SLS/R197/C197 AMG: Suspected Axle Failure(I hope)
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 34
Likes: 8
SLS Roadster, S500, Jag XJ V8 SC
Suspected Axle Failure(I hope)
Hi
Used maybe 60% throttle in 1st gear off stationary, heard a bang. Lost drive. Parked. Engine reved freely without any issues. Street had a slight slope but on selecting drive, park or reverse no effect and would move forward like in neutral. No CEL on anything. New gearbox fitted btw by Mercedes. Has anyone had an axle failure? The axle connects directly to the transaxle. Excluding gearbox internal failure, I suppose the points of failure are 1. at the transaxle end, like the bolts, flange on the axle that bolts on, 2. the shaft part of the axle(is that a torque tube or solid shaft - I suspect it would be a tube), 3. the connection to the hub, either axle or hub like bolts shearing etc. I got no other noise except for the initial bang. So nothing like broken part rotating and hitting something. I think I have seen something about one side failing means the gearbox is uneffective on the other side. Might be a fail safe measure I guess which means the gearbox is unable to engage.
Any one got anything?
Used maybe 60% throttle in 1st gear off stationary, heard a bang. Lost drive. Parked. Engine reved freely without any issues. Street had a slight slope but on selecting drive, park or reverse no effect and would move forward like in neutral. No CEL on anything. New gearbox fitted btw by Mercedes. Has anyone had an axle failure? The axle connects directly to the transaxle. Excluding gearbox internal failure, I suppose the points of failure are 1. at the transaxle end, like the bolts, flange on the axle that bolts on, 2. the shaft part of the axle(is that a torque tube or solid shaft - I suspect it would be a tube), 3. the connection to the hub, either axle or hub like bolts shearing etc. I got no other noise except for the initial bang. So nothing like broken part rotating and hitting something. I think I have seen something about one side failing means the gearbox is uneffective on the other side. Might be a fail safe measure I guess which means the gearbox is unable to engage.
Any one got anything?
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 772
Likes: 260
Hi
Used maybe 60% throttle in 1st gear off stationary, heard a bang. Lost drive. Parked. Engine reved freely without any issues. Street had a slight slope but on selecting drive, park or reverse no effect and would move forward like in neutral. No CEL on anything. New gearbox fitted btw by Mercedes. Has anyone had an axle failure? The axle connects directly to the transaxle. Excluding gearbox internal failure, I suppose the points of failure are 1. at the transaxle end, like the bolts, flange on the axle that bolts on, 2. the shaft part of the axle(is that a torque tube or solid shaft - I suspect it would be a tube), 3. the connection to the hub, either axle or hub like bolts shearing etc. I got no other noise except for the initial bang. So nothing like broken part rotating and hitting something. I think I have seen something about one side failing means the gearbox is uneffective on the other side. Might be a fail safe measure I guess which means the gearbox is unable to engage.
Any one got anything?
Used maybe 60% throttle in 1st gear off stationary, heard a bang. Lost drive. Parked. Engine reved freely without any issues. Street had a slight slope but on selecting drive, park or reverse no effect and would move forward like in neutral. No CEL on anything. New gearbox fitted btw by Mercedes. Has anyone had an axle failure? The axle connects directly to the transaxle. Excluding gearbox internal failure, I suppose the points of failure are 1. at the transaxle end, like the bolts, flange on the axle that bolts on, 2. the shaft part of the axle(is that a torque tube or solid shaft - I suspect it would be a tube), 3. the connection to the hub, either axle or hub like bolts shearing etc. I got no other noise except for the initial bang. So nothing like broken part rotating and hitting something. I think I have seen something about one side failing means the gearbox is uneffective on the other side. Might be a fail safe measure I guess which means the gearbox is unable to engage.
Any one got anything?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 34
Likes: 8
SLS Roadster, S500, Jag XJ V8 SC
Actually I needed two. There was a redesign by Mercedes. See how my one is hollow. Well no more, it is now solid and a different weight. Obviously you can't have two different axles. Mercedes service never told me that, they said the other axle was "weeping " grease hence the requirement for two. It was only when I got someone else to look at it who told me about the redesign. Bill was around USD$6T. Guess there was a problem after all aye Mercedes with the design. And also I apparently got the last two available in the world. To add to the last new available gearbox I got 2 years ago. I hope Mercedes sort out how it intends to service these cars and fast because right now a Ferrari is looking very appealing.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 34
Likes: 8
SLS Roadster, S500, Jag XJ V8 SC
Absolutely agree on that, you could either use a lath or 3 D print two OR buy a matching used one(why not, it is a simple install really. I actually thought about that. Any race shop could fabricate that and prob better materials and spec. Honestly I am dubious about hollow drive axles and am going to research whether they are common
The point is though I am pretty sure both axles will need to match, in geometry but esp mass. The old axle was 7,6kg and the new another kg more. I suspect the solid one was introduced in either the GT or Black. My car was manufactured around July 2012.
I would suggest to owners to ask service shops to inspect the hollow drive axle at service for any evidence of damage or hair line fracture. You do not want the axle damaging the 7DCL750 transmission gear or housing, which is possible. I blew the axle at only 30 km per hr or so and came to a slow stop, no trashing metal object.
The point is though I am pretty sure both axles will need to match, in geometry but esp mass. The old axle was 7,6kg and the new another kg more. I suspect the solid one was introduced in either the GT or Black. My car was manufactured around July 2012.
I would suggest to owners to ask service shops to inspect the hollow drive axle at service for any evidence of damage or hair line fracture. You do not want the axle damaging the 7DCL750 transmission gear or housing, which is possible. I blew the axle at only 30 km per hr or so and came to a slow stop, no trashing metal object.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 901
Likes: 13
Actually I needed two. There was a redesign by Mercedes. See how my one is hollow. Well no more, it is now solid and a different weight. Obviously you can't have two different axles. Mercedes service never told me that, they said the other axle was "weeping " grease hence the requirement for two. It was only when I got someone else to look at it who told me about the redesign. Bill was around USD$6T. Guess there was a problem after all aye Mercedes with the design. And also I apparently got the last two available in the world. To add to the last new available gearbox I got 2 years ago. I hope Mercedes sort out how it intends to service these cars and fast because right now a Ferrari is looking very appealing.
there have been changes in the part #s
The last one is A197 350 7200 and it is available ...
Hope that helps.
