After reading your thread and several of the others, I can now see why installing new axles is a popular option. Those expanders seem to not be quite as easy as they first seem and are quite expensive for a one-off job. The cones need to be of proper size and need a lot of force. Probably not doable with axle on car.

So now thinking of new or rebuilt axles for the 85 300D. Assuming I keep the existing axles, I would try and reboot them , then keep them as spares for either the 123 or my 72 350SL. Amazingly, the original 350SL boots look fine still after 45 years!

Will need some advice on sources of axles. PP has MB ($528), GKN/Loebro $520, DSS & OPParts about $99. Then there are Cardone rebuilts. Then annular vs Homo and again reliable sources.

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5