W123 upper ball joint boot
 

I accidentally damaged an upper ball joint grease boot on a '82 300D. Anyone have a recommendation for a replacement? One option that I am considering is buying a cheap UCA and just transferring the boot.

Others have used boots from this company
Universal Polyurethane Dust Boot Replacements - Energy Suspension
for lower ball joints

I always use polyurethane boots. I swap out the cheap, thin rubber boots that come on new ball joints. If a ball joint is still tight, I simply re-boot. I first flow new grease thru (if it has a grease port, can often drill & install one if not). On my 300D's, I recall using left-over boots from an Energy Suspension set for a 60's Dodge Dart (PN 9.xxx), but you can find some on the Autozone shelf mostly GM (PN 3.xxx), or buy on ebay or rock. Polyurethane is one of my go-to materials in car maintenance, along w/ Viton, stainless, silicone brake fluid, Evans coolant, ... Costs more but makes lasts longer.

I have always been reluctant to do that with sealed joints. But maybe it's a good idea, regardless. I just installed my third set of lower ball joints on my '82 300D because of torn boots.

Original boot part number is 1165860533. But they are NLA.


Energy Suspension boot part number 9.13101

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/382865-w126-upper-control-arm-ball-joint-boot.html


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Great. Thanks.

I wouldn't term a ball-joint boot "sealed". More a dirt and water splash shield. The poly ones just fit tight around the metal housing, with no metal ring like the boots that come on the ball joints. But, I haven't noticed the poly degrade and stretch like rubber does, and seem to hold tight for years. It is much thicker and tougher than rubber boots.