Hey, just wondering if any one has had a problem with the axle boots tearing in half, both of mine have, just wondering whether to replace just the boot or the entire axle?

 

This is a gamble on your part. The best bet is replacing them. You can try to clean them out and see what kind of damage you have. I have some boots. You will need grease. PM me so I can send them if want them.

 

front cv boots cost around $15 each aftermarket. The labor to install should not be more than an hour. if you are getting a chalking sound or clicking, then the entire cv axle needs to be replaced, these cost about $90 a side. When replacing just the boot, the axle will usually come right out and you will lose a little tranny oil. this can be replaced with 10W30 if your car is a standard shift. if automatic, you need the red dextron stuff. get it done before you lose all your grease and before you get any winter weather, salt, etc.

dont crank the wheel hard stopped and then hit the gas. also, dont drive over curbs. this is waht rips the boots.

 

I've done neither, the girl who owned it before me however...

I'm going home this upcoming weekend to get them replaced, would a midas or something have the parts available to replace them? or do I need to order the parts seperately?

 

I would recommend in getting the OEM boots. They are a much stronger rubber material than aftermarket. The aftermarket ones (the cheaper ones) are less durable than the OEM's and will more likely to rip again in no time. Buy the OEM's and another place put them on for you (if not doing it yourself). Nissan sells the whole kit per side of axle. It comes with grease and everything.

 

awesome, would they have that in stock? I'd like to get it fixed ASAP, and i still need to buy dust boots, bolts, etc... for my new suspension install

 

Go to Autozone, and the entire axle is $60 each side with a lifetime waranty. I've had mine in for about 50,000 miles and they are still good. They will also rent you the axle socket 36 MM for free. You will need to buy a 3 foot breaker bar. Also get a pry bar to force it out of the tranny, it really might help. Be sure to get an alignment afterwards.

 

you should'nt need an alignment just for changing a cv boot or cv axle. unless you have a hoist and know what you are doing, it might be better have a mechanic do the work. any cv boot kit comes with a grease pak. but a mechanic will have the facility to clean out the gear area as some grit will likley have accumulated. the difference in price with a Nissan boot and an aftermarket entire axle is not much, the labour about the same as its the same work without having to clean the joint. aftermarket cv boots are generally ok as with the oem, as long as you dont hit the gas when the steering is hard left or right. there is a flange on the control arm they can bubble out and tear on. also, going over a curb pulls the outer tire outward from the ground which can catch and cause a tear. make a few calls to part stores or Canadian Tire for the best price. any cliicking sound means change the axle.

 

id get raxles and never worry about it again. pay now, or pay later with more work.

 

Trust me on this one, please, i have way too much experience with it...


Just dont cheap out, and get the raxles, there not that much more and there so freakin nice, ive tried autozone, killed it quickly, i know people who did the boots and joints died soon there after, but my raxles have been wonderful, just get them and be done with it

 

I totally agree.

I've rebooted my CVs and I've also installed the raxles.com parts. Rebooting sucks, it's a mess, and there are things that can (do!) go wrong, and if you're using OEM quality boots you hardly save any money.

Since you're going to do it on one weekend, just have a set of raxles.com remans waiting for you and move on with your life.

Dave

 

while on the hoist, might as well get the "Sway Bar Linkage Extentions" checked to see they are not broken. You usually cant tell when the car is sitting. They arent expensive and will help the feel of your steering on the highway. aftermarket are alot cheaper, approx. $20 per side US$. good chance if the boots are shot, so are the links.

 

I'm gonna go to the Nissan stealership today to get a quote, I'd rather not do it myself, not too experienced and I don't want to get it screwed up. Where should I go in order to get my car fixed well, at a good price, and rather quickly, as in a few hours

 

if its just a boot or cv axle, any mechanic or tire/brake place should be able to do it. they guy with his own garage who charges $40hr real time is the best. just call Nissan for quotes, they go by the book and a cv boot is either an hour or 1.5. its not that urgent a deal, dont rush it if you dont have the time or get the best price. it aint rocket science, but you need a hoist to get the car up high enough and to top off the tranny oil especially if its a 5 speed..

 

unfortunately it's an auto, boo. Nissan quoted me $320 to do it, does that sound right or should I go somewhere else?

 

2 boot kits (with grease and new braces) are approx.$15ea aftermarket. call any parts dealer in the yellow pages or a few to get the best price. ask if they can recommend a reasonable mechanic or call a tire dealer and ask them if they can do it. Labor for both should not exceed an hour. you should be able to find a small time garage to install both for $50 to $80 tops. add 45 a side if you want to go to 2 new axles. labour about the same or a little less.

 

there's a guy in my home town who could do it, but driving to KY from school would only delay my suspension getting put on by another week, gosh I hate my car right now

 

wait till you get home and get it all done by the guy there all at the same time, get a better deal on labor that way. dust covers can wait or look for a non chain type place near school where they can wheel and deal, tell em your a struggling student and can they do the whole deal for (name a lowball price) cash, all in. dont forget to get the 'sway bar linkage' checked while its up on the hoist. it takes 10 seconds and a little wiggle to see if theyre broke but the wheels need to be off the ground, normally, to tell.

 

I checked delivered pricing on Raxles. Total cost is $305. for both delivered vs. $125. for both from my local Autozone, which come with lifetime warranty.
Can someone explain why I should go with Raxles?? Also found that I can get them installed for $75. each..
So the Autozone units bought and installed is $275..
I would call this a no-brainer.

 

if you're buying axles, get them where you live so you can exercise the lifetime warranty if you ever have to, which you shouldnt. usually when buying axles, the vendor will take the old one back as part of the deal to be refurbished, like alternator cores. raxles doesnt likely bother to restore your old one, hence the difference in price.

 

Well, consider that many people who buy reman axles from the local parts store find that they don't last long. Especially if you run a lowered suspension. Run a search (google if you haven't donated) and see for yourself.

There is no question that raxles.com parts are top quality. There is difference. (However, with a lowered suspension perhaps you can still have problems - but that would hold true with even new Nissan axles).

If you don't mind changing axles every 6 months, then buy the local store stuff with a lifetime warranty. If you want to be done with this job for another 150k (like me), then I recommend raxles.com or OEM units.

Dave

 

If this was something easy to replace id say go with the cheap ones, but there a pain in the ***, so pay for the good ones, and be happy for years to come.

 

i have a concern when im on highway speed and i hit a pot hole on slightly turns n my cars jerk me to the side wich ever side im turning on, what could that be?