how long will cracked but not leaking cv boots last on a 300d with 18000 miles ?

They will run a long, long time like that. My car is showing 234k miles and the boots are also cracked and are not leaking. Just take a look at them every now and then.

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Jim

If you are talking about those hundreds of tiny surface cracks, I consider that to be normal. I've never had a boot fail on a Benz shaft. These are certainly not Honda's.

Good luck,

I have replaced the passenger side boots last sunday. I bought the car with 223000 on it last feb, I gave the car a look underneath and the boots had stress cracks all around I wanted to replace them but held off . I looked for split boots at the time but did not find any .I have replaced shafts in my other vehicles in the past,so no big deal So last saturday I discovered passenger boots completely rotted loose finaly.Note the car has 235000 on it now So the after looking I found speedy boots that are 1/4 inch bigger than the old boot on the large end and almost 1/4 inch on the small end of the joint. So now what ? well let me try something ,I used the old part that was still in good condition under the clamp and the differance worked out fitting the new boot over the old end and putting the supplied clamp, grease , and screws and nuts on it, I found it to stay on after driving highway speed. This worked for me , sorry for the long write up. Hans

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A couple of Ford pickups F 150,250, 350 missed.
1983 240 D 256,000 miles ,auto, ac.

My cv boots were somewhat cracked, but overall were ok. I took a trip to FL(1500 mi each way) with bad rer shocks and springs, with four guys and luggage (weighed in at 4800 lbs total). I ten had a trip to TN (750 mi each way) and when in TN, I took an offramp very fast, with a lot of weight in the car, and about 50 miles later, I had a cracked boot, and failing axle. I was stuck 700 miles from home, and had to tw the car home on the back of a uhaul.
So just be wary... and dont take corners too fast, especially when heavily loaded, thats what killed my boot, IMO.

JMH

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (116k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
2008 ML320 CDI (199k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (267k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K), 1985 300D (233K), 1993 300D 2.5T (338k), 1993 300SD (291k)

Check a post by me 10-23-01 titled "rear axleshaft boot replacement on 300 td" for info on where to get and how to install split boots. My split boot is still dry and tight.

lrg

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LRG
1987 300D Turbo 175K
2006 Toyota Prius, efficent but no soul
1985 300 TDT(130K miles of trouble free motoring)now sold