Under the car today and saw this on the rear axle.

What is this boot and how do I replace it?

How difficult is it to replace?

Attached Thumbnails

 

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Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT

That's an axle boot.

Since your boot is nonexistent, you need to also replace the joint. It will fail if you simply reboot it. The usual way to do that is to replace the axle.

yikes - how much am I looking at?

I found them for $125-150
is this a DIY thing or is it something for a mechanic?

__________________

Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT

I don't think it's too bad on your car. I believe that I saw a wiki article on it here.

I suggest you just replace the axle, its alot easier than trying to put a boot on it... if your not going to try the "quick-boot" type of boots. then your going to be pressing off the cup, and then trying to get everything back into position and pressing the cup back on. the cup costs like 250$ thats allmost as much as a reman axle.

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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.

Contact CVJ axles, they have the best axles and service in the country.

I found a set from Kragen for $150 about two years ago. It was the middle of winter in Carson City at the time and I don't have a shop, so I paid a local shop to change them for me. I think the labor ran about $300, but it beat laying in the snow.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

Ditto!

Just did mine a few weeks ago. NOT a difficult job, just do a search here on 'axle replacement' or such and you will find plenty of help.

CVJ shipped the reman'd axles to Ohio in about two or three days and they were $142 each plus $50 core and ~$16 shipping. Good luck...

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Dale

thanks everyone,

I ordered a new axle assembly, not sure if this is something I want to tackle myself yet....I will keep everyone posted!

__________________

Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT

Zeke, I also ordered a new axle assembly for my 300CD I'm selling and it will come in this week. I should have a chance to put it in the week after next. If you don't have yours in by then I'll post my experience. I am a complete novice on Benz's, but I have done nearly everything on my SS but rebuild the tranny and do engine block work.

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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

cool eagle,

I look forward to hearing how it goes for you!

__________________

Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT