After looking this weekend, both of the CV boots on my 96 are shot. It must have happened very recently.

I think I've found instructions on replacing the CV boots at motorvate but have a couple of questions:

1. Should I just replace the joints too? The car has 180k miles but no probs with the joints yet. Seems I should.

2. What should I look for re: the condition of the axles? Should they be replaced as well given the mileage?

Not sure how long I'll keep the car but likely long enough for any joint problem to become evident.

 

I recently changed mine...

I figured, "might as well".
I have 215K Kms (150K miles?) on my car, and since the labor is the same to change the boot or whole axle, I erred on the side of safety...also, without knowing how long the boots have been torn, it's tough to gauge what damage may (or may not) have been done.

I think that the CV Joint and Axle are the same???
I replaced my CV joints, boots and since the suspension was apart, I put in some ES poly bushings as well.

hope this helps,
FLO_BOY

 

At 180k I'd be thinking they were well past their "sell by" date! If you don't plan on keeping the car more than a month don't bother. If you are keeping the car, replace the axels.
Yes inner and outter boots will run you only $60 or so, and inner boots and new outter joints/boots will run you about $210, both these options require a huge amount of labor. And if you get it wrong.....
Check out www.raxels.com Talk to Marty. Mention the org.
When you get it all apart be prepared to replace at least the drivers side wheel bearing. The parts will run you $70 per side and you will need to take the steering knuckle off the car and have a shop press out and install the new bearing(s). When I did my axels at 135k I found the one bearing had about 1/4" of play in it!!!! Passenger side felt ok but I changed it out too.

 

If the boots are totally busted then you just need to repair the axle. If the cv boots are just barely open or cracked you can get a kit and replace the whole thing.

Proph