Steve MacSween wrote:
I'm trying to get my head around a strange thing my local indy euro parts
supplier is telling me....
One of my '82 240Ds probably should have new CV boots, to make sure it
passes the provincial inspection (they're dry cracked from age, but not
actually split yet).
So I call the parts store and I get lots of odd sounds from the other end of
the line when they look up the boots. They say this year/model has
"homokinetic" (phonetic spelling) boots, meaning there is a metal sleeve(?)
inside that has to be cut away with the boot, and then the new sleeve is
tricky to install. That's what I got from them, anyway.
Price is not the issue here, the kits are about $60 Cdn, but they know where
I have the car now, a buddy's shop, and they are cautioning me that this may
be a job for a Benz specialist.
I have, oddly enough, never ever had to touch a CV boot until now so all
this is sort of Sanskrit to me. Can anyone help me out here?
The proper repair of a split boot (most Mercedes CV boots last the life
of the car unlike on some cars) is to replace the axle! You can replaced
the boot alone, but unless you caught the split within a day or two, the
CV joint is already damaged. The factor tools to do the job cost about
$1500 and virtually NO dealer or independent do them any more!
Used half shafts are often a good value - since the axles and boots on
MOST junked cars are still sound and it's easy to insure the boot is NOT
damaged and they can usually be had for $75. Rebuilt half shafts
($100-200) seldom last more than 20-40kmi. New ones will run $300-500.
Several description for DIY replacing the boots exist (labor costs would
make this repair prohibitively expensive). Lets see if I can find a link.
http://boostnbenz.1baddsm.com/DIY/CVboots/
Marshall
--
Marshall Booth (who doesn't respond to unsigned questions)
"der Dieseling Doktor" [EMAIL PROTECTED]
'87 300TD 181Kmi,'87 190D 2.5 199Kmi, '84 190D 2.2 227Kmi, '85 190D 2.0
159Kmi, '87 190D 2.5 turbo 234kmi
