I've had decent luck with AZ reman parts, just don't go for the cheapest units they carry. $100/axle isn't bad at all...

What's the cost per pair shipped frmo CVJ?

When I needed axles for my '84 300D I got one from Carquest for $69 and one from Pep Boys for $99. The $99 one crapped out right after installation. I got another from Carquest and they have been trouble free for 30K.

Word of caution: The axle retaining bolts that hold the outer CV to the wheel hub have a sleeve and a washer on them. That washer is ONE TIME USE ONLY! No one ever replaces them but they are supposed to. I found out the hard way that the bolt can be tightened down hard on the sleeve but the washer will be loose and the axle will be loose in its splined hub. Not good. I found the problem 2000 miles from home and the quick fix was to swap the washers, installing them backwards. They have been fine so far but I ordered the correct part. The part number I ordered was 115 357 06 75.

RT

Hit Person, the cost to buy two CVJ axles and ship them from Denver to California was $284.00 plus $15.90. There was a $100 refundable core charge (which was credited to my credit card in about two weeks) and my cost to UPS the old axles back to Denver was $22.29.

Rwthomas1, thank you for supplying the correct part number for the washers that go on the outside bolt. I was never able to find them so I turned the old ones over and reused them. Where were you able to buy the washers?

Jeremy

I ordered the washers from the local MB dealer. I got 4 of them just in case. They were pretty cheap. Check the part number, its whats on the bag so I am assuming its correct. RT

If you can rebuild the old part I say go for it even if it's a little bit more. When you get someone elses rebuilt part you never know whats going to happen with it. If it's your old one it should be a smooth job.

Well, I took my spare CV shaft to Rocky Mountain Driveline today, and they say they cannot rebuild them. Apparently they cannot remove the joints without grinding off the welds on the outside case, and they claim they have liability issues with that. Of course they cannot replace the boots without removing the joints. I checked around for split boots and those are not made for the W123. I'm faced with buying a rebuilt shaft, and it may have to be AutoZone.

Hey, Old - I'd just keep the money in town and go with the CVJ rebuilds.

They're great units and the service can't be beat.

Wes

This is a long shot, but J.C. Whitney used to list split boots for 115 axles, but not for 123's. Thing is, I am pretty sure the axles are the same. Might be worth checking out.

This thread sounds like a CVJ advertisement but I have had the same luck. My one axle was shot when I bought the car. I got rebuilds from CVJ and swapped them out myself and switched the diff. oil to synthetic. I replaced the one time use washers and had to grind down one of the axle spacers to get the new axle to fit. I also replaced the circlips that hold the axles in the differential.

IMHO it is worth the extra $80 to have peace of mind and to know that you won't have to get back under the car. I have about 30K on my axles and they are still silent.

First of all, I would stay away from Autozone! They are using cheap chinese parts and I don't know anyone who has had any success getting any reasonable service from Autozone for Mercedes Benz vehicles! www.*********************** and www.thebenzbin.com would be my first choices if you don't have anyone in your area who could rebuild it for you. Bap import parts has been a good store for me and will use them again. Bap carries OEM parts and well known brands like Goettz and Febi as well as Moog. In my opinion, you really can't go wrong with any of these brands, they are German and American made and good quality.

rw... carquest you say.. got a part number for their version of half shaft.. i need a right side

Watch out, China is the largest economic power in the world currently... not everything they make is cheap.

Step-by-step
 

A lot of you guys seem to have replaced your axles in the past, and I was wondering if there was a place to get some sort of step-by-step walkthrough with some pics.

See this link

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156429-w123-axle-r-r-job-some-questions-3.html?highlight=axle

and look for randomly placed photos. Also read post #32 and the following comments.