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is that the remainder of the shaft hanging down in the photo? If so, it's hollow and definitely the front driveshaft(XFR Case to Front Diff), not an axle shaft. Axle shafts are solid. That would explain the O2 codes as they were probably twisted up and broken off when the driveshaft broke. Oddly enough, I would think this is not a joint issue as the shaft appears to be twisted in half and split open, indicating something stopped turning in the front diff. curious if the "BANG" you heard was the input shaft shearing off because the bearing seized??? could have been very hot(grinding noise...) and seized when you stopped. I hope I'm wrong, for your sake... Sorry
is that the remainder of the shaft hanging down in the photo? If so, it's hollow and definitely the front driveshaft(XFR Case to Front Diff), not an axle shaft. Axle shafts are solid. That would explain the O2 codes as they were probably twisted up and broken off when the driveshaft broke. Oddly enough, I would think this is not a joint issue as the shaft appears to be twisted in half and split open, indicating something stopped turning in the front diff. curious if the "BANG" you heard was the input shaft shearing off because the bearing seized??? could have been very hot(grinding noise...) and seized when you stopped. I hope I'm wrong, for your sake... Sorry
the question was answered, thank you! Mods way remove
Last edited by alan_e550; May 26, 2021 at 06:11 PM.
probably not, machines break, it's what they do. Honestly, without knowing what happened and why, it is impossible to answer that at this time. Usually a bad u-joint will either make noise, or at least cause a vibration. based on what you said in 1st post, it doesn't sound like a bad joint, and usually, when a joint breaks, the shaft just bounces around(happened to me when I snapped my brand new eBay front driveshaft...SMH). Yours looks like it was twisted in half, that is usually an indication of a seized component on the drive end(front differential), especially since you were stopped and trying to accelerate.
My mechanic will be dropping by later to give me an actual diagnosis. In the mean time I put the car up on a tire stand and took the wheel off to get a better look at it and pulled this little number out with 0 budging or hesitation, it came right off. Its also the same piece of metal thats hanging out from the first picture. I honestly can’t tell what it even is
that's the heat shield that bolts on around the driveshaft's U-Joint, on the front diff
makes more sense now, I didn't think your car had a large driveshaft. It's the same skinny one I have, so...If you just lost the joint and the diff is good, you just need to replace the driveshaft(>$700 from MB, I got a used one from LKQ for a lot less), the heatshield, both O2 sensors, and any wiring that was damaged(hopefully it's just the leads for the O2 sensors and not the car's harness). I tried to have my old one repaired, but it was not an option as the joint caps are staked into place and cannot be replaced).
Do not, I repeat, DO NOT buy an aftermarket shaft. I did and I broke it IMMEDIATLY after installing it. Get a good used one and call it a day
Last edited by nota_amg; Mar 30, 2021 at 05:24 PM.
that's the heat shield that bolts on around the driveshaft's U-Joint, on the front diff
makes more sense now, I didn't think your car had a large driveshaft. It's the same skinny one I have, so...If you just lost the joint and the diff is good, you just need to replace the driveshaft(>$700 from MB, I got a used one from LKQ for a lot less), the heatshield, both O2 sensors, and any wiring that was damaged(hopefully it's just the leads for the O2 sensors and not the car's harness). I tried to have my old one repaired, but it was not an option as the joint caps are staked into place and cannot be replaced).
Do not, I repeat, DO NOT buy an aftermarket shaft. I did and I broke it IMMEDIATLY after installing it. Get a good used one and call it a day
How frustrating! Consider you had to do something similar is this something that happens on e550s? I’m just trying to figure out whether this was a mechanical error or something I did.
How frustrating! Consider you had to do something similar is this something that happens on e550s? I’m just trying to figure out whether this was a mechanical error or something I did.
Mine had a bad joint when I bought it. The car had run over something substantial and the subframe was replaced. I think the impact damaged it as one of the cups was cracked. It got progressively worse over the next few months, so I replaced it with this:
I firmly believe it was made of Chinesium
Last edited by nota_amg; Mar 30, 2021 at 06:15 PM.
How frustrating! Consider you had to do something similar is this something that happens on e550s? I’m just trying to figure out whether this was a mechanical error or something I did.
It wasn't you. Welcome to Mercedes driveline design. Does the front diff rotate freely?
That looks like it took out the power steering rack as well. Am I correct?
In his case, Yes. Ultimately it needed a new heat shield, intermediate shaft and steering rack. It took nice chunks out of the block, but nothing terminal...
*edit*
Different yes, but very similar... really just the steering rack placement. On the W212 it would be "protected" from this damage due to being in front of the subframe.
Last edited by bmwpowere36m3; Mar 31, 2021 at 04:22 PM.
