Need some advice: Torn CV boot and 1500 miles of driving - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

okyoureabeast · #1 11-23-2009, 10:55 AM

So I need some advice here.

I created another thread happily entitled thunkity thunk in my trunk about my adventure in excessively driving my my car about 1500 miles or so with a torn boot that I discovered today

I know I need to get the thing fixed, however my days are limited as this is my daily driver and I am going to somehow have to get back to ithaca this Sunday.

I'm assuming the boot tore itself on October 14th at around 6 or 7pm as I was driving my friend home and I was in Erie.

So here's what's up. I am visiting my indy tonight, I am going to see if I can get the boot repacked and sealed with a fresh CV boot and oil.

Here's my hope, the thunk occurs very rarely. It only appears after I've been driving for awhile. If it helps when I inspected the boot it was still moist with gear oil. However, If I grab the axle and pull back and forth there is a bit of play in it. Can I salvage this and keep driving with a repacked boot?

I promise this is my last thread for the day!

#2 11-23-2009, 11:01 AM

Well, if it was thunking it's probably damaged. It might be OK for a while, but I think you will have to replace it at some point.

okyoureabeast · #3 11-23-2009, 11:11 AM

Hmm I have read up in the past about CVJ's axles and I have them in my phonebook. Right now my budget is nowhere ready for an axle replacement so hopefully a repack will hold until that day comes.

Jeremy5848 · #4 11-23-2009, 11:42 AM

CVJ told me that you can safely drive a damaged axle for many miles. Although Mercedes puts oil in the CV joint when it builds them, I recommend getting some CV grease at an auto parts store. Clean the outside of the torn boot as best you can, then squirt the grease into the torn boot and thoroughly wrap the boot in duct tape. Use cable ties at the ends to prevent the duct tape from unwinding. I was able to drive my '85 over 1,500 miles in this manner. You will eventually have to replace the axle; CVJ is a good source for a reliable one. In the meantime, ignore the noise and drive the car. You'll be OK and if the joint finally decides to break, it is unlikely to do any additional damage.

Jeremy

okyoureabeast · #5 11-23-2009, 12:14 PM

Thanks Jeremy i'm a bit more hopeful now!

I'm actually not driving it right now. I am ordering a CV boot kit from phil right now and overnight shipping it to my mechanic who works out of his house. I will drive it there tomorrow and have him put it on.

I'm guessing this bandaid should hold together for quite awhile. The 85's have homokinetic joints right?

SirNik84 · #6 11-23-2009, 01:55 PM

Done the grease thing. it works. get a spoon and spoon the greas into the ripped boot.

I just replaced the axles in Sharons 1985 300DT... must be the season for axles to fail. for what its worth, I got rebuilt axles from Napa Auto Parts each axle was $130 + $55 Core.

#7 11-23-2009, 02:23 PM

I think I paid about $300 (plus labor) for a CVJ half shaft when I had one replaced a few weeks ago.

swheele2 · #8 11-23-2009, 02:31 PM

My CVJ Axles were $150 + $75 core each. The shipping was another $20 or so per axle, each way (to return the cores), so that adds up pretty quickly.

#9 11-23-2009, 02:34 PM

OK, something like that. I don't remember the exact price. I had one replaced about three weeks ago when I noticed a torn boot, it hadn't started to make any noise yet.

Archdukeferd · #10 11-23-2009, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirNik84

I just replaced the axles in Sharons 1985 300DT... must be the season for axles to fail. for what its worth, I got rebuilt axles from Napa Auto Parts each axle was $130 + $55 Core.

I got a brand new set at advance for $70/side with no core 2 weeks ago. The joints seem to be doing just fine. I believe you get what you pay for and don't know how much I trust the MIC shafts/joints but the machining on them looked fine, splines looked good, etc. If they go a couple of years I'll consider it worth it.

Under $200 for parts counting RTV and gear oil, the actual replacement itself was dead easy. I'd prefer doing it before a long trip, it'd be almost as much work to rig up a new boot and if it clunking and there's play in it it isn't a question- the joint is shot. Yeah, it'll probably run quite a while before it actually dies but you're costing yourself $ in increased driveline slack and possible damage to other items. PLus its not hard to put new ones in and quiet down all the racket.

If you can get the parts cheap, I'd suggest replacing them.

SirNik84 · #11 11-23-2009, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archdukeferd

Under $200 for parts counting RTV and gear oil, the actual replacement itself was dead easy. I'd prefer doing it before a long trip

If anyone has any ideas on where to get axles for the 126 I'd love to change them before I take the car to Texas in the spring. Archdukeferd is right, they are so easy to change there is no reason not to change them if they are questionable and you are leaving for a long trip. Last I checked they only stocked the 123 axles at Napa

Lucky for Sharon, not so luck for me. LOL

I checked CVJ Axles but they have no prices listed. I don't like doing business when I have no idea of the price. are their any other options?

#12 11-23-2009, 07:19 PM

Call CVJ and ask.

okyoureabeast · #13 11-23-2009, 07:35 PM

Talking to the rents about this. Being a full time student sucks

I'm going to go the CVJ route. I want this done correctly and be long lasting. I feel like this was the one big ticket item I forgot over the summer that should have been done.

The rubber on all of the other boots is cracked. Hell if I pull it away I can see where it is going to rupture.

The issue now is time. I need this car to get me back up to school for three weeks. I'm going to get gear goop and seal up the joint with some duct tape on the joint.

The second it snows with that joint wide open the axles are done for. I need something to hold me off until I have a longer time off from school.

I am incredibly impressed with the price of the CVJ axles and judging from the glowing reviews I am pretty comfortable buying them. Instead of rebooting the things and maybe hoping the axles are ok, i'll just replace them all and call it a day. Both are going to need to be done since the rubber is almost done for.

This will be my Christmas present!

WhoWhat · #14 11-23-2009, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

CVJ told me that you can safely drive a damaged axle for many miles. Although Mercedes puts oil in the CV joint when it builds them, I recommend getting some CV grease at an auto parts store. Clean the outside of the torn boot as best you can, then squirt the grease into the torn boot and thoroughly wrap the boot in duct tape. Use cable ties at the ends to prevent the duct tape from unwinding. I was able to drive my '85 over 1,500 miles in this manner. You will eventually have to replace the axle; CVJ is a good source for a reliable one. In the meantime, ignore the noise and drive the car. You'll be OK and if the joint finally decides to break, it is unlikely to do any additional damage.

Jeremy

x2. You can drive on that thing for a long while, as long as there is some lubrication in the joint. The duct tape works - I did it. I drove for about 500-600 miles and it was fine.

Ian White · #15 11-23-2009, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirNik84

Done the grease thing. it works. get a spoon and spoon the greas into the ripped boot.

Can you explain this process further? My axle boot is torn which caused fluid (oil) to leak out, so Am I correct in assuming that I don't need new CV joints? They is no sound coming from the rearend just oil dripping out of the torn boot. Thanks in advance...