Early 03 rear axle installation

[SlkMerc]

Hello MM'ers

I am close to rear axle replacement as I hear a slight wawawa from the back. The guy I bought the car from works for a local dealer here and I got a price of $243 for the kit.

What I am after is this:

Many of you have replaced the axles yourself and I would very much appreciate it if someone has a "play by play" installation description. If pics are included all the better. My Dad has a rack that I can use and I have access to tools. I am trying to decide whether to do this myself or farm it out.

Thanks!
Don

[magindat]

Don,
Mine wasn't hard. It was done by Steve at Reinhart's, but I was there and helped and Steve showed and explained everything. It's really straight forward and pretty obvious once you take off the cover.
Dennis put up some pics in another thread here, somewhere. Do a search. You can handle it, esp with a lift.
Rich

[GreekGod]

...you mean the axle shafts, don't you? If so, you may need much more, if the wheel bearings have ground steel into the oil and circulated it into the differential bearings and ring and pinion.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

greek god, do you have any pics of your 2 dr 85?

[GreekGod]

greek god, do you have any pics of your 2 dr 85?

Sorry, no I don't. Just got digital camera about 1 1/2 years ago and haven't got around to using it much.