Cautionary advice on 4Matic front CV boot kits...
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 9
Likes: 2
From: Maryland
2009 E350 4Matic wagon (his), 2005 E320 4Matic wagon (hers)
Cautionary advice on 4Matic front CV boot kits...
I just had a bad experience with a "Trucktec Germany" brand inner CV boot kit that I installed on my 2009 E350 4Matic wagon.
Take a look. This is what it looks like after 3,000 miles.
I suspect this is due to the rubber being incompatible with the grease they supply in the kit. I have never seen disintegration like this before, except on boots with over 30 or 40,000 miles on them, and even then it's usually a single crack. I have installed many CV boots over the years and the install process of this was as perfect as the best I've ever done. No stretching while installing or anything.
I have replaced this with the genuine Mercedes boot kit. Both the older (flawed?) one, and the genuine one were purchased from PelicanParts.com.
I notice that the genuine boot's material is both thicker and stiffer than the Trucktec boot. Also, the genuine grease for the inner CV joint is amber, while the Trucktec-supplied grease was black (moly content, likely).
So, long story short, I would recommend people buy the genuine Mercedes CV boot kits, when needed. This is one instance where it's just not worth the savings to buy aftermarket.
Thanks for reading.
- fourstroke
Take a look. This is what it looks like after 3,000 miles.
I suspect this is due to the rubber being incompatible with the grease they supply in the kit. I have never seen disintegration like this before, except on boots with over 30 or 40,000 miles on them, and even then it's usually a single crack. I have installed many CV boots over the years and the install process of this was as perfect as the best I've ever done. No stretching while installing or anything.
I have replaced this with the genuine Mercedes boot kit. Both the older (flawed?) one, and the genuine one were purchased from PelicanParts.com.
I notice that the genuine boot's material is both thicker and stiffer than the Trucktec boot. Also, the genuine grease for the inner CV joint is amber, while the Trucktec-supplied grease was black (moly content, likely).
So, long story short, I would recommend people buy the genuine Mercedes CV boot kits, when needed. This is one instance where it's just not worth the savings to buy aftermarket.
Thanks for reading.
- fourstroke
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,225
Likes: 1,798
From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
Should'a read my pictorial topic before spending money on aftermarket.
I bought aftermarket boot from autohousaz, what is reputable supplier, but they don't test the stuff they sell, so they lost the part, I lost my time trying.
Present yourself as business owner (you do something by yourself, don't you) and dealer will give you at least 10% discount without investigating.
So with some trick dealer part will come just few dollars more, but will avoid your wasted time.
That said, I did have good luck with aftermarket German boots on W210
I bought aftermarket boot from autohousaz, what is reputable supplier, but they don't test the stuff they sell, so they lost the part, I lost my time trying.
Present yourself as business owner (you do something by yourself, don't you) and dealer will give you at least 10% discount without investigating.
So with some trick dealer part will come just few dollars more, but will avoid your wasted time.
That said, I did have good luck with aftermarket German boots on W210
Last edited by kajtek1; Mar 29, 2017 at 09:19 PM.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 9
Likes: 2
From: Maryland
2009 E350 4Matic wagon (his), 2005 E320 4Matic wagon (hers)
Should'a read my pictorial topic before spending money on aftermarket.
I bought aftermarket boot from autohousaz, what is reputable supplier, but they don't test the stuff they sell, so they lost the part, I lost my time trying.
Present yourself as business owner (you do something by yourself, don't you) and dealer will give you at least 10% discount without investigating.
So with some trick dealer part will come just few dollars more, but will avoid your wasted time.
That said, I did have good luck with aftermarket German boots on W210
I bought aftermarket boot from autohousaz, what is reputable supplier, but they don't test the stuff they sell, so they lost the part, I lost my time trying.
Present yourself as business owner (you do something by yourself, don't you) and dealer will give you at least 10% discount without investigating.
So with some trick dealer part will come just few dollars more, but will avoid your wasted time.
That said, I did have good luck with aftermarket German boots on W210
Thanks for the discount suggestion.
