Thanks, Eric, for the reassuring words. After refilling the differential and buttoning everything up, I went for a drive (to take advantage of the oil filter sale at Pep Boys). When I returned home, the boots had popped out and looked completely normal.

Jeremy

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970