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