Second Hand Mercedes-Benz Vario CV Joints

The Mercedes-Benz Vario is a rear-wheel-drive van and does not use CV joints in the way a front-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive vehicle would — it uses a conventional propshaft and rear axle arrangement instead. CV joints are not a part that was ever fitted to the Vario as standard. If you are hearing a clicking noise or have a drivetrain vibration, you may actually be looking for a propshaft universal joint (UJ), a rear axle shaft, or a differential component rather than a CV joint.

It is possible there has been a terminology mix-up, as the Vario's rear-wheel-drive drivetrain does not include CV joints. What the breaker may be referring to is a propshaft UJ (universal joint), which performs a similar function in transferring drive but is the correct component for this layout. It is worth going back to the breaker and confirming exactly which part of the drivetrain they are quoting for, describing the location and the symptom you are experiencing.

Across the Vario range, which covers various engine sizes and GVW ratings from the mid-1990s through to the mid-2000s, the drivetrain layout remained rear-wheel drive throughout with no four-wheel-drive option offered. Because CV joints are associated with driven front axles or independent rear drive shafts neither of which the Vario uses, no known Vario variant was factory-fitted with CV joints. If you are unsure about a specific conversion or specialist build on your vehicle, confirm with the breaker against your registration plate.

For a rear-wheel-drive Vario, the parts most commonly responsible for drivetrain knock or vibration are propshaft universal joints (UJs), the propshaft centre bearing, rear axle shafts, or wheel bearings. Searching for these components on Findapart using your registration and GVW rating will give breakers the correct information to quote accurately. The payload or GVW plate on your Vario matters here, as heavier-rated variants may use different axle and propshaft components.