Help! I heard clunking coming from the rear of my wagon on my way home yesterday. It was on acceleration that I noticed the sound and it came and went. When I pulled into my steep driveway ...clunk clunk clunk.
I looked under the car and the axle boot is torn and there is a metal ring hanging. I looked up the price of the axle...OUCH! Can I put on a used axle?
Also when I was under there I saw tht there is oil dripping from under the rear strut. The leveling system has worked of and on and I dont mind the bounce, but the clunk has to go.
Thanks in advance for all the help.
Liz in Los Angeles

If the boots are torn on the axle you have to replace it. You can put in a used one from a wrecking yard, but it will also have lots of miles on it, unless it was a new one before going to the wrecking yard. And alxe from a 123 will work. Check **************.com they sell boot replacement kits. If you have the right type you may be able to just replace the boots, if the CV joint isn't toast.
But there are some shimes on the end of the axle where it goes into the differential. Make sure you put the ones that came from your car on to the replacement. And remove the ones that went with the other car. The local junkyard here quoted me something like $40 for an axle. The metal ring is the ring that hold the boot on.

If the strut is leaking fluid it is probably toast. Which may mean $$$. Rear struts are expensive.

Also I had some random cluncking in the rear end of mine 82 300TD that ended up being the sway bar links. Which are cheap and super easy to replace. Unbolt the old ones bolt in the new ones. You might check on yours too. The are white S-shaped things right behind the wheel. There are two rubber boots on each one. One on either end. If the boots are torn or missing you probably need new ones or will shortly. They cost like $9.

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YOu can't rebuild your axle shaft. Since the boot is torn and has been driven that way, I wouldn't trust it anymore. Too much metal to metal contact in there w/out lubrication.
You may luck out at a local salvage yard and come across a decent one. If your are a mild do-it-yourselfer it isn't too bad a job.
Very good advise above is to be sure and save and reuse the washer/spacer on your current axle shaft. And don't tighten the 8 or 12mm bolt too tight on the hub end of the axle shaft. That bolt will snap. Wonder how I know.....
If your strut is leaking, it's bad. It will leak for awhile, then it will leak faster for awhile.
Check on ebay for used struts. The come around from time to time. Heck, somebody here may have one for a reasonable price.
Your bouncy ride is probably the accumulators. It's always the accumulators. Also, check the hydraulic connection at the strut. Maybe it is just seeping there. There's always hope....

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John