Hey all,

my cv boots on my left axel just blew and i need to replace them. I have the dorman easy cv kit with me and was wondering if these will work. The one weird thing is that the kit says they only work for the outer cv joint, but i was thinking of using it on the outer and inner. Will this be a problem?

I am surprised you found any Dorman split boot that will fit any of the joints? Is it the bolt together kind or the glue together kind and what model # did you get? I never used their glue together kind as I just do'nt think they would hold up but I could be wrong. I really doubt that the same one would fit both inner and outer joints as they have different dimensions. I have used the Dorman bolt together kind on both my inner joints and they are holding up well for yrs. now the outer ones are original type and they seem to last much longer because they are at less of an angle. I am surprised that you found any to be an exact fit I did not think Dorman made any for our cars although they should as there is a very big need for them. I bought something that was close to proper diameter and then made it fit by shimming it. The main thing is to close them up tight at both ends to keep the lube in and dirt and elements out. It sounded like a real pain to put the stock one piece ones on and there again you need a special tool they call it a cone stretcher or something like that.

I had that problem and ordered a boot.I found a garage that had the air tool to expand the boot over axle.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

I strecthed on dorman 614-001 universal boots on mine. Dorman does not list a Split Boot in their index.

However, if it fits and you pack the Joint and part of the boot with CV Joint grease (I used grease) it should be OK.

How about posting the Dorman part number for the boots that you have.

I used a bolt together type split boot on another vehicle and either it came with sealant or I used silicone sealant before I assembled the joint on the boot. It lasted 15 years.

If your Axle looks like the one in the pic inside of the joint there is a clip and you can slide the axle shaft out of the joint and slide new solid CV boots over the axle shaft.

Copied from my notes, comments from another forum member.
AXLE Boot Split Axle Boot
Okay I looked today to refresh my memory I replaced both my inner joints with the speedi-boot 03606 (the reason 03606 is not in their catalog anymore is because it's been replaced by 03608) it is a boot that is bolted together I have never used any that are glued I have had very good results with the bolted ones use them on a variety of cars. What you have to do 1st off is measure the axle diameter on both ends you have to cover and find one that exactly or closely fits. The m.b. inner joint measures 70mm×26mm the 03606 measures 75mm×24mm so you see it was a little big on one end and little small on other I made it fit and both are holding up couple of yrs. now. I used grease inside. Maybe if enough people would write the company dorman they would start making an exact fit for the m.b.s as Im sure they would sell a lot of them with all these old cars on the road yet. I m sure not everyone would not like the repair I made that is your choice it worked for me and saved me a lot in time and money. The main thing with the axle joints is to keep them protected and lubed.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

ill have to get the exact part number when i get back to the garage (on sat) but when i did the measuring the inner diameter seemed to be ok and the outer seemed to be pretty close.

the part number is 614-632. The fit it is not very good but i used rubber from the last cv boots to make it seat fine. I would not recommend it though. I am now looking for another easy cv boot options if anyone knows of one. I will keep this on as it does work.. but for the other outer cv.. i want to get something that fits a little better.

See the last paragraph of post #4. One of our members said that is what they used.

If not that and you don't have the annular axle as is in the picture I posted either the Astoria Flexx Boots or the Dorman Universal boots need to be stretched over the "Cans". Most people including myself struggled a least a little doing that. Some have an extremely difficult time.

The choice of the stock type Boot is complicated because the stock boots cannot be stretched over the cans and requires you to take apart one of the cans and press with a hydraulic press the axle shaft out of one of the joints.

There is extensive instructions in some of the threads on all of them.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Perhaps John will post his inventory status.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

yea i am truly shocked there are no easy CV boots for this car. That being said i drove around the freeways and some hills today and the boots stayed in the same place and no leaking. It's not the prettiest sight... but it seems it should hold up ok for a while. When this blows i think i will just replace the axel with some rebuilt OE axels as they are original axels. No clunking or noises yet... but ... probably something that should be taken care of.

Before I had the Mercedes installing one split boot was my only experience with CV Joint Boots.
When I first got the Mercedes the Boots were cracked and I exchanged the Axles for Cardone rebuilt ones which at the time were $73 each.

At that time mercedes and this forum were brand new to me and I had no idea on what could be done with CV Boots. Also I was desperate to keep my only Car on the road with a automatic transmission that my Wife could drive.

I am guessing the bulk of the people that owned older mercedes either had a shop do it and likely ended up with rebuilt axles or got the rebuilts themselves and chenged out the axles.

Apparently larger better equipped shops had the equipment to use either the Cone type tools or the pneumatic boot spreader in their shops as those things seem to have been around for a long time.

3 Weeks ago I insalled 3 of the Dorman Universal Boots on a 86 Chevy Cavalier This is the vehicle that had the Split Boot I had previously installed.
But the Cavalier Axles have a clip that you spread and you can slide the CV Joint off of the Shaft so there was no need to stretch the boots.

Note that neither the Chiltons or Haynes Many showed that there was a clip so you could remove the Joint. I had purchased a used genuine Chevy Service Manual and the parts manual on eBay and that showed the Clips. So that little bit of info saved me a lot of trouble.

This was my experience with the mercedes axles.
MY 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

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

So, I have to share this cause it may help someone out there. When I bought my euro 85, one of the PO's had wrapped the inner and outer CV joint with old inner tube rubber and closed off the ends with zip ties. I have no Idea how long it had been that way. I've put 5 years and 100K on the car and it's still that way. I have a new after market axel sitting in the back of the car waiting for the the axel to fail but so far have not had to use it....

Anyways, not the correct way, but could help someone in a pinch and you would not have to remove the axel to do it.

As long as the inner tube holds the lube inside as you have shown no issues.

You suggestion is better then the duct Tape that some have used in a pinch.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel