Axle boot maintenance - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

vwnate1 · #16 04-07-2021, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by runnersigh

I've used the cheap Chinese ones from Rock before and they worked great with no issues - going on 3 years now without any signs of letting up

Sounds about right to me.....

In 1967 most of America was still bagging anything from Japan, my Nikon F 35MM SLR camera was made that year and is still working fine in spite of rough use for decades .

China can make good products, they often just don't care .

Look up 'good enough in Chinese' for some eye openers .

Were I not able to source and re boot good used German annular drive axles I'd prolly be using the Chinese ones too .

Diesel911 · #17 04-07-2021, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unkl300d

Years ago , a tech member by the name of BenzMac, stated that the boots not only deteriorate from outside but also from within.

Superficial 'cracks' or 'spidering' are just that.
Superficial.
Don't be pressing on them or spraying stuff that has solvent based vehicles.

You can spray 100% silicone spray into a plastic cup and brush it onto the boots.
That feeds the rubber and helps prolong it. That is what I do.

Don't spray directly because you might get it on your brakes and also the propellant or spray vehicle might not be the best for your rubber.

Some scuba shops sell 100% silicone pump bottles for maintaining masks etc..

Brush it on.

You can try GACO 100% silicone paint.
That is roof paint.

Just wash boots lightly with dish soap and let dry.
Then brush on the GACO.

The good stuff might not be available in CA. but the water base stuff yes.
Put it all into quart size cans for storage.
If you leave it in a gallon can,it will probably dry up.

Some members here rebuild them. research archives.

"reinventingthewheel' is operated by a former member.

BTW some axle shafts can be specific to your model.
Some aftermarket have 'proud' hubs that do not allow proper setting. you have to grind them down.

Don't sweat it.

Some oldies last forever. Some don't.
road salt reduces longevity.

I think that is what the Flex Seal is except it is thicker. I used a rubberized coating with a polyester mesh fabric on my nearly flat roof. The roof coating is going to be too thin.

The places where the Dorman boots started cracks was the outer ridges and right next to the Clamps.
The area next to the clamps is an easy fix because you can decrease and simply smear on typical automotive silicone sealant and it goes on thick and glues itself and takes the heat.

Rogviler · #18 04-07-2021, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwnate1

China can made good products, they often are pushed to make cheap junk by the American businessmen who need their deep pockets filled

There, fixed that for ya

vwnate1 · #19 04-08-2021, 12:13 AM

I was referring to reality : https://www.chinaexpatsociety.com/culture/the-chabuduo-mindset

The primary business of business is : Business ~ not making friends .

That's why there needs to be oversight and regulation .

Rogviler · #20 04-08-2021, 01:14 AM

Right, if said American businessman demands high quality, he'll get it. If he demands cheapness, he'll get that instead. But it's not just "the Chinese suck at it" or they DGAF.

Diesel911 · #21 04-08-2021, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by runnersigh

I've used the cheap Chinese ones from Rock before and they worked great with no issues - going on 3 years now without any signs of letting up

The Dorman Boots are made in China as is most of the Dorman Products I have bought in the past.

Diesel911 · #22 04-08-2021, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogviler

Right, if said American businessman demands high quality, he'll get it. If he demands cheapness, he'll get that instead. But it's not just "the Chinese suck at it" or they DGAF.

I think sometimes they don't know. I bought 3 or more Fuel Injection Pump Delivery Valve Sockets from the UK Laser Tool.

(I have a thread about this somewhere.)
I e-mailed the Company with pictures and showed what was wrong with them and asked they why they did not just simply copy the dimensions of the Hazet Socket.

It seemed they did not know about it till I complained and showed the issue.

About 2 months (after they fixed the issues) they sent me 5 free sockets (which I sold).

They are made in China. I am guessing that the Chinese made them as they felt like making them not to a spec or they bought them as is and put their name on it not realizing they were not exactly like the Hazet sockets. Anyway the fixed it.

If I went to some company in China to have an item made and they agreed on a price per unit I bet that Company would go out and try to find some other company that would make them for less and the company I think is making them would actually be a middle man.

