Re: [MBZ] Booting the axle

[Curley McLain via Mercedes]

All the expanders I have seen appear to be the same thing, with 
different paint colors/seller brands.   All chineseum.  I'll have to 
look at Diesel giant and see if he has any better boots.



Mitch Haley via Mercedes 
January 25, 2020 at 12:02 PM


Oh, I thought you got the Diesel Giant expander and a bunch of Advance 
Auto Dorman boots. I always thought of Dorman as 'good enough for an 
emergency' parts, due to the Dorman supplies racks I see by the door 
at the FLAPS.


Mitch.


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Re: [MBZ] Booting the axle

[Mitch Haley via Mercedes]

Curley McLain via Mercedes wrote:
It was sold as a kit with the expander, 12 boots, 12 grease packets and 
24 clamps.   How can you say they weren't made to be expanded?  But yes, 
I'd say the quality was mediocre.  The pictures of the flexx boot look 
like better stuff.


Oh, I thought you got the Diesel Giant expander and a bunch of Advance Auto 
Dorman boots. I always thought of Dorman as 'good enough for an emergency' 
parts, due to the Dorman supplies racks I see by the door at the FLAPS.


Mitch.

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Re: [MBZ] Booting the axle

[Curley McLain via Mercedes]

It was sold as a kit with the expander, 12 boots, 12 grease packets and 
24 clamps.   How can you say they weren't made to be expanded?  But yes, 
I'd say the quality was mediocre.  The pictures of the flexx boot look 
like better stuff.



Mitch Haley via Mercedes 
January 25, 2020 at 10:39 AM


They weren't made for that, and are probably made of a resin selected 
for low price rather than high elasticity.

But you might increase your chances by boiling them in water.


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Re: [MBZ] Booting the axle

[Mitch Haley via Mercedes]

Curley McLain via Mercedes wrote:
the first 3 Dorman boots I tried all ripped at the small end when I put 
them in the expander and expanded them.


They weren't made for that, and are probably made of a resin selected for low 
price rather than high elasticity.

But you might increase your chances by boiling them in water.


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Re: [MBZ] Booting the axle

[Curley McLain via Mercedes]

124   I think 126, 201 and late 107 are the same. 210, 202 may be the 
same.  I think 129 is the same.  These are the first gen bolt on axle.  
you can use them on 123 if you get the ends that go in the diff.



Meade Dillon via Mercedes 
January 25, 2020 at 9:27 AM
Are you working on 124 or 123 axles? In order to use the factory tool /
parts on 123 boots, you need to destroy / remove the can, and then affix a
new can which requires a special tool to roll the edge and make a seal.
I've heard of skilled DIYers that have rolled the edge with hand tools and
gotten the job done without the special tool. There was an MB garage here
in Mt. Plastic that had the special tool, and quoted me hundreds of 
dollars

per axle to re-boot. A used axle with good boots at $25 or $50 was a much
better deal.

No idea on the 124, might be similar?
-
Max
Charleston SC



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Re: [MBZ] Booting the axle

[Meade Dillon via Mercedes]

Are you working on 124 or 123 axles?  In order to use the factory tool /
parts on 123 boots, you need to destroy / remove the can, and then affix a
new can which requires a special tool to roll the edge and make a seal.
I've heard of skilled DIYers that have rolled the edge with hand tools and
gotten the job done without the special tool.  There was an MB garage here
in Mt. Plastic that had the special tool, and quoted me hundreds of dollars
per axle to re-boot.  A used axle with good boots at $25 or $50 was a much
better deal.

No idea on the 124, might be similar?
-
Max
Charleston SC


On Sat, Jan 25, 2020 at 12:38 AM Curley McLain via Mercedes <
mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote:

>
> I wanna look again at the parts diagram and see if there is a way to
> reboot with MB boots.
>
>
>
>
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[MBZ] Booting the axle

[Curley McLain via Mercedes]

the first 3 Dorman boots I tried all ripped at the small end when I put 
them in the expander and expanded them. Disgusting!  It was about 45º, 
so I thought later the temp might be a problem.  Today was sunny and 
near 60. so I set everything along the south wall in the sun and let 
things warm up.  The boots felt to be in the 80-90º range about noon so 
I tried again.  I did manage to get one boot on.  When the expander was 
released, it could not collapse completely because of the CV joint.  I 
worked the boot off the expander, then cut off the first 2 large 
diameters on the big end, as they were too big to fit on the axle. with 
those cut off, the remaining diameter was a little smaller than the 
axle, but slipped on and stayed put.  The small end was a little too big 
and wrinkled when I put the band on it.   I bought the extra banding 
tools.  It would be difficult to put the band clamps on without those 
tools.  In the meantime, I ordered 2 Flexx brand boots to try.  When I 
get the car on the road, I will try those on the spare axles.


I decided not to cut off the other 3 factory boots, but to leave them 
until they crack.   The new boots are shorter than original and the 
originals are 5-10 times thicker.   I am not sure how long they will 
last.   I don't think that you can get the boot over the diff end CV 
joint, so that one would have to go on over the outside end, but 
reversed in direction.   Then put on the outer boot.


I was ready to send the boots and tools back up the river, but it seems 
like the problem was temp.   So, I guess I'll keep them.   Wish I could 
get the 3 ripped ones replaced.


I am not satisfied with the expando boots from Dorman.  But for $40 and 
an hour, it sure beats spending $350 for an axle.   The big question is 
how long will they last.   It seems most of these are used on ATVs. so I 
expect only 2-5 years in service.   A for cry from the 20-30 yrs for MB 
boots.


I wanna look again at the parts diagram and see if there is a way to 
reboot with MB boots.




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