Monday is diff day.
or something.
Rare, valuable and sought after Mercedes 3.9 diff had a meeting with the welder this morning.
As did the hybrid E21/E36 diff. This was supposed to be a rebuilt diff from a wrecker/German car specialist. It has new bearings in it, but was set up very poorly - all of the bearings were super heavily preloaded.
It is merely “reassembled” at this point, to keep everything safe and together. I will come back to it later when I have time/reason to.
Made a cover for the W202 speedo sensor hole.
And refitted the diff into the 201.
The front diff mounting bolt is a terrible design. There’s a loose nut sitting inside of a U channel, and it is pretty much impossible to get a spanner or a socket onto it. I managed to put a socket on there, and then vice grips onto the outside of the socket - dicey as.
The steel tab has been welded to the nut, eliminating the need for a tool at all - the tab prevents the nut from spinning when you turn the bolt.
Then to the rear shocks. Can’t recall if I have talked about these before, but they're XYZ brand gravel rally struts for a WRX. The XYZ seals are shit, so the outer bodies have been chewed by dirt and they’re not much chop as a strut inserts anymore… but fine as a shock.
Added some ebay rod ends to the bottom, along with some minor shortening and they fit nicely into the back of the W201.
They are a tight fit, with the safety bunting being used to confirm that the shocks clear the shock tower - just!
The lower mounts needed to be spaced forward to assist with clearance at the top, but it all worked out in the end.
I still need to bolt the half shafts back onto the diff, and I am waiting for old mate to remove the W210 rear brakes for me, but the back part of the car is getting close to being finished.
