ksorce

I just completed a brake job on my 04' E320 4matic and was dissapointed to see the outer CV boots were cracked. I say cracked since I can see the rubber is basically like disintegrated and has failed on the small side of the boot right where it meets the shaft. (more newer Mb quality issues)

Does anyone have the procedure for replacing the boots / removing the axle form the wheel hub?

Also I'm looking at a special aftermarket boot that is made of a high stretch silicone compound that can be stretched over (with a special tool) without removing the CV boots from the axle. These boots apparently fit a majority of cars due to their stretch properties and last longer than stock. Also MB only seels the outer boots, where this boot type can be used on both innner and outer CVs. Of course the joint must still be pulled from the wheel hub, but the axle doesn't necessarily have to be removed from the car, or the CVs themselves dissasembled..

What was also alarming was when I was at the Mb dealer today the parts tech told me that they often replace the steering knuckles on W211 when doing CV boots / joints!!!!!! Are these new cars that bad that in order to do a CV boot you remove the steering knuckle attachement and the knuckle is now toast, or are the MB dealer techs gorillas that just damage the knuckles when taking them off?

rhino89523

I am not sure about MB but on everything else in the world when the boot cracks I replace the whole cv joint. The only car I replace just the boot is on my buggy that has race prepped porsche 930 cv joints, but I clean up and inspect the cv real good before making that call. The 930 joints completely seperate from the axle shafts (Sway away shafts) with c clips and then they take a long ride in the parts washer before a complete inspection regreasing and reassembly. Each joint is 65 bucks wholesale and the takes a good 2 hours to polish and relieve properly on everything else I just buy the whole thing assemebled and ready but I havn't dealt with MB yet.

butter123

My front driver side CV axle needs to be replaced soon since both the inner and outer boots are ripped. No symptoms of bad axles yet. My question is, does the 2008 w211 4matic require any special tools for the axle replacement? My local european specialist charges twice as much for the replacement than a "regular" auto shop. Anyone had any luck with reman CV axles from oreaily's because the dealership one cost $1100 vs $120.