Drive shaft boot hole

[dopeyferree]

I have found a little stream of water coming in from the back side of the motor on my 4.3L Merc I believe I found the hole, its in a large black rubber boot on the outside, I believe this is the drive shaft boot. How hard of a replacement is this? I would like to do it myself. Is it fairly easy once the outdrive is off. Plan to take it off to winterize it anyway.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Drive shaft boot hole

If you have water in the driveshaft bellows, then chances are good you have more work to do than simply replacing the bellows. Especially if this is salt water.

You don't mention what drive you have, other than Merc - so you will need to be a little more specific. If you go to the top of the page, in the "adults only" section, you can find the appropriate manual to help you.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Drive shaft boot hole

That boot is the u joint bellows.....
It is relatively easy to replace, however the damage sustained to the gimbal bearing, u joints & the drive itself from water intrusion may not, especially if the immersion was in salt water.....

 

[dopeyferree]

Re: Drive shaft boot hole

I have not had boat in salt water, previous owner had it in salt 1 time.

 

[Glastron_V210]

Re: Drive shaft boot hole

This job can be easy or hard, depending on the level of corrosion present, for the most part.

For example, the first step is to remove the outdrive. It'd be easy for me, because I've had it off recently. Some are very difficult to remove.

The next step is to remove the bell housing..this means removing the shift cable (Make up a tool to remove the nut out of 3 deep sockets welded together...do you have a welder?...or buy one I guess) hinge pins on either side of it. Sometimes the hinge pins are easy, sometimes they are brutal.

Then disconnect the clamps that hold the drive bellows, water pipe, and exhaust bellows. Pretty easy. Disconnect the engine side of the drive bellows. Pretty easy.

Now, pull the gimbal bearing with a slide hammer...and replace the ujoints on the drive input shaft. My advice is to use the best parts you can find. Sierra stuff worked ok for me so far.

Install a new gimbal bearing with a driving tool. I made one from a 4X4, but you can buy the right tool.

CHECK ALLIGNMENT. Please. You need an allignment tool, but it's something you should have anyway.


Now, the fun part. Get some bellows adheisive and slather it on the engine side of the drive bellows and clamp it up.

The hard part is to now do the other end (Bell housing end). You have to get the adhiesive on (Don't worry if it skins up, it is actually supposed to do this) and then tighten up the clamp on the bell housing nd. Trust me, it sound easier than it is. It IS doable though.

Then assemble in the reverse order from there. You will likely have to adjust the shift cable (Because you disturbed it) which is sometimes tough as well.

Hope that description helps.


Chay