W211 E55 AMG Differential/rear passenger axle
10-24-2022, 06:55 PM
#1
W211 E55 AMG Differential/rear passenger axle
New member to the Mercedes world I have a 2003 E55 AMG. Not stock. had it for over a year now. I searched the forums before posting but i cant find anything on the axles for the E55.
I need a bit of help helping me diagnose a symptom i have on my E55. Recently i started to feel a bit of grinding on towards the center rear of the car.
I did replace my Differential ( used ) and the mechanic said it was good working condition before installation. I replaced the Diff because i blew it to smithereens, hole through the casing and all.
Now i left the car sitting there for a while do to additional fixes here and there, sensors, air pump etc. The car had been running great, shifting great and "smooth" ( E55's do not shift smooth, if you have one you know ) i started to feel a bit of grinding and it was not concerning at first because it was so minimal that i could have just been a bump on the road that made the car feel odd. Day after day the symptom got worse.
I will describe the symptom as best as possible. It feels as if im running over the center divider lights on the floor, but i know im not because you don't feel the tires lift. Also i feel the vibrating on the shift knob and on the pedal. Its not loud and it feels like something is grinding. The feeling is only present when i accelerate from a stop, the feeling is there for about 2 seconds and as im picking up speed symptom disappears and i can accelerate and you cant tell anything is wrong, no sounds no grinding no noise no nothing. Reminder, the Diff was replaced not long ago ( i don't think its the Diff ). Disclosure, my inner axle boot has been ripped for not sure how long and i see it has leaked lots of grease. Could it be that its the Axle that makes that grinding feeling/noise? Thanks in advance.
I need a bit of help helping me diagnose a symptom i have on my E55. Recently i started to feel a bit of grinding on towards the center rear of the car.
I did replace my Differential ( used ) and the mechanic said it was good working condition before installation. I replaced the Diff because i blew it to smithereens, hole through the casing and all.
Now i left the car sitting there for a while do to additional fixes here and there, sensors, air pump etc. The car had been running great, shifting great and "smooth" ( E55's do not shift smooth, if you have one you know ) i started to feel a bit of grinding and it was not concerning at first because it was so minimal that i could have just been a bump on the road that made the car feel odd. Day after day the symptom got worse.
I will describe the symptom as best as possible. It feels as if im running over the center divider lights on the floor, but i know im not because you don't feel the tires lift. Also i feel the vibrating on the shift knob and on the pedal. Its not loud and it feels like something is grinding. The feeling is only present when i accelerate from a stop, the feeling is there for about 2 seconds and as im picking up speed symptom disappears and i can accelerate and you cant tell anything is wrong, no sounds no grinding no noise no nothing. Reminder, the Diff was replaced not long ago ( i don't think its the Diff ). Disclosure, my inner axle boot has been ripped for not sure how long and i see it has leaked lots of grease. Could it be that its the Axle that makes that grinding feeling/noise? Thanks in advance.
Last edited by EliE55; 10-24-2022 at 07:38 PM.
10-24-2022, 07:55 PM
#2
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Early production '03 had smaller rear diff and axles which were replaced with larger units from late 2003 and onward, because they were breaking. Bolt-on rear axle shafts are the weak ones, snap-in are the newer stronger ones. Your description sounds like a collapsed transmission mount. Engine mounts may also need attention.
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EliE55 (10-25-2022)
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EliE55 (10-25-2022)
10-25-2022, 09:26 PM
#5
Early production '03 had smaller rear diff and axles which were replaced with larger units from late 2003 and onward, because they were breaking. Bolt-on rear axle shafts are the weak ones, snap-in are the newer stronger ones. Your description sounds like a collapsed transmission mount. Engine mounts may also need attention.
10-26-2022, 01:08 AM
#6
Senior Member
Disclosure, my inner axle boot has been ripped for not sure how long and i see it has leaked lots of grease. Could it be that its the Axle that makes that grinding feeling/noise?
Drive line vibrations; motor/trans mounts, flex disks, center carrier, axles and diff.
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EliE55 (10-31-2022)
11-09-2022, 07:28 PM
#7
Does anyone think that the culprit can be a worn-out wheel bearing?
i have not changed the axle, i have not had time to get to it. Its just odd that the grinding thumping sound is only there on initial acceleration and then at higher speeds ( 20mph+ ) the sounds goes away, and i have gone 70MPH and i can not hear aany noise.
i have not changed the axle, i have not had time to get to it. Its just odd that the grinding thumping sound is only there on initial acceleration and then at higher speeds ( 20mph+ ) the sounds goes away, and i have gone 70MPH and i can not hear aany noise.
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11-13-2022, 07:20 PM
#8
Does anyone think that the culprit can be a worn-out wheel bearing?
i have not changed the axle, i have not had time to get to it. Its just odd that the grinding thumping sound is only there on initial acceleration and then at higher speeds ( 20mph+ ) the sounds goes away, and i have gone 70MPH and i can not hear aany noise.
i have not changed the axle, i have not had time to get to it. Its just odd that the grinding thumping sound is only there on initial acceleration and then at higher speeds ( 20mph+ ) the sounds goes away, and i have gone 70MPH and i can not hear aany noise.
I know my C55 has bad axle boots and it can be heard as a popping/clicking sound at lower speeds. I can even start to feel it through the car more around 20mph, but goes away at speed.
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EliE55 (11-14-2022)
11-14-2022, 12:48 PM
#9
An easy check on wheel bearings would be to jack the car up and grab the tire top and bottom and push inward and outward. If there is no movement most likely not the wheel bearing.
I know my C55 has bad axle boots and it can be heard as a popping/clicking sound at lower speeds. I can even start to feel it through the car more around 20mph, but goes away at speed.
I know my C55 has bad axle boots and it can be heard as a popping/clicking sound at lower speeds. I can even start to feel it through the car more around 20mph, but goes away at speed.
11-14-2022, 06:40 PM
#10
Yup, and axles for these cars cost a mint. You may be able to have the old ones rebuilt, I know some kits are sold depending on which part is bad. Maybe worth to get done to have a strong replacement for the future.
Last edited by Zelman; 11-14-2022 at 06:52 PM.
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