both cv-boot broke, but so far hasn't heard any click,
Can re-grease save the joints?
or shall I replace the boots or the whole drive axle?
Thanks!

 

Its a lot easier to just replace the whole axle. If the boots been broken and youve driven with it like that, then its already contaminated. Best bet would be to replace the whole axle. Theyre cheap and easy enough to replace.

 

Thanks, but I don't want to replace it right now and delay the replacement as late as possible(save some money for school) .
what symptoms indicate the time that I have to replace it otherwise it will break down?

 

If they are not clicking yet, you can get the boot KIT for less than 8 dollars from napa. High quality boot, not universal, with grease clamps and circlips. The only good reason to replace the whole thing when its quiet is if your paying for labor.
You can pull a shaft rebuild one end and reinstall in 45 minutes easy. If they are quiet there has been no damage done.

 

Are you talking about those split boots? Those things are absolute crap.

 

You need to take the half shaft out, take the CV joint apart and clean it. Then regrease, put the boot on and then put back together. Don't use a split boot they will leak. You can split the CV apart with a vise, hammer and a piece of wood. Don't hit the CV directly with the hammer.

good luck.

 

thanks for these advices, But I don't have a space and tools to work with. This is too big a job for me. I can replace spark plugs and do oil change by myself, but take off CV-joint is too big for me

 

I see ads for CV boot replacement at $40 all the time. It's usually $100 for the axle (I had 3 or 4 done). I've never done just the boot so don't how much care they put in. I would imagine they'll pull off the old boot and pop a new on in, maybe degrease and regrease in between.

 

Heck no not a split boot, those are a waste of time and money.

http://partimages.genpt.com/partimages/570187.jpg

http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPage...+Left+Outer%29

 

Plus the cost of the tool to spread open the boot to clear the CV joint, plus new grease.

 

Plus the cost of the tool to spread open the boot to clear the CV joint, plus new grease.

You don't use a tool to spread the boot, you remove the joint from the shaft. Also, if you followed the link and read my first post, grease is included.

Racer, if your lazy and are inventing reasons not to do it, just say so.

 

Here is a link to a cv boot replacement with pictures:

http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/401

 

I just got finished with this job today, definitely not for the beginner. If you don't want to do it yourself, and want to put it off, you should go with the entire new shaft. The labor costs will be less with a new shaft, plus putting it off means your CVs will almost certainly become contaminated.

 

I agree that a split boot is not the answer.

But if you want to get by for a few months or a year (until you have the money for new/reman axles) you can replace 2 boots for under $20 and it's a temp fix.

Pretty simple.

1) Put cardboard under the area. It's going to get really dirty.

2) Spray Brake Clean into the CV to dissolve the grease and wash away the dirt. I'd do this several times using the entire can per joint.

3) Regrease with supplied grease. Really try to push it into all the cracks.

4) Put the split boot on and fasten all the little screws and nuts. This is pretty hard when everything is slippery. Clamp the end bands as best you can.

5) Now here's the trick that seem to help them from leaking. Use 100$ silicone sealer along the seam. Cover all the nuts. You may have to clean the boot to get it to stick. Us some Brake clean sprayed on a rag to clean the rubber withouit overdoing things and letting some leak inside. Also, push the part of the boot in towards the CV and put some silicone on the axle and then pull the boot back. Then cover that axle to boot seam with silicone.

6) Don't drive it for a day until the silicone sets.

It won't look pretty, but will keep everything from leaking for a good while. I did this twice on friends Hondas (who had no money for new axles) and it lasted for a couple years.

Good Luck.

 

Ah, that method. Yeah that works too.

I'm not having to replace mine, so I'm not being lazy.

 

Thanks for the write up!
but this requires to take off the cv joint, does it?

 

thanks, but it seems a lot of special tool needed

 

the mechanic recommend me to get new one. maybe it's easier for him to install a new one, while making the same amount of money.

 

If your having a mechanic done have him do the whole thing. It would cost you more for a boot, because he has to do MORE work and therefore charge you more labor.
Either way he has to remove and install. To do a boot, he has to remove, rebuild, THEN install. It cost about the same really, you can pay for the extra labor, or you can pay for the NEW shaft.

 

No. This is just to cut off the ripped boots and replace them with a split boot yourself to get you through until you have the money for new axles.

All you need a a couple basic had tools.

If you are using a mechanic then go for new axles.