Front differential replacement
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 70
Likes: 13
From: SE Pennsylvania
07 C280 4matic, 2014 GL450, 91 VW Vanagon
Front differential replacement
I have a growling/whining noise best I can tell up front. Most pronounced between 35-45 mph. The local indy put it on a lift and ran it and cannot hear the noise, not even with a stethoscope, but drive it and the noise is there. The pulled the drain plug and they says they can see sparklies. I didn't get their repair/rebuild estimate yet, but they only use factory parts and will not used salvage replacements. So I'm asking what is the difficulty level with replacing the front differential on a 2014 GL450? Is this something that a shade tree mechanic can do in their driveway? Not to over simplify it, but it appears that it should bolt out and bolt in. To me the most difficult thing would be pulling the axles. Could any competent garage take on this task?
Why not rebuild this? Even though I love this car and it is a great cruiser, it's 11 yrs old and has 153K miles. I don't know how much more life it has left and it seems like just throwing good money after bad.
Curious on other peoples thoughts
Thanks, Bob Clemmer, Perkasie, PA
Why not rebuild this? Even though I love this car and it is a great cruiser, it's 11 yrs old and has 153K miles. I don't know how much more life it has left and it seems like just throwing good money after bad.
Curious on other peoples thoughts
Thanks, Bob Clemmer, Perkasie, PA
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 33,160
Likes: 6,577
I have a growling/whining noise best I can tell up front. Most pronounced between 35-45 mph. The local indy put it on a lift and ran it and cannot hear the noise, not even with a stethoscope, but drive it and the noise is there. The pulled the drain plug and they says they can see sparklies. I didn't get their repair/rebuild estimate yet, but they only use factory parts and will not used salvage replacements. So I'm asking what is the difficulty level with replacing the front differential on a 2014 GL450? Is this something that a shade tree mechanic can do in their driveway? Not to over simplify it, but it appears that it should bolt out and bolt in. To me the most difficult thing would be pulling the axles. Could any competent garage take on this task?
Why not rebuild this? Even though I love this car and it is a great cruiser, it's 11 yrs old and has 153K miles. I don't know how much more life it has left and it seems like just throwing good money after bad.
Curious on other peoples thoughts
Thanks, Bob Clemmer, Perkasie, PA
Why not rebuild this? Even though I love this car and it is a great cruiser, it's 11 yrs old and has 153K miles. I don't know how much more life it has left and it seems like just throwing good money after bad.
Curious on other peoples thoughts
Thanks, Bob Clemmer, Perkasie, PA
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 33,160
Likes: 6,577
I suspect neglected fluid (by MB themselves) is the reason for the front differential failure especially for a vehicle this heavy, it is tiny too, it goes through holding the engine and other drive components so lots of stress and I even want to say it deserves more frequent fluid change than the rear one.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 70
Likes: 13
From: SE Pennsylvania
07 C280 4matic, 2014 GL450, 91 VW Vanagon
I did have the lube oil changed in the front diff about 3 months ago. I found a youtube video on removal for repair and it requires dropping the front sub-frame and that is out of my comfort zone. I found another Indy that will swap it out with a salvage diff but they are booked 2 weeks out and we're going to Hilton Head in two weeks. So fingers crossed it doens't get too bad.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 33,160
Likes: 6,577
I did have the lube oil changed in the front diff about 3 months ago. I found a youtube video on removal for repair and it requires dropping the front sub-frame and that is out of my comfort zone. I found another Indy that will swap it out with a salvage diff but they are booked 2 weeks out and we're going to Hilton Head in two weeks. So fingers crossed it doens't get too bad.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 33,160
Likes: 6,577
I did have the lube oil changed in the front diff about 3 months ago. I found a youtube video on removal for repair and it requires dropping the front sub-frame and that is out of my comfort zone. I found another Indy that will swap it out with a salvage diff but they are booked 2 weeks out and we're going to Hilton Head in two weeks. So fingers crossed it doens't get too bad.
