Flexx boots
 

I've heard that the Flexx boots, being made of thinner rubber, last only ten years, as opposed to the thicker Mercedes boots, which last twenty years. I suspect that for most of us, ten years is long enough. :D

Jeremy

Thats what they say about child birth.:D

Dave

I have done this on my 1981 240d! it works fantastic! what i suggest doing is either buying the "special" boot slipper over thingy, or using a funnel like that. this can ONLY be done with the flexx boot, not the mercedes boots. Flexx only makes two sizes of boots, you then trim them to what you need. and your done! it is extremely simple and it works fantastic. i didnt even have to take off my axel out of my rear end. One thing though. you see how he had a helper come over and help him pull it down? if you do it too slow you will get caught where the boot meets the axle and it will tear easily at that point (thats what i did) so i used a screwdriver to slowly pry it over and it ripped it allitle. so what you need to do is get a helper and push it on fast and make sure everythign is well lubed.

So what size boot is required for the axles on our cars? I would like to attempt this also, before my boots break and I need new axles. :o Mine are still in perfect shape, not a sound from them. I'll probably order an extra boot or two....just to cover any accidents... :D

And, for the lube grease, can you get/use the original stuff (oil) from MB? Or do you have to use something else?

I just used cv joint packing grease, i probibally would inject some synthetic oil into the boot after i was done. the passanger size boot will fit.

You said you did it without removing it from the rear end? How? Did you leave it attached to the wheel hub or differential? I'd consider this, but it probably gives better leverage to slip the boot on with it out of the car....

I noticed on diesel giant's site he used the bigger Truck/SUV (astoria 3001) boots rather than the smaller car ones (3000). I bet this helps too. Looked like they fit great on his installation....

I need to figure out if I want to tackle this....or if I should just wait till I have to.....my boots have "looked" like they will fail for 4 years....it could be 4 more...or it could be 4 days. Who knows. The reason I want to do it is that I know the axles are in good shape, and the astoria stuff is cheap enough for it to be worth it. I'd probably also put in a new differential mount and seals....

Extra Grease
 

I used the flexx tool. It works great but I found the grease supplied wasn't enough. I needed to add extra cv grease. The FSM suggested 300 or 350 grams I forget exactly how much. Please use more grease.

Like the guy said at the end of the clip... "If I knew it was that easy I would do it this way all day long."

The flexx gun almost makes the job harder based on this video.

i left it attached to the differential. but i will tell you this much. it is waaaay easier to remove the joint from the diffrential and hub and get it out of there to do this. it is immensely hard to push these things on. http://www.youtube.com/swf/l.swf?video_id=F17tFS6ofzU&eurl=http%3A//mercedesshop.com/shopforum/showthread.php%3Ft%3D205346&iurl=http%3A//img.youtube.com/vi/F17tFS6ofzU/default.jpg&t=OEgsToPDskJwgdffyfdOj0a_m7zEyk6f&rel=1&border=0

I think I will give it a try sometime in the next few weeks....I'll order the boots from somewhere after thanksgiving and get prepped for it. :D

I am still betting its a little easier with the bigger boots (3001 model) than the small ones....I'll be getting the bigger ones.


What is the best grease to use in there? Any best brand or anything? Can the oil still be had from the dealer? What do they sell?

there isnt enough grease in the packet to fill the can. so i would suggest some mobile1 synthetic grease or some synthetic oil shot into the boot with a needle after your done. (thats what mercedes used) i wouldnt suggest getting the bigger ones. as they will be monsterously big and wont flow the oil and grease back to the joint as intended. allthough i belive the effort involved will be minute if any change between sizes. Oh and one other thing. i would suggest zip ties to hold the boot in place, yes i said zip ties. they last forever and they wont fall off. go to your nearest home depot and pick up a few of those "double lock" ones and zip em down tight to your can. they last forever and are half the trouble as the metal ones.

I think I might use stainless zip ties....they have them at harbor freight. :D

As for the boot size....if you fill the whole boot up with synthetic oil do you need any grease at all? I was thinking if you put the boot on, clamped the part by the can, and then poured/injected a ton of synthetic oil into it from the smaller part of the boot by the shaft till it was full, then zip tied the shaft end shut.....wouldn't that be good too? Then there'd be a ton of lube in there. And when saying "synthetic oil"....what weight? Gear oil? Or a normal 5w40? etc...?

i would say a good 40 weight. you want it to be thin enough to reach all the nicks and crannies, but not so thin that its just water sloshing around in there. 30 weight would probibally do just fine.

I have been adding silicone gasket from tubes on my boots to fill the cracks for 2 years now.

I clean and cover everytinme I change diff. fluid.

1st coat didn't do much but very thin layers (like putting on lotion) since have covered all the cracks and added a new surface.

I don't think about the boot cracking and dropping brittle rubber bits on the inside.:eek:

What is the normal service interval on the boots anyway?