I just finished up a quick pictorial on how to replace the axle boots.

http://dieselgiant.com/mercedesaxleshaftbootreplace.htm

Enjoy.

__________________
1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

Russell, that's the neatest trick that I have seen in quite awhile.

OK, now the scoop:

Where does one rent such a "flexgun". I presume that nobody wants to buy such a tool.

Or, maybe you could put yours in the rental pool??


Another question:

The grease that was provided completely fills the new boots?? Or is it simply packed around the joints?? It does not appear that one package of grease would be sufficient to pack both boots.

Be careful--I used this tool, and the boots got ripped, all four of them.
These are universal boots, they come in some sort of red and white box and not specific to the Mercedes 300D which must have the biggest Cans ever on a car; the tool was designed for SAABs, Toyota's and Volvo's. I know Diesel giant is a good mechanic and I respect his success, but these are not as heavy as Mercedes boots, they are almost 50% thinner and there is a chance that like me you might get yours ripped.
(So which alley are you going to wait for me in, Diesel Giant? Remember first you gotta catch me.)

Diesel Giant:
Very nice pictorial instructions.
I wish you could include some pictures on how to take off the axle from the car.

Thank you

Thanks for the pictoral!

What did you use to install new clamps?

__________________
91 350SD
14 F150 Eco
19 Fusion Hybrid
11 GT500

Great job.

Also: if you switch sides when you re-install the half shafts to the car, you have essentially new "drive" surfaces in use on the balls and cage. There are "drivers" (3 balls) and "idlers (3 more) in the joint and when the sides are swapped idlers become drivers; and versa vice.

__________________
The Golden Rule

1984 300SD (bought new, sold it in 1988, bought it back 13 yrs. later)

No I am not going to meet you in an alley Maybe at a diesel service station ha ah.

In my semi-enginering opinion the boots are very well constructed and plenty heavy enough. They are only a fraction thinner than the Mercedes boots. However that does not mean they are any less weaker. They are more pliable so I think they will actually resist tearing and dry rotting even more than the factory boots.

Rubber is a weird thing. It all depends on the chemical make-up to tell if they will outlast the originals. But even if they only last 10 years, they are still cheaper and easier to do than the old fashon way.

AS far as I know the tool was designed for axle shaft boots, any. The tool clears the "can" fine. I took a boot and opened them up on the tool to maximum capacity and there was no tearing or failing of any kind.

My Jetta Tdi needs to be redone also, so I will be using this same method also. I will be the guinny pig for a long term test.

__________________
1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

Regarding the boots...

...first hand experience outweighs semi-engineering opinion

Time will tell.

Also are the axles really that difficult to rebuild? I know doing VW and other such german car components that they come all apart for cleaning, repacking of grease, and stock boot application.

Of course its not for anyone to just randomly tear down and put back together (bug axles will lock if you are off by one ball when putting the CV back together) but are these pressed together? Snap rings?

Just curious...mine are still in good shape so I am not there yet.

Nice writeup DieselGiant. Got a good list goin

What is a source for obtaining the boot expander tool?

Ken300D

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--------------------------
1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

quick question about the transaxels themselves.. my left side assembly looks like the one dieselgiant has the pictorial on.. but my right side doenst look like that.. it looks newer but the boots on both are cracked and the left side makes a clunking sound when i back up.. help

You can get them from places like tool source or snap-on.

__________________
1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

If it is toolsource.com, I'm unable to find. Snap-On can't be cheap...

What about a source for the boots themselves?

I know that one of my boots has recently failed as I can see oil spotting in the wheelwell.

__________________
But what do I know...

1984 300SD 256k

You can buy the boots where they sell the unit. They are only about $10 per boot.

__________________
1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/arafb5000pk.html

Ouch!

__________________
1985 300D Turbo ~225k
2000 F350 (Powerstroke) 4X4, SWB, CC, SRW, 6spd ~148k
1999 International 4900, DT466e (250hp/660 ft/lbs), Allison MD3060 ~73k

http://www.astoria2000.com/welcome.html

The company with links. I guess they want you to buy from Snap-on. A manual cone for installation is available. That could save some $$.

Will be interesting to see how long they last.

Dave

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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car