GSK Axles - NOT WORTH IT, no matter how low the price - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

tobybul · #1 10-01-2009, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cook

Tobybul...

Please give us details about how you slid the boot down the funnel.

Is your red funnel just a reglar ol' plastic funnel?

I tried the Dorman Flexx boots. Got one on, never could get the second one, it ripped up. I don't recall if I used Pledge or not. I may have used something like ArmorAll. It felt pretty slick.

The cone came from Astoria Flexx Boot. I did used the Flexx boots first but I did not like its fit plus I punctured it when I was reinstalling the axles because it had too much excess rubber. They were also softer than the Dormans. So I went to AZ and got the Dormans. They were slightly tougher to get thru the cone but very doable. It helps to soak the boot and the cone in hot tap water just before shoving them thru. It makes the boot more pliable. Spray the boot and the cone with pledge (astoria's recommendation). Hold the boot with a rag so its not slippery on your fingers.

Also, the OE lubrication is gear oil - not grease. I used Valvoline semi syn gear oil.

There is also a thread on this when I did it with more pics. ....

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=251168&highlight=flexx+boot

Mark DiSilvestro · #2 10-01-2009, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tobybul

The cone came from Astoria Flexx Boot. I did used the Flexx boots first but I did not like its fit plus I punctured it when I was reinstalling the axles because it had too much excess rubber. They were also softer than the Dormans. So I went to AZ and got the Dormans. They were slightly tougher to get thru the cone but very doable. It helps to soak the boot and the cone in hot tap water just before shoving them thru. It makes the boot more pliable. Spray the boot and the cone with pledge (astoria's recommendation). Hold the boot with a rag so its not slippery with your fingers.

Also, the OE lubrication is gear oil - not grease. I used Valvoline semi syn gear oil.

There is also a thread on this when I did it with more pics. ....

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=251168&highlight=flexx+boot

I didn't try to get the Astoria cone and Flexboots after reading about your experience.
Will Astoria sell their cone without buying their Flexboots? I quit trying to force the Dorman boot over the tranny-funnel because I wanted to still be able to return them.
But I have another W123 that may need boots someday soon. So if I could get a more suitable cone, I might try again.
Too bad these axles can't be cut apart and then spliced back together somehow.

Happy Motoring, Mark

tobybul · #3 10-02-2009, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro

I didn't try to get the Astoria cone and Flexboots after reading about your experience.
Will Astoria sell their cone without buying their Flexboots? I quit trying to force the Dorman boot over the tranny-funnel because I wanted to still be able to return them.
But I have another W123 that may need boots someday soon. So if I could get a more suitable cone, I might try again.
Too bad these axles can't be cut apart and then spliced back together somehow.

Happy Motoring, Mark

can't say if he will sell you the cone separately but I would think so since it is priced separately. It was about $20 IIRC. I could loan you the tool but for $20 or less you might as well get one for yourself by the time you send me a deposit and me packaging it I don't think its worth the trouble.

rs899 · #4 10-02-2009, 07:29 AM

I don't think there is anything magic about Astoria's cone (except the markup). I used a tranny funnel and it worked OK. I was too cheap to go out and buy Pledge just for that purpose, but if that's what it takes, I will buy it for the next ones.

I tried STP, liquid laundry detergent (both bad) and finally spray silicone which worked, I guess. I heated my boots with a heat gun on low. The technique probably could use some more experimentation to make it more repeatable/pridictable.

Rick

Mark DiSilvestro · #5 10-02-2009, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rs899

I don't think there is anything magic about Astoria's cone (except the markup). I used a tranny funnel and it worked OK. I was too cheap to go out and buy Pledge just for that purpose, but if that's what it takes, I will buy it for the next ones.

I tried STP, liquid laundry detergent (both bad) and finally spray silicone which worked, I guess. I heated my boots with a heat gun on low. The technique probably could use some more experimentation to make it more repeatable/pridictable.

Rick

First I spent an afternoon repairing a curbside-discarded B&D Workmate 400 that I've had laying around for awhile. Replaced the crumbled particle-board top-sections with some new 2x6 lumber, slightly modified to supppport an axle.
Then I used a long tapered tranny-funnel, after trimming all the flash and sharp edges with a razor-blade. Put the boot in a pot of hot water, but it seemed to cool while I was handling it. (Didn't think about a heat-gun)
I tried Pledge but it didn't seem to work that well. (Maybe I had the wrong flavor - there's several different Pledges availible)
Then 90-wt gear oil, which was plenty slippery, but the boot kept slipping back and I wasn't certain the boot would ever get past the top of the funnel without splitting or snagging on the inner cup of the joint. So I quit before I had to add the cost of a wasted boot to my axle replacement.
At least I now have a useable Workmate!

Happy Motoring, Mark

rs899 · #6 10-02-2009, 09:32 AM

Those Dorman boots are plenty tough. The first one went fairly well, but the second got hung up with the small end stretched on the funnel only about two inches from the bottom. Had help from my wife, but we couldn't get it to slide. It stayed stretched like that for about an hour until I took a flexible putty knife and sort of bent it so it contacted the top of the boot the width of the putty knife and pushed the boot around and down until it finally popped off. Lubrication seems to be the big issue- got to get it to slide- fast.

What's the best stuff to use- how about ky jelly or astroglide?

Actually..I have some Ruuglide (tire changing lubricant) but didn't even think of that. I wonder if that would work? Might work on the boot but melt the funnel. If I could get a metal funnel.....

Rick

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