rear axle " clonk"

[tweak]

Whato everyone,

I have a 1977 280e, petrol engined car.

Every now and then ( and always only in the morning after standing overnight or longer ) the rear axle " clonks" as it moves as the car passes over the driveway onto the road.

There is the usual small road join between the drive and the tarmac road.

Whilst I know this is a small annoyance, it does remain an annoyance.

Hoe does one lube ( grease ) the sliding joints in the independent back axle?

thanks in advance,

Chris.

[BradA]

Could be a range of things, but the rear sway bar links are worth checking. A cheap and easy fix if they're the problem. Take a look at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wznyjVx_81A for a discussion on read end inspection points (including sway bar links).
cheers,

Brad

[300Dman]

　Could it be that the Rubber cushions on the top end of the Shock Absorbers have become compressed leaving some play in the Shock absorber? If so often tightening the Nut on the Shock Absorber Shaft will take care of it.

Could it be something is loose inside of the Trunk/Boot?

It also could be time to get under the Car and do a visual inspection.

[230ew123]

Did you get on to the clunk?

I suffer from sagging arse and also have a clunk in the rear. Firstly i plan to replace the sway bar rods, seems pretty straight forward, then then try to get a little lift by replacing the center diff mount. Anyone have any tips?

[stumpjumper]

It could be an early sign of a failing CV joint, usually due to lack of lubrication as the grease escapes through a torn rubber boot.

My rear axle on one side developed a clunk,and I spent some time looking for something caught up in the drive shaft. The clunk came and went, then stayed for good.

Removing and replacing a half shaft is not hard, and is no more difficult than replacing a torn boot.

Pelicanparts has a very good post on how to do it:

https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticl ... cement.htm

[230ew123]

thankfully for me it was just the sway links, quick, easy and cheap. finally figured out to extend my merc's life is to club reg it in the near future...