Rear Axle Boots without Flexx Gun
 

I need to replace the rear axle boots on my '82 240D. Four boots will cost me $200 from dieselgiant plus $250 to buy that stupid Flexx gun for a total of $450. I am not willing to spend that much money for what will most likely be a one time job. I found a kit on ************** for $118 but its for rear axles that have the sealed can by the differential. Mine has the allen head bolts by the differential so that kit won't work.

There has got to be a way to put normal (non - Flexx gun) boots on the car. My Hayne's manual doesn't cover the job saying it should be left to an MB professional. Somebody here must have replaced these with regular MB boots before. Can anyone explain how its done?

Thanks,

Scott

There is a Flex Gun tool in the tool rental program.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=193555

Around here, I found a local shop who rebuilds them for around $100 (boots and lube only). There is also a shop in Denver which several members recommend.

You paid $100 to have four new boots installed on your axles? The flexx boots alone cost $200. That's a steal. I hadn't thought about that. I ought to give a local shop a call and see how much they'd charge if I brought them both axles.

Scott

It was $100 per side (2 boots). Again, this assumes that you catch 'em before metal damage occurs. I'm not sure I would trust these guys to repair worn out metal on an axle.

I looked up the flex boot prices some time ago. Seems to me it was about $20 per boot, plus you need the clamps for a couple bucks. I was all set to do it when I found this place. So far - so good, but only about 2k miles on them so far.

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/ARA-FB3001.html (these are the ones even though they say truck)

Here's the boots cheap. Even Amazon has 'em ;)

I called around today and got quotes between $200 and $800 to replace my boots if I brought the shop my axles. I can't believe the discrepancies.

Scott

Why Bother....
 

.... with changing boots for that much $$$ when you can buy new axles for less than $100 each..........:)

Because your boots may not be perforated, and your hard parts within may be still good. The parts within remanufactured axles won't be new, and may have run without oil. In fact, I'd bet on it.

You can't buy new axles for $100, or I'd be with you.

Can you PM me that information? I'd love to get a pair...just in case.

Where are you finding new ones for less than $100? I can only find prices over $250

This isn't a nice surprise to see at checkout:

Cheap remanufactured rear axle, boots installed.
 

I ran your car through the www.kragen.com (partsamerica) site; if you search key word DRIVE SHAFT/AXLE you will come up with a 1 completly remanufactured (Cardone CV Drive Axle) for $75.99 (internet price) with a core charge of $60. (If I remember the Instore price was 79.99.) Out here in California if you print out the internet price and take it to the store they give you that price. I had the same problem with my 84 300D the cost of the 4 boot kits was more than the cost of the remanufactured axles (and they come with a warrenty). I purchased 2 each of the Cardone axles and they have been on my car for 6 months now with no problems. I like to do it myself but it was just too much good sense to save $, time, labor and get a warrenty to boot.
If you can locate a local store in your area (Kragen autoparts is only one of the affiliates that Parts America has, different states different names). So, you don't have to pay shipping or shipping of the core. They have free shipping over $50 internet order but you should check with them as an Axle is a heavy item (you would still have to pay the shipping on the core return). In my case the Axles were shipped to the local Kragen store; the same place I later turned the cores. Please forgive typos I have arthritis and I hit all kinds of keys.

You inside type is refered to as anular. My car has one on one side. I think the outside are the same on all axles. The others are called homokenetic. I haven't done mine yet. I am going to replace the annular one with a homokenetic one that was given to me. From what I see, you could replace the outer can on your axle. Cutt off the old one etc. Then you'd have acces to take the inner boots off and replace them. Clean out the old grease or oil etc. The main problem is the crimping of the outer can's flange. I bought the MB Source kit. The crimper is a lock plier with rounded (ID) jaws.
Tom

Bought mine for $89. New.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/191042-advance-auto-you-area-new-axles-%3D-%2490.html

That would be the processing charge only if the order is less than $50 AND if payment is to be made by COD. The Tool Warehouse uses a pull-down list for these options, and their shopping cart form starts off with that one shown by default. Here are all the choices in that list:

I've always been satisfied with the service I've received from The Tool Warehouse. I think they could fine tune the checkout process just a bit so as not to present a scary "processing charge" to the unwary buyer by default - even when it may not actually apply to the order being made.