just acquired an 84 190D 5 spd. - it feels like (what i thought was the) U-Joint under my feet bouncing/spinning against the floorboard in 1st and 2nd when torque was applied.

i was told to replace the rear tranny mount - when i got underneath i saw that 2 of the 3 bolts on the differential side of the rear flex-joint were missing. i replaced the 2 bolts and the problem was somewhat corrected - now it's only in 1st gear, and a little bit in 2nd, that i get this bouncing/grinding noise/feeling below my feet.

so my question is, in the interest of troubleshooting, are these flex joints capable of becoming unbalanced or otherwise damaged? and if so, considering that there were 2 bolts missing from the rear Flex joint, and that what i feel FEELS like something right under my feet, is there what would be a good guess as to what might become damaged in this type of situation?

thanks for your help,
GN

 

awesome, thanks -

the bolts being missing from the rear Flex Disk, is it the safe assumption that it would be the rear disk that would be damaged? i mean, it makes sense, but i know better than to assume pretty much anything, esp. since the noise/bumping feels like it's directly below the console...

i guess the question is, could a damaged rear flex disc cause the noise to sound as if coming from just behind the tranny...?

what 'flanges'? i know when i replaced the two bolts, they threaded nicely into whatever apparatus was attaching them to the Diff...

thanks again
GN

 

Pull the flex disk out. It's not that hard. inspect the rubber for cracks. If cracked, replace the flex disk. Then check the front one. And I believe your drive-shaft has a carrier bearing - check it as well.

If you drop the entire drive shaft, and have to split it, make 100% sure you mark the shaft so it goes back together the way it was before you split it.

 

thanks, that's the advice i've received lately - the flex disks looked ok from the outside...

i found a center bearing for an 84/85 190E for like 20 bucks, new. will this fit a 190D, you think?

i was also told that if the center joint (it's a U-Joint?) of this driveshaft is bad, that it can't be replaced - that i'd have to find an entire new driveshaft...? is that what you mean by 'split it'?

thanks very much
Glenn

 

I've read that about the ujoint as well. But heck, they put it together...

As for splitting, at least on a 126, there are two pieces of driveshaft, one having a male splined end and the other the female side.