In doing a search, I have found that AutoZone carries rebuilt axles for our cars. Here is the listing:

DURALAST AXLESHAFT (REMAN) for a 1984 MERCEDES BENZ 300DT

Unit Price: $99.99
Core Value*: $35.00
Part No.: 7575
Weight: 15.0 lbs.
Warranty: LLT
Availability: Online: Ships within 2 business days

If I only replace the boots, it will cost $200 just for the boot kits, plus the boot spreader gun or labor to have the boots installed. For the same price I could get these remanufactured axles.

Does anyone have experience with this product? Sometimes the word "rebuilt" can take on alot of different meanings.

I know they will never last as long as the original MB part, but another 100k miles would be enough for me.

Thanks

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1976 BMW 2002- 100k
1995 BMW 325i 175k
1984 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbo Diesel- 270,000 mi

1981 Mercedes Benz 240D- Estimated 300,000+ mi Returned to the earth

Good luck with the AutoZone axles. I bought a set for my Pathfinder and it was missing the outer CV joint. The set I ordered for my Saab neve arrived at the store. I guess I was lucky.

Unless your boots are already torn and your joints are worn, it's still a better deal to have the boots replaced. The surfaces within the axle are hardened; when they are rebuilt they are ground down to un-hardened metal.

The thing that occurs to me is if they don't last 100,000 miles. Does Autozone provide the labor to change them. I think not. I went round and round with axles on my volkwagons. The rebuilts were lasting less than a year. I eventually learned to change the CV joints and bought Lobro (OEM) joints and got very good service from them. I would recommend higher quality than the rebuilts.

__________________
83 300CDTurbo 307,000
2005 Honda Element 266,000
56 Nash Ambassador Country Club Special 34,000(under restoration presently)

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/car-audio-multimedia/125099-123-install-extreme-dynamat.html

My boots are not torn yet, but they are heavily cracked. There's no way I'm spending $200 for the boot kits, and another $260 for the tool.

What are my options?

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1976 BMW 2002- 100k
1995 BMW 325i 175k
1984 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbo Diesel- 270,000 mi

1981 Mercedes Benz 240D- Estimated 300,000+ mi Returned to the earth

Cracked, awful looking boots are common. They can look like that for twenty years before they actually tear through.

Len

I patched the CV joints on an old Toyota once using this plastic stuff....the stuff you dip tool handles into, senior moment, can't remember the name of the stuff...just painted it on over the cleaned boots....it was still holding 2 years latter when I sold the Toy. Just a thought.

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Mark
1983 300TD Wagon
Even a broken watch is right twice a day

You can't go wrong with these guys:

http://www.cvjreman.com/

Might cost a bit more than Autozone but, at least you can have some confidence in what you bought.

Advance auto's "Parts America" site has them for $75 each with a $60 core.

Can you give me an idea for the price?

I guess I would need to call or E-mail them, as no prices are listed on their website.

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1976 BMW 2002- 100k
1995 BMW 325i 175k
1984 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbo Diesel- 270,000 mi

1981 Mercedes Benz 240D- Estimated 300,000+ mi Returned to the earth

This is the thread from the last time we talked about CVJ half shafts:

Concern over those aftermarket W123 "Rebuilt Rear Axles"...

Last I spoke with them, the boots cost $200.00 for the pair. They put new grease in, naturally, but, do not "rebuild" them for that price.

i purchased those for my 300D in september, and they have been running great. i hope that i dont have to replace the axles again for several years, but i guess we will see. i ordered them online, but getting my core back was a hassle, since the Advanced Auto store in my town had no clue how to refund me the core from an online purchase. took them like over 45 mins in the store. they called all kinds of people and it was a hassle. but i got my core back and installation was not bad.

i really had to replace my axles, because they were cracked and when it would drive in reverse, i would hear this odd clunking sound.

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Grey '91 350SDL 214k Dad's car
Beige '81 240D 4 Speed 254k SOLD
Blue '82 300D 225k SOLD
White '95 E300D 46k SOLD
Blue '87 190D 2.5 Turbo 315k SOLD
Brown '80 240D 4 Speed 716k SOLD
Beige '80 300D N/A 119k SOLD
Blue '85 300D Model 186k T-Boned

The problem with rebuilt axles is that they maching the carrier spaces and this removes the hardening. That is why they dont last as long. Someone needs to buy the flexx gun and rent it out.

But that is alot of $$ and the deposit would have to be the price of the gun just to ensure it gets returned.

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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

I think what you are referring to is called "plasti-dip"

Sounds like a good idea....

AutoZone has always been known for having the cheapest parts - which means the worst quality. I would never risk my half-shafts with cheap parts.

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600