Doctor Revolver · #23 04-08-2021, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carock

I think everybody is at the end of life era for original axel boots. You cannot repair them, they have to be replaced.

If you do need to replace your axles, there are places that sell refurbished OEM. My mechanic refused to install the Chinese axles because they have been known to fail. I went with a place in Denver called CVJ Axles and am very pleased with the quality of their work.

Shern · #24 04-08-2021, 04:36 PM

These posts invariably contain a few oblique references to disaster: "known to fail," "catastrophic failure" etc,

How exactly do these so called Chinese axles "fail?"

I've yet to read any first hand experience, or even a third party anecdote.

One of the first things I had to deal with as a new owner was a busted axle due to a torn boot. I didn't know any better, so I purchased and installed a generic homokinetic axle.
The next time it happened (4 years later on the other side), I did the same with a generic annular axle. No issues to date. The former has about 60k miles on it.

Diesel911 · #25 04-08-2021, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shern

These posts invariably contain a few oblique references to disaster: "known to fail," "catastrophic failure" etc,

How exactly do these so called Chinese axles "fail?"

I've yet to read any first hand experience, or even a third party anecdote.

One of the first things I had to deal with as a new owner was a busted axle due to a torn boot. I didn't know any better, so I purchased and installed a generic homokinetic axle.
The next time it happened (4 years later on the other side), I did the same with a generic annular axle. No issues to date. The former has about 60k miles on it.

Calling something a Chinese axle covers multiple manufactures that are bought and sold buy multiple companies under that own company's name not the Chinese manufactures name. So it is tough to nail down what company selling them here is selling the good ones.

There is threads that describe how the Chinese annular axles have had the differential end bolts come out on them.

Other threads were people had trouble fitting the Chinese axles. A few where the homo kinetic Chinese Axles had started making noise.

Some like yourself have not had issues.

If you drive locally and by the Axles locally it is fairly easy for you to exchange them under a lifetime warranty.

Cheapest choice for real Mercedes rebuilts is that Autozone and other Car Part Chains carry Car Done axles. I put a set on and about 5 years latter the Boots on them started getting small exterior cracks and I re-booted them with the mentioned Dorman Boots. But, the seam Cardone axles have been on the car since 2008 but as I said I changed the boots. And you would get what ever warranty Autozone or the others have.

Next is CVJ (company in Colorado) rebuilt original Mercedes axles and they are sort of the Mercedes of the axle re builders.

Shern · #26 04-08-2021, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel911

There is threads that describe how the Chinese annular axles have had the differential end bolts come out on them.

Other threads were people had trouble fitting the Chinese axles. A few where the homo kinetic Chinese Axles had started making noise.
.

None of this is "catastrophic."

Vague concerns about "noise" and fitment issues are not serious enough to warrant complete avoidance of non-MBZ axles...

I believe my homokinetic axle is cardone, the annular DSS, which I purchased from our absentee sponsor.

Diesel911 · #27 04-08-2021, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shern

None of this is "catastrophic."

Vague concerns about "noise" and fitment issues are not serious enough to warrant complete avoidance of non-MBZ axles...

I believe my homokinetic axle is cardone, the annular DSS, which I purchased from our absentee sponsor.

Not everyone is happy to have an annular axle have the bolts come out while they are on the road miles away from home.
What is catastrophic to me and someone and someone else is going to be subjective.

I repeated stuff I have read on this forum. I supposed if people want to they can research the threads and decide what for them is catastrophic or not.

Rogviler · #28 04-08-2021, 11:20 PM

On those, I recall it being SOP to take the bolts out, clean the grease off (which seemed to be the issue), and torque them good with whichever color of thread locker puts as much hair on your chest as you like.

Shern · #29 04-08-2021, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogviler

On those, I recall it being SOP to take the bolts out, clean the grease off (which seemed to be the issue), and torque them good with whichever color of thread locker puts as much hair on your chest as you like.

This is what I did and all needed torquing. No issues since.

unkl300d · #30 04-08-2021, 11:23 PM

mbzparts dot com/w123-mercedes-drivetrain-control/