axles 300D 300SD - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

benzdude42 · #1 07-20-2012, 07:07 PM

so does anyone know of a do it yourself axle link that i can use? and a good link to a place to buy new ones?

Diesel911 · #2 07-20-2012, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benzdude42

so does anyone know of a do it yourself axle link that i can use? and a good link to a place to buy new ones?

It is sort of a buch of threads with accumulated knowlege:
DIY Repair Links
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/forumdisplay.php?f=82

http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/DoItYourSelf

Choices:

Buy New Asian Made Rear Axles
May or may not have problems with Fitment in the Splined area or area where the Spacer goes (if Spacers are needed).
The Annular type Axles have Bolts that go through them on the Axle End that goes inot the Differential. Those Bolts have been know to come loose after a Mont + of driving.
In the Past Fastlane has said the ones they sell have not caused issues the Know of; I don't recall which one of our Member siad that.
My own thought about the Asian Axles is if you buy them get them from a local Source so you don't need to hassel with shipping them back if there is a warrenty.

Send your old Axles to the company in CO (the exact company is in some of the Axle Threads) to be rebuilt; expensive but they have a good reputation.

Re-boot your Old Axles and during the rebuild fill them with the proper Oil or use CV Joint Grease (I did this to mine several months ago).

If you think you Axles are no good get another set from the Junk Yard and if the Boots are good use them or re-boot them before use.

Get new ones from Mercedes. I have not read of anyone doing that yet.

Note: if your Car has or you have access to Mercedes Annular type axles they are easy to install new boots on compared to the Homokinetic type Axles.

Mark DiSilvestro · #3 07-20-2012, 08:56 PM

As I don't want to redo my axle installation anytime soon, I got rebuilt Homokinetic (like the OE) CVJ axles for my 300TD and 240D from a local indie Mercedes parts dealer. Cost $165 each - about $60 more than new Chinese axles.
First, I tried unsucessfully rebooting my old ones with the tranny funnel method, and I hear it's tricky even with the special tool. The Chinese axles just don't have a very good reputation.

Happy Motoring, Mark

layback40 · #4 07-20-2012, 09:04 PM

Contact our Mod. ~ vstech, he may be able to help you.

Diesel911 · #5 07-20-2012, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro

As I don't want to redo my axle installation anytime soon, I got rebuilt Homokinetic (like the OE) CVJ axles for my 300TD and 240D from a local indie Mercedes parts dealer. Cost $165 each - about $60 more than new Chinese axles.
First, I tried unsucessfully rebooting my old ones with the tranny funnel method, and I hear it's tricky even with the special tool. The Chinese axles just don't have a very good reputation.

Happy Motoring, Mark

In the Thread below I guess I did not use the Pneumatic Tool properly but the finished the job with the Cone part of the Cone Tool. I am guessing the Cone is superior to the Funnel and cost around $30.

CV Boot Installation Problems with Dorman Pneumatic and Cone type Boot Installation
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/317950-cv-boot-installation-problems-dorman-pneumatic-cone-type-boot-installation.html

Mark DiSilvestro · #6 07-20-2012, 10:22 PM

After several days with my '82 240D inoperative while I located Dorman boots, modified my portable workbench to support the axles, then attempted to reboot with a tranny funnel, I'd had enough and didn't want to waste any more time chasing down & experimenting with special cones or other boot-stretching devices.
Having read here about defective Chinese axles, I went with rebuilt ones from CVJ-Denver CO. They fit perfectly, with no spacer hassles.
And got the same axles later, when my '84 TD boots started leaking.
If I'd gotten annular axles, they definitely would be easy to reboot, but if the CVJ axle boots last as long as the originals, myself or the cars might not be around when they need rebooting again.

Happy Motoring, Mark

benzdude42 · #7 07-01-2013, 05:06 PM

o'reillys sells cv axles with a lifetime warranty for about $150 and they wont fight you on the warranty as long as you did not cut the boots with a knife.

whunter · #8 07-01-2013, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benzdude42

so does anyone know of a do it yourself axle link that i can use? and a good link to a place to buy new ones?

