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AlanMcR
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, CA, Los Altos
Vehicle(s): G300DT E300DT 230SL
Posts: 3500
| Leaking CV boot, I guess
I was topping up the axle ball grease on my truck only to spot some murky looking grease inside the right axle ball. The grease was pristene yellow/translucent grease when it was rebuilt last year. I have to presume the darker color comes from the CV joint leaking. No noises yet.
Can I just re-seal the joints? Part number?
How long do I have before I'm doing damage to the CV joints? The two greases seem to be getting along well. |
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Brent
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: SW Colorado USA
Vehicle(s): '13 Wolfsburg GTI
Posts: 1754
| RE: Leaking CV boot, I guess
You can just replace the boots, I had Europa do it on both of my 463s. On the 1990, it looked like they had been leaking for a while. No problems after just re-booting them. As long as dirt and water to not get to work on the joint it should be fine. |
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GwagenLover
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Winston Salem, NC USA 27104
Vehicle(s): 2016 G550 & 2016 GLE350
Posts: 473
| RE: Leaking CV boot, I guess
This brings up a conversation that I had with Mbenz shop mechanic last week. I am thinking I need to fill the ball swivels soon.
The conversation turned to rebuilding the front axil ends. He told me he rebuilt one in school in Georgia.
I asked about the boots. He said there were no boots in the new models. Again I questioned his response. He made it clear that the boots did not exist on the newer Gwagens and only seals were used.
I am thinking I like this as boots do not last too long.
Anyone know other than this, as it is an interesting topic.
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Brent
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: SW Colorado USA
Vehicle(s): '13 Wolfsburg GTI
Posts: 1754
| RE: Leaking CV boot, I guess
There are DEFINATELY boots on the CV joints. CV's are fairly high precision and wouldn't last too long without the right lube in a contamination free enviroment. I have found that the boots are generally good for 75-100k miles, that isn't too bad an interval. Some "mechanics" really frighten me  The more of my own work I do the more satisfied I am. I just don't trust too many people to do it right anymore and comments like that from an MB mechanic just reinforce my opinion.
Just to avoid "foot in mouth" disease, as unlikely as it seems I suppose it is possible the boots were eliminated, though it would REALLY surprise me. I know that my 463s and my 460 all run booted CV joints. Can somebody check the EPC on an MBUSA G to see if the boots are still shown? |
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pistonhead
Member
Date registered: Apr 2007
Location: Loughborough, ENGLAND, UK
Vehicle(s): Nissan QX.
Posts: 22
| Re: Leaking CV boot, I guess
I used to be a G-Wagen mechanic, I stopped working on them when the new G500 came about. As far as I know models thus far had cv gaiters on the cv joint.
Although, I would advise to have the gaiter renewed, you may temporarily drive your G/wagen, provided that the swivel is topped up. Regularly checking in particular after doing some off roading and more frequently after Fording.
Whilst it would be difficult to ensure grease will not reach the cv joint unless you over fill with grease or add to the grease some diff. oil. Ultimately the gaiter will need replacement, this is only a temporary, damage limiting measure.
Why was the cv not checked or renewed when it was last, built? |
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Brent
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: SW Colorado USA
Vehicle(s): '13 Wolfsburg GTI
Posts: 1754
| Re: Leaking CV boot, I guess
pistonhead - 4/22/2007 2:54 PM
Why was the cv not checked or renewed when it was last, built?
I don't think that the typical US G gets that maintainance done as regularly as they should. For many years a knowledgable service center was extremely difficult to find unless you lived in one or two locals. Then there isn't a very good understanding of the trucks by the MBUSA techs. I also do not think the service manual for those new 2002+ trucks talks about a front axle service beyond just filling the swivel balls with grease. Not everybody knows that the front axle is the highest service item on the truck, and hence the maintainence is generally just not done.
Fortunately this board helps educate, and I appreciate your comments on the CV boots  |
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AlanMcR
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, CA, Los Altos
Vehicle(s): G300DT E300DT 230SL
Posts: 3500
| Re: Leaking CV boot, I guess
pistonhead - 4/22/2007 1:54 PM
I used to be a G-Wagen mechanic, I stopped working on them when the new G500 came about. As far as I know models thus far had cv gaiters on the cv joint.
Although, I would advise to have the gaiter renewed, you may temporarily drive your G/wagen, provided that the swivel is topped up. Regularly checking in particular after doing some off roading and more frequently after Fording.
Whilst it would be difficult to ensure grease will not reach the cv joint unless you over fill with grease or add to the grease some diff. oil. Ultimately the gaiter will need replacement, this is only a temporary, damage limiting measure.
Why was the cv not checked or renewed when it was last, built?
Well, I did the axle rebuild. during the process I checked the boot thoroughly and found it to be sound. I suppose I should have re-booted it. Ah .. hindsight!
The grease in the axle ball is up to the right level and completely clean. The murkiness was not very dark, so the leak is probably still small. I guess I'll trust it for a while. The repair tickets are stacking up. |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| Re: Leaking CV boot, I guess
AlanMcR - 4/22/2007 6:32 PM
The grease in the axle ball is up to the right level and completely clean. The murkiness was not very dark, so the leak is probably still small. I guess I'll trust it for a while. The repair tickets are stacking up.
The murkieness can also come from gear oil getting past the axle seal. Mine went in the other direction - swivel ball grease into the axle oil due to over filling the swivel ball, so it's probably also possible to go in the other direction.
If you have long and slim enough fingers, it is possible to manually feel the CV boot to see if there are any holes; although that may only have been possible with the old style 19mm bolt head filling port. I think it is bigger in diameter than the newer style 17mm (?size?) hex key port. |
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