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

http://dieselgiant.com/mercedesaxleshaftbootreplace.htm

Enjoy.

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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?

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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.

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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