Driveshaft, Axle & Wheel bearing

.

chasinthesun · #9 07-01-2013, 06:46 PM

Just finished mine last weekend ,never done the service before ,looked pretty straight forward,the trick I used to pull that e-clip that rides at the end of the axle inside the rearend was a piece of wire ,found the wire on the help isle at the parts store ,has to be thin enough to get through the small hole at the end of the clip ,string it thru the opening then take both ends with needle nose pliers and pull ,like yanking a tooth, what I like about this step is your not looking around for this little clip if it decides to sail off a pair of needle nose pliers whilst yanking,Kind of a berch to get back in .Youll have to get the whole rearend up in the air ,just use good tire chaulks and 4 jack stands ,2 is not enough steadiness for me.The car will need to be put in neutral so you can spin the axle back and forth to get a good view to pull these clips ,its the biggest challenge of the whole job in my book. $69.99 each at Advanced Auto Parts .CHINA ,Chore Hidden Inside Neatly Added.

vstech · #10 07-01-2013, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benzdude42

o'reillys sells cv axles with a lifetime warranty for about $150 and they wont fight you on the warranty as long as you did not cut the boots with a knife.

um... what's the nation of manufacture? 150 EACH? for new? I'll look into them and see what they are.

benzdude42 · #11 07-26-2013, 01:19 AM

they are reman. i want to say china, but they might be local, usa, with the ones i did last summer the spacers where to big and caused the cv axle to move freely in and out of the hub.

Diesel911 · #12 07-26-2013, 10:52 AM

I don't know if I mentioned it but in the first year I got My Car (Feb 2007) Axle Boots Cracked and replace the Axles with CarDone Rebuilts from the now gone Kragens Auto arts.
The stock type Boot lasted 3+ years and started to show cracks and I rebooted them with Dorman Universal type Boots; not the Dorman Stock type Boots.

But, other than the Boot issue the CarDone Axles have had no issues.

Mark DiSilvestro · #13 07-27-2013, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel911

I don't know if I mentioned it but in the first year I got My Car (Feb 2007) Axle Boots Cracked and replace the Axles with CarDone Rebuilts from the now gone Kragens Auto arts.
The stock type Boot lasted 3+ years and started to show cracks and I rebooted them with Dorman Universal type Boots; not the Dorman Stock type Boots.

But, other than the Boot issue the CarDone Axles have had no issues.

I've been satisfied with the CVJ axles I installed in my two W123s, with absolutely no spacer or clip fit-issues.

Othewise, for quite awhile now, I believe there's been a major decline in the quality of the rubber used in many aftermarket replacement parts, like exhaust-hangers and axle-boots, as the rubber decays and cracks prematurely - sometimes after less than a year! Finding aftermarket parts tht fit well has also become a serious problem.

As for the Dorman universal boots, last week I needed to go boot shopping for my '96 Camry and three of the four autoparts stores I checked only had the universal boots for my car, from $16 to $20. Those seemed kind of thin, cheesy and ill-fitting where it secures to the groove in the outer CV joint. Fit is more critical with FWD cars because the boot has to flex with the steering in addition to suspension travel.
I finally found an OE-design replacement at Car-Quest for $10, made of a heavy black vinyl-type material. We'll see how well it holds up.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Rocket99 · #14 08-11-2013, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

um... what's the nation of manufacture? 150 EACH? for new? I'll look into them and see what they are.

I got a Cardone reman pair that were noisy as hell the first 10ft of milage.

I will never buy Cardone anything again, what a hassle to change these.... those Cardone people are taking used shafts, rebooting and selling as "rebuilt".

Then I got a new presumably Chinese pair. Now just under a year later I see one of the outboard cans is throwing its lubricant off, a big blob of it is stuck on the parking brake cable next to the seam in the can. We know where that is going.

Ok, round two on that little hassle of exchanging these axles.

vstech: any results from your investigation of OReilly axles?They call them Master Pro .... $128 for new (no core charge at least)

The Autozone similarly priced versions is called Duralast Gold.... $99 for the one with no core charge...

vstech · #15 08-11-2013, 07:05 PM

I did not get any oreilly's axles... no information on them.

I'm happy with the results of rebooting the undamaged MB originals. 4 years, and STILL no leaks or complaints from any of the members with my rebooted axles!