Removal & Installation of Rear Axle Center Assembly

Removal and installation of rear axle center assembly






Special Tools

Special Tools:

Types of oil and capacity

Standard differential: SAE 90 hypoid gear oil. Refer to Specifications for Service Products.
Differential with ASD (information plate on rear axle housing): Special hypoid gear oil. Refer to Specifications for Service Products.
Capacity with 168 mm dia. crown wheel, 0.7 liter.
Capacity with 185 mm dia. crown wheel, 1.1 liter.

Removal, installation

1. On vehicles with ABS






a) Drain rear axle oil.
b) Unscrew hexagon socket bolt (L6a), remove speed sensor (L6) from rear axle housing.
c) Clean any metallic residues off metallic tip, cover and set aside.

Installation note: Replace self-locking hexagon bolt and 0-ring. Ensure that there are no metallic foreign bodies on the magnetic tip of the speed sensor. When installing the speed sensor in the housing, do not damage the 0-ring. Check oil in the rear axle, if required fill up to the filler opening.






2. Unscrew exhaust shield and remove (arrow).






3. Loosen clamp nut on the propeller shaft.

Installation note: Tightening torque 30 - 40 Nm. Open end wrench 41 mm 201 589 00 01 00. Torque wrench 001 589 66 21 00.






4. Unscrew hexagon bolts (106b) on propeller shaft intermediate bearing (106c) on frame floor and remove.

Installation note: Tightening torque 25 Nm. Torque wrench 001 589 66 21 00.






5. Remove propeller shaft at joint flange of bevel drive pinion (arrows), push forward and secure to prevent it from falling down.

Installation bote: Replace self-locking hexagon nuts. Tightening torque 40 Nm. Torque wrench 001 589 66 21 00.






6. Remove rear axle shaft (37) at connecting flange (33a) and remove with locking bolts (35) and plain washers (34).

Caution! When loosening the locking bolts ensure that the screwdriver insert is completely inserted in the polygon head section and clean bolt head, if required.

Installation note: Replace locking bolts. Lightly oil bolt head support and thread. Tightening torque 70 Nm. Torque wrench 001 589 66 21 00.






7. Compress rear axle shafts and fasten on the camber strut using a wire (arrow)
8. Support rear axle center assembly.






9. Unscrew locking bolts (58) on rear axle bracket to closing plate and remove with locking tab (57).

Installation note: Replace locking hexagon bolts and locking tab. Tightening torque 50 Nm. Torque wrench 001 589 66 21 00.






10. Loosen front hexagon socket bolt for attachment of rear axle center assembly to rear axle bracket and remove (arrows).

Installation note: Replace self-locking hexagon nut (52) and hexagon socket bolt (53). Tightening torque 45 Nm. Torque wrench 001 589 66 21 00.

Caution! Do not install spacer sleeve (50b) on rear axle center assembly without identification rib (arrow, see programmed repair).






2nd version as of 12/84
1. Rear axle bracket
50. Rear axle center assembly
52. Self-locking hexagon nut
53. Hexagon socket bolt M10 x 1 x 65
50b. Spacer sleeve






Rear axle center assembly with identification rib as of 12/84





11. On vehicles with ASD
Unscrew hydraulic line (HS) on center assembly and seal.

Installation note: Bleed hydraulic system. Ensure correct line routing.

12. On model 201.029 with ASR
Lower rear axle center assembly slightly.






13. Remove speed sensors (L6/3 and L614).

Installation note: Replace hexagon socket bolt with an 0-ring, 8 Nm. Torque wrench 001 589 72 21 00. Electric cables must not be twisted when assembled.

14. Lower the rear axle center assembly and remove.
15. Install in reverse sequence.