Dodged a Bullit the other Day.... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 10-02-2002, 04:37 PM

My 300D dodged the bullit of death the other day at the shop. I took her in for clear oil was leaking from the rear, and well, it turned out to be the diff seals. No biggie, however, when re-installing the axle shafts, the boots, which were on their way out started to crack! If this had happend on the road, this would have destroyed the axles, some $1200 a side to convert to the new flange types! WOW, I got away with just having to get new boots, thus saving the old shafts! What would have been the sure economical death of my car, just wound up being a much smaller expense.... Do yourselves a favor, take care of those boots!

engatwork · #2 10-02-2002, 10:22 PM

"some $1200 a side to convert to the new flange types"

Sounds like someone is feeding you a line Randall. You can purchase rebuilt have shafts from $90/side to $250/side. Where in the world did you come up with the $1200/side price?

Ken300D · #3 10-03-2002, 06:49 AM

If you go to a Mercedes dealer I bet that's about the price they will charge for parts and labor.

Well, even then its a little too high for that. It would be interesting to go into a full service MB dealer and find out what they would charge for this job.

I always like to know how much to pay myself for DIY.

Ken300D

84300DT · #4 10-03-2002, 08:17 AM

i paid $277 for 2 reconditioned shafts. got 5000 mi on them now and still going strong.

#5 10-03-2002, 10:24 AM

Engatwork, that is what a genuine Mercedes Service Center will charge, with labor, using correct parts from the blue and white box. Keep in mind, the diff gears have to be replaced, for the new shafts have flanges. And all this is coming from a friend who does the work at a Mercedes Dealer... If you want it, you'll pay for it, as the adage goes!

engatwork · #6 10-03-2002, 10:44 AM

I recently replaced the 1/2 shafts on my TD and just replaced them with rebuilt ones. I did not do anything with the diff gears and I'm not sure about the flanges. I did not update any flanges.

#7 10-03-2002, 11:02 AM

Well, if you bought rebuilt units, they were the "old" non-flange style. If you were to buy brand new shafts, a flanged conversion would have to be done, hense the price. If you have a dealer do the job, they will not use rebuilt units. Rebuilts are for the indies and hacks only. I was lucky, my shafts are mint, and my boots are new, so, I think I'm safe. If I had to get new ones, either a flange conversion or rebuilts are the only option.

84300DT · #8 10-03-2002, 03:52 PM

should mention the re-conditioned shafts i got were the 'old' style not the flanged type.
anyhow i guess time and miles will be the test of how long they last but performance and noise wise i'm happy with them sofar after 5,000 mi.

engatwork · #9 10-03-2002, 04:06 PM

Considering the "old" style lasted almost 20 years I think I will stay with them too.

#10 10-03-2002, 05:27 PM

Its not that the old are any worse than the new, just they are not avail.... If you were to buy new ones, then you would have to convert, that's it....

Ken300D · #11 10-03-2002, 06:43 PM

A bolt-up aftermarket half-shaft that is a new part is available from Performance Products. Don't know what the price is now but I'd guess $325 each. Catch them on the periodic 15% off sale.

They have a redesign that replaces the crimped cans with a bolt-together can. This makes replacing the boot possible with normal tools.

I contributed some pictures to a thread on this about a year old.

Ken300D