Does anyone have an opinion on how many miles an outer CV joint boot is supposed to last? The question really is "is there a normal lifespan?". Any help is appreciated.

Cheers

 

i do not know the lifespan but i know it costs according to consumer guides used car book like $750. i hope they have a long long life......

 

Um, I don't know if you are talking about the same thing here. I just got quoted $220 by the stealership to fix my ripped cv boot, so I know I can find somewhere around here to do it for around 150.

 

I think Maxima2000SE was talking about the entire joint rather than just the boot.

 

ya i was talking about the entire joint b/c my dads altima had a ripped boot and it damaged the joint so he had to get the entire thing replaced...

 

The lifespan of a typical boot is around 100k miles. Once it splits, you have a certain amount of time before the CV joint is damaged. Typically, your mechanic will tell you replace the whole axle instead of just the boot. If you shop around you should be able to find a deal for about $200 per axle, possibly less. It's a fairly easy job for a shop and they treat them as routine work. That's why you can find shops that will offer reasonable prices.

 

I was just quoted $265 to replace my CV boot, and keep the axle. I'd like to see you guys find a shop that will do it for $150...that'd be a hard find considering the labor rate of most shops these days is $65 to $75 and it's a 2.5 to 3 hour job.

 

I got a guy who sells axles for 120 bux, I need a whole new passenger side axle for my Maxima. It clicks like crazy when going around a left hand turn with my GF in the pass seat. My boot aint torn or anything, just from all the autoXing I do and racing around, the joint wore out. Most of the stress comes from spining the tire around the corner, so try to avoid that best you can. I lube my boots every oil change with some white lithium grease- this helps the boot from dry rotting. My Sentra had 220K miles on the OEM boots and axles which where in TOP shape. I will be ordering up my axles soon, AE tranny going in, my trans is on its last legs :P

 

It is about 175 bucks to replace cv boot at my dealer, 120 at local shop. My 97 altima has one that was replaced at 120k, the other is still original at 196k.
I think it is mostly luck, you could hit a stone on the road that will cut the boot at any time..

 

there is a lifespan of the material, but keep in mind it can also get cut/damaged by road debris or rocks or whatever, which obviously would shorten the life span.

 

Thanks guys for all your input. I have both left and right CV boots torn and the car has only 80K miles. I was really concerned.

Cheers

 

BlackBIRDVQ: you said you apply lithium grease to the boots to keep them from drying rotting/cracking? But wouldnt that infact attract more dirt which would stick to it more?

 

I don't think the issue is whether or not dirt sticks to the CV boot. A dirty boot shouldn't decrease its life. We all wonder how we can extend the life of our boots. I know that silicon spray will dry rubber out. I've heard that baby oil will keep the rubber fresh. I haven't seen anything in writing though. Lithium grease sounds like a good choice. More ideas are needed though.

 

I just dropped my car off at the Nissan Independent Service shop here in Norman. THe manager quoted me $150 total to do a full check on the car and repair the cv boot. A lot cheaper than the 225 the dealer quoted. He also told me that he can get me Nissan OEM parts at wholesale -- it's nice to have made a connection in town.

 

My 2000 Max had both ripped at 80k also, so I replaced the joints and axles. I can't remember how much it was, but it wasn't 750, seems to me it was about 500, maybe 600. Anyway, my driving habits probably didn't help the lifespan of the boots. The good news is I could feel and hear the difference when I picked up up from the shop.

 

Well, just got a call from my Nissan mechanic (Independent) and he said the only problem with my CV boot is that the clamps have worn and have come loose, allowing some of the grease to get outside of the boot. So, while the stealership here wanted to charge me 225 bucks to replace the whole CV boot (since they said the whole thing was torn), my mechanic is going to fix the problem with a 3 dollar clamp. Figures.

 

Anybody ever change their own CV Boots? If so how hard is it?

 

Its not hard doing CV boots, but its VERY messy. You need to have some knowledge with how to get the outer constant velocity joint OFF the driveshaft. You will also need special pliers to install the new boot bands to hold it in place.

I apply lithium grease on the joint, and just rub it in like sun tan lotion. This keeps the boot looking like new and fresh My Maxima uses diff boots from my Sentra- they are harder than normal rubber boots, so I don't apply nothing to them. 100K miles going well, but the pass side outter is clicking- and its not torn.