove any sensors on the differential.
Undo the bolts on the bushings and then lower the differential.
Remove the bushings and then install the bushings with same orientation.
Is this correct? As this is what I recollect.
Please let me know if I have missed anything that is critical.
Thanks a bunch
I had done few years back in 1989 300TE wagon.
Support the differential with a jack and wood.
The way i remember was to disconnect the rear flex disk, remove it, slide back the universal shaft forward.
Remove the bolts of the CV joint on both sides of the differential. Detach the CV joint from the differential . Support the axles on both sides.
Remove any sensors on the differential.
Undo the bolts on the bushings and then lower the differential.
Remove the bushings and then install the bushings with same orientation.
Is this correct? As this is what I recollect.
Please let me know if I have missed anything that is critical.
Thanks a bunch
Super Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 890
Likes: 4
From: Boise, ID, USA
300D, 500E, E420
Loosen the driveshaft center support bolts to allow the driveshaft to move forward, and don't forget to tighten these bolts afterwards. Otherwise you pretty much have everything else correct. Remember the bushings come out towards the front of the car, not the rear.
Super Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 890
Likes: 4
From: Boise, ID, USA
300D, 500E, E420
Heh-heh... sheer accident, I just stumbled across the post... 
That depends if you have the time and $$$ to mess with it. If you want to replace everything, it's easier to pull the entire subframe, and replace all 5 links on each side, replace all 4 main bushings between subframe and body, diff mounts (front & rear), rear wheel carrier support joints, and anything else easy to access with the subframe out (i.e., fuel tank hoses). This gets expensive fast - around $1k in parts - and takes a while to all the work. I think most cars are due for this treatment by 200k, 250k tops. I did this on my '87, pics are here. Some special tools are required, or at least recommended, depending on the bushing in question.
With limited time & funds, I'd inspect all the links, and replace (in pairs) any that have definitely worn rubber bushings.
I has have all the rear links on this car. The car has like 180K miles.
Should I be replacing those as well?
Should I be replacing those as well?
With limited time & funds, I'd inspect all the links, and replace (in pairs) any that have definitely worn rubber bushings.
