It's too much work to take chances with generic parts, even if the parts are guarantied, your time isn't.

You're probably right... I guess it's CVJ, then. Axles for 300SD seem to be less common than others. I called CVJ, and they do not have axles for my car but offered to rebuild mine for $142. However, I need my car almost every day, so I can't really take advantage of that. ******** AZ seems to have the best price on the homokinetic axles so far - $186 + $50 core.

Any other options?

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84 300SD - bought in April '06 with 237,000 mi

In my dealings with half shafts on FWD cars, which are pretty much the same as these, once the boot cracks the axle is shot. Dirt gets in there, slipping a new boot on is a temp band aid at best. Before you know it they start making noise. Now FWD axle's have to deal with a lot more stress than our cars.


You can buy new ones for about $300ish each, or remans for about half that. Replacing them doesn't look to bad. I wouldn't bother trying to slip on new boots, not worth the effort IMHO.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Deniss I looked at your pics and noticed your in NJ, which means road salt. Check your brake lines I bet above the rear subframe they look worse.

I have had two brake lines blow on my SD. Lucky for me both were in the garage. I just took it out of storage this week, and stood on the brakes to check this. Sure enough the pedal goes to the floor, the rear pass side line blew apart. I replaced the other side last year, now they both are good!

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Oh man I'd hate to have a brake line blow while I'm in heavy traffic - I'll make sure to check that out. Thanks for the tip!!

Um... Hattie - where can you get a NEW axle for a 300SD for around 300 bucks that you mentioned?? So far I've only seen remanned for around 200... If you have a line on that, please do share

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84 300SD - bought in April '06 with 237,000 mi

On eBay, I found my exact axle up for bid. It's a used, previously remanned homokinetic axle. The description said the axle was remanned in 2004, with boots in "great shape"... It's going for some thing like 25 bucks, with buy it now set at 80 bucks.

Seeing as I'm a bit tight financially right now, I am thinking about this option... The boots look exactly like the factory boots on my "good" axle, which gives me some confidence. Also, the seller has 100% feedback rating, with 7-day return.

What would be a reasonable max bid for an item like this? Advice anyone?

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84 300SD - bought in April '06 with 237,000 mi

I forget where I saw them for that and it was a long time ago. I'd price a set out from Phil first, MB of North Haven second. I get a volume discount from the dealer, me pay list?

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I second the advice by Hattersguy. I also have am '82 300SD. I had the long brake line blow out at the junction right above the left rear axle. Like he said, you stand on the pedal before going out--failures in the garage are inconvenient, but no one gets hurt.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

About removing the half-axle... What tool am I going to need to uncouple the CV joint from the hub? The FSM lists a special tool that looks kind of like a press. Those of you who've done it (excluding the very lucky cases where it came out by itself), what did you use to break apart the axle from the hub?

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84 300SD - bought in April '06 with 237,000 mi