Hi,

I have a 1980 240d

Both of my upper control arms are in great shape and are relatively (last couple of years with low miles) new. No clunking or noise in them.

The problem is that both of the boots that cover the joint that attaches to the steering knuckle are ripped apart and are starting to leak grease.

Does anyone know of a boot that I can buy to replace the torn boots without having to take everything apart?

Thanks!

This is not about buy parts there. You won't be removing the whole arm, but you can follow the pictorial on the rest.

https://www.dieselgiant.com/mercedes_upper_control_arm_repla.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=IZ6jX9PN3YI

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Consider buying new cheap control arms and using the boots from them to put on your upper ball joints. Yes this requires separating the knuckle and the ball joint but that isn't a huge job.

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"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

Thanks.

The only boots I was able to find were the ones for the ball joints.

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

Yes but I could only find them for the lowers. I think the OP is looking for upper ball joint boots but I'm not absolutely certain.

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"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

Keep in mind, the big failure with uca are the antiswaybar mounting point bushings.
RUST will send you sprawling across the highway without stable steering control.
Inspect them closely.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

You can get generic boots of all types on eBay but you need to have an idea of the dimensions you need.

I did find some boot kits, but they are expensive and most places they are out of stock.

The boot kits come with a plastic piece that goes with the small end of the boot.

I had the kit number and so on but when I attempted to post it, I managed to erase all of it and lost it.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

My mistake, correct upper ball joint boots are hard or impossible to find. I've never came across them.

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

Ebay Generic ball joint boots.

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

Exactly. I used to buy boots using the top and bottom diameters from various online vendors. My old source (Polyboots) has quit likely because of competition from elsewhere. There seem to be a lot of replacement boots offered out there at the moment.

Be careful of the kind of grease you use. I repacked my tie rods with some generic lithium grease I had on the shelf and it looks like it made the plastic bearing surface brittle. It cracked into little kibbles and left me with clunky steering.

ETA - looks like Polyboots is still in business. They make great replacement boots from tough urethane.

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79 300TD “Old Smokey” AKA “The Mistake” (SOLD)
82 240D stick shift 335k miles (SOLD)
82 300SD 300k miles
85 300D Turbodiesel 170k miles
97 C280 147k miles

Thanks, good to know! Anyone knows the dimensions out of their head for the upper ball joints?

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

See post 28. There is a picture of a Harbor Freight tie rod tool and a measurement to modify the tool so it can be used on a upper control arm boot. However, since your boot is already damaged it may work without the mod.

Lower Ball Joint Separator for W123

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel