clive

I'm slowly working through one job after another on my recently-bought 96, and on Sunday I changed the front brake pads. I noticed to my horror that neither of the CV rubber boots has any retaining band keeping them on, and in fact while I had the car on the jack with the wheel dropped, the boot on that side had actually come off the metal part.
Of course I'll have to repack the CVs with the appropriate grease, but I was wondering what to use for clamps. How about a heavy-duty nylon tie-wrap? Good enough, and light enough not to worry the wheel balance? I suppose I could use a worm drive clamp...

njmodi

iTrader: (4)

If the clamp has been off long enough (where the joint has been exposed to the elements), you might have ruined the joint - and your best bet might be to replace the entire axle.

Tim96I30t

iTrader: (2)

I would try to repack if you don't have the money now for new axles, but changing them is the best idea. Yes tie wraps will work, many on the org have used them on axles to keep the cv boot in place.

99grnmaxgxe

iTrader: (11)

+1 on the tie wraps. Clamps are also cheap too.

clive

Thanks for the heads-up, I'll use tie-wraps. Muscular ones...
I think it was the a***oles in the repair shop (1 week or so back) that took the clamps off and failed to replace them. The same people (trying to restrain my language here) who wrecked the a/c compressor by abruptly discharging the Freon to air, who forgot to replace the connector in the alternator, who took three attempts to fix the oil leaks, who left three other sensors hanging in the engine bay, disconnected, and the whole car filthy... so hopefully I've caught the CV problem in time. No sign of any 'knock on lock', at least.

njmodi

iTrader: (4)

^^^ I'd say it's time to find a new shop - or to start doing the work yourself. You surely can't be much worse at it than the shop you use

Tim96I30t

iTrader: (2)

Why did you keep going there? A friend......not a good mechanic anyway