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

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

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.

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Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

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

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

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.

__________________
Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

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

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The Golden Rule

1984 300SD (bought new, sold it in 1988, bought it back 13 yrs. later)

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

__________________
Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

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

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-James

'85 280GE...sold
'96 Impala SS ~ 6-speed 396
'14 Cadillac Vagon. . . . . . . . . . "Life without knowledge is death in disguise." - Hans-Peter Geerdes

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.

Bought mine for $89. New.
Advance Auto in you Area? NEW Axles = $90

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1989 300E 144K

Well, I'll be.

That's just plain too cheap. But I assume that they are still working for you. I wonder if they still sell them for that price, but assume that my 210 axles aren't in the same category.

I Emailed Advanced Auto parts all of those numbers and the brand name. Hope they come back with a + answer. What was got me is that Advanced Auto parts is also connected with Parts America which is connected to the Kragen autoparts where I bought my rebuilt axles. The closest Advanced Auto parts (westren autoparts) to me is 176 miles away.
Sent the same info (brand and part number) for those $88-$89 NEW axles to Parts America customer service to day 10-01-07 I hope they will take the time and answer.

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

After changing my ATF and rear diff fluid today, I noticed my rear boots were pretty worn and cracking. I was doing some research on the forums, and actually found the NEW axles even cheaper than what was mentioned above and on another thread.

http://********.com/dbphp/mfr,GSP,Drivetrain,2288,CV%2BHalf%2BShaft%2BAssembly

Does this seem like the correct part? I obtained the part information from this thread:

Advance Auto in you Area? NEW Axles = $90

Can anyone confirm? If this is correct, than it would be only $70 shipped if you ordered a set.

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1985 300SD - 167k miles
1992 F350 7.3 (Soon to be converted to 2 tank Veggy/WMO)

Read the fine print CAREFULLY! That Cardone axle is not NEW, its remanfactured. Sure its a good price, but not if you have to do the job twice.

Thank you, I'll stick with CVJ.

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84 300DT Puke Yellow. Totalled after 438,000
84 300DT Orient Red. 169,000 (actual mileage may vary)
2002 Explorer EB (wife's)