Re: CV Boot Replacement (Altair 4)
I've replaced torn boots soon after grease starts coating the wheels for years and had no problems...If you drive around for months and the joint goes almost dry and dirt collects inside you're toast...but if the joint is still thickly coated with grease chances are very good that it hasn't been damaged...in my experience. You can get good german boot kits from Autohaus AZ for about $15-20 each (I replace the inner boot too while I have outer joint off. I just take off outer joint, then inner boot..leave inner joint on axle (they are not real CV's on the front axles at least, but "tripoid" joints and ez to clean with just solvent and rags/que tips etc) Regrease inner joint, slide inner boot along axle (dont' forget to tape over outer joint splines to protect boot sealing area for both inner and outer boots)..Then I clean outer joint, install outer boot and hammer on the outer joint by putting old axle bolt in and hittin on that) Rebuilding axle takes about 1-2 hours to do good job on cleaning and repacking joints...I use a ceramic tile nipper to crimp the boot clamps..works like a charm. Whole job is about 3 hours including cleaning grease off brake caliper, wheel etc...Dealer quoted me $410 to do both boots, $308 to do just the outer one!
So after spending $35 on boot kits and a few bucks on a can of brake clean and some solvent...you make about $350 (after taxes) for 3 hours work..not too shabby! http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
PS: Order all 4 boot kits..you'll be doing the other axle shortly..it was less than 6 months between failure of first outer joint and the second for me..plus ordering all 4 boots gets you free shipping for order over $50!
Modified by spitpilot at 9:02 AM 1-11-2008