Howdy!

I have a '99 E300 TD (132K km). I was driving the other day and I
heard a
loud "clunk", followed by a grinding sound from the front passenger-
side
wheel. My brakes were gone!

I took it to the MB garage and they told me my front axle spindle was
sheared!? A new one had to be ordered from Germany!? Ouch!! $$$$

My questions is this: am I simply unlucky, or is this a common
breakdown?

Cheers! and Happy New Year to all!