Diff Noise, Fail
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Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Tustin, CA
2003 E55 AMG
Diff Noise, Fail
Well, my pinion bearing, not sure which one as i understand there are two, decided to commit a murder suicide and seize on the shaft providing the need for a whole new rear case essentially. The differential itself is fine, which I will keep in the event of any further killings and I managed to source a low mileage (24,000) used E55 differential (the whole enchilada), so that saved me some coin over a refurbished unit at least.
Anyone else ever have this issue? I for one have never heard of an E55 pinion bearing issue like this before, but I guess I can be the first.
Anyone else ever have this issue? I for one have never heard of an E55 pinion bearing issue like this before, but I guess I can be the first.
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From: Treasure Island, FL
GLE 63S
Well I for one can't say I've heard of any failing. My car has that amount of miles on the diff and when I upgraded the diff to a Quaife LSD the bearings showed little signs of wear. I replaced them anyway.
Last edited by grantwoodtx; Feb 10, 2012 at 03:53 PM.
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From: Sacramento, CA
Ducati
This makes me want to crack open my differential and take a peek inside.
I have 100k miles on the differential, but the fluid was changed every 50k miles. (preventative maintainence.)
I have 100k miles on the differential, but the fluid was changed every 50k miles. (preventative maintainence.)
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From: Salt Lake City (but not Morm)
2003 E55 & 2014 GL550
Heads up on your 2003 brotha. They changed diffs half way through the model year. Some 03's have slip in half shafts connecting to either side while some 03's have bolt in half shafts.
Worst case scenario you might need new half shafts to match it if you have the older diff.
Worst case scenario you might need new half shafts to match it if you have the older diff.
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 255
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From: Tustin, CA
2003 E55 AMG
Heads up on your 2003 brotha. They changed diffs half way through the model year. Some 03's have slip in half shafts connecting to either side while some 03's have bolt in half shafts.
Worst case scenario you might need new half shafts to match it if you have the older diff.
Worst case scenario you might need new half shafts to match it if you have the older diff.
Yeah, I will send you a pm hopefully next week once the new diff comes in and I get everything switched out.
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 255
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From: Tustin, CA
2003 E55 AMG
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
From: Tustin, CA
2003 E55 AMG
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
From: Tustin, CA
2003 E55 AMG
Well, tuns out I need to purchase the slip in half shafts as I have the bolt in ones...nice little mis-communication but at this point I'm over it. That said, I have access to a set of slip in axles, but my parts guy also mentioned I might be able to use my existing bolt-in axles. It was hard visualizing what he was explaining over the phone, but from what I understood, the bolt in axles are essentially two pieces. One piece is the actual axle as most people see it, the actual rod that connects to the wheel assy, and the other is a smaller piece that fits inside the differential that is then bolted to the axle rod, hence the bolt in design. Apparently, the new slip in axles alleviate the second piece and with some reusing of parts off of the bolt in axles, can be used in place of them.
I'm going to go ahead and get the new slip in axles as well and use those, but I'm going to have my mechanic see about getting the bolt-in axles to work with the slip-in differential. That way hopefully in the future if somebody finds themselves in a similar situation they will have the answers instead of searching around like I have been doing.
I'm going to go ahead and get the new slip in axles as well and use those, but I'm going to have my mechanic see about getting the bolt-in axles to work with the slip-in differential. That way hopefully in the future if somebody finds themselves in a similar situation they will have the answers instead of searching around like I have been doing.
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E55
Ben, sounds like you have the M210 differential and you are replacing it with a M215 (stronger '04 and up model). Before you start pulling anything apart, you should do some research to make sure the spline count is the same as well as the impulse ring and any other pitfalls.
If you are staying stock, you might be better off locating the correct diff.
If you are staying stock, you might be better off locating the correct diff.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 255
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From: Tustin, CA
2003 E55 AMG
Ben, sounds like you have the M210 differential and you are replacing it with a M215 (stronger '04 and up model). Before you start pulling anything apart, you should do some research to make sure the spline count is the same as well as the impulse ring and any other pitfalls.
If you are staying stock, you might be better off locating the correct diff.
If you are staying stock, you might be better off locating the correct diff.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
From: Tustin, CA
2003 E55 AMG
