Noise in the rear wheel drive shafts (Mercedes-Benz E-Class W210)

The drive of each wheel consists of shafts and two constant velocity joints.

Hinges are fairly reliable units, but contamination can still lead to their premature wear. Faulty hinges produce knocking sounds when starting or reversing. These knocks can also be heard when moving the car with the engine not running. With severe wear, the knocking develops into a constant beating.

When knocking noises occur, it is quite difficult to determine which of the four joints is the cause. To do this, you need to remove the rear wheel drive shafts and manually check how smoothly and clearly the joints work.

After removing the drive shafts, it is possible to replace the rubber mudguards and the inner CV joint. Replacing the outer joint is not possible - in this case, it is necessary to replace the entire drive shaft.