Has anyone rebuilt rear axle CV joints (W123 85 300D)? I am curious about doing it myself, but I am worried specifically about the Can assembly and the Can cover. The service CD says to cut the old cans open; I am wondering whether the new Can and its cover are easily assembled without special tools. Are any special tools involved or can this be done with a normal automotive set of tools.
I would rather know that my rear axles were rebuilt right and to spec rather than take a chance on used rear axles...

Did you see BoostnBenz's writeup on it? It's in the sticky links at the top of the forum.

http://207.210.95.34/~boostd/CVboots/

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Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

The cited post is a good guide. I've done it and you can crimp the can with auto tools and a vise. You do need a press, though, because you have to take one joint apart to get your new boots on.

I've done a set. I used uni-boots ,reused the old cans and swapped sides the axles run on to even out the wear. (Uni-boots cost only about $10 each.) The balls make a little pocket on the joint half that they run against. These axles had about 355K on them and I'm 99% sure they had the original boots on them. I remember seeing a date on them. I could have bought some axles, but I wanted to see if I could boot them myself. It's somewhat challenging.

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Diesel-guy