Approx. 2k mi ago had both axle shafts replaced with rebuilt units on my '88 300 SEL. About a week after they were installed I noticed some clear oil spots on my garage floor. I traced the leaks to both inner boots on the axle shafts. No apparent damage could be seen on the the boots. The leaks look more like a wetting or seepage of oil. My concern is if the seepage continues the axle joints will eventually dry out. My mechanic has since replaced the axles with another set of rebuilt axles. As a precaution, he also ran a bead of rtv on the inner boots where the last set were leaking. It has now been about 1k mi. since this last replacement and leaks are back in the same place. My mechanic says he has not seen this reocurring failure before on rebuilt axles and says the shop has been using the same supplier for many years without problems.

I wanting to know a couple of things: Have any members experienced this same seepage problem on rebuilt halfshafts? If so, what was your remedy?
Also, the shop manager tells me that he has seen this problem a few years ago where the axle boots will seep but eventually stoppped. He went on further to tell me that the cases where he did see this problem the customers didn't complain and I'm just being to picky. Any thoughts?

Brgds,

BENZSTER

I am afraid I cannot actually help you with the real issue which is an oil leak - even though It does not make any sense ( pay the mechanic for work done) to accept that a leak will eventually go away. Even though I know this does happen
What I can and would like to offer is some support. Too Picky ?
the guy is nuts. Be polite be insistant, whatever. You did pay for dry axle shafts....

Hey Benzster,
I went through 4 half axles from A1-Cardone (through Car Quest).
Three were leakers, where the "can" fits the axle hub on both inside and outside cans. The other failed by clicking in just a few hundred miles.

I also had an axle through Rusty (buymbparts) that failed in 5000 miles (click).

I finally got a good used half axle, and one of the 5 total A1-Cardone rebuilts is still hanging in there at 3000 miles. When it fails I will not get a free replacement.

Rebuilt half axles are a joke. Get good used or perhaps buy a new GKN one from mypartscatalog.com part number K4000-97645 $337.55.

Don't change axles for checked rubber, only if it has cracked all the way through. I'm seriously considering buyiyng a 12 ton press so I can put new boots on myself.

Your mechanic is being an *******. The axles will fail from the leak, and besides, a leaker is a defective part, period. He needs some special therapy with one of these:

http://www.hotshotproducts.com/pm.htm

Best Wishes,
Bruce McCreary
(2) 85 300Ds, 83 300CD
Snowflake, AZ