Rear axleshaft boot replacement on 300 td

[lrg]

FYI to anyone who has dried and cracked rubber boots that cover the CV joints on the rear axle shafts. I replaced a badly leaking boot on my 300TDT with a split boot from Cosmos Int'l 6 months and 25,000 miles ago and it is still solid and not leaking. Several people warned me that the split boots don't work but my experience has been great. The key, I think, is the get the shaft, the boot, and especially your hands REALLY clean before you glue the boot together. Any grease in the seam and you're done for. I carefully cleaned all around the shaft the washed both the boot and my hands with solvent to remove all grease. Then glue the boot together, let it harden as per the instructions and complete the job. It sure beats putting in new shafts!

[engatwork]

Did you remove the old boot or just install the new one over it?

[lrg]

I removed the old boot. It's pretty messy but the new boot wouldn't fit over it plus you'd only be sealing a lot of dirt inside. There was a metal ring inside the original boot that I did leave inside. I think this is to help support the boot shape. One other trick I used was to wrap really thin wire around a couple of the grooves around the boot right after I glued it. I twisted it snug to hold the boot firmly together until the glue dried then cut the wire off. I think this helped to give me a good seal along the whole seam.

[be459]

LRG,

Where can I find the Cosmos boots?

David

[lrg]

Cosmos International Inc.
Elbow Lake, Mn. 56531

218-685-4473

I installed CQB-951 Kit Box on my 1985 300 TDT @ $19.95

The instructions say it's not recommended for the inside boots but for $19.95 I'd give it a try anyway if you're trying to do an inside boot. I believe the boots for inside and outside are identical. Good luck!

[be459]

LRG,

Thank you for the info.

David