Ripped CV Boots

[TorontoE53]

Hi Everyone,

I was getting some grease marks on my front wheels and upon further inspection I noticed both front CV Shaft outer boots are ripped. Based on what I have read I am most likely to replace both front shafts.

Now is there a "specific" brand on shafts I should go with?
DSS
CARDONE
SURTRACK/TRAKMOTIVE
APWI

Vehicle is a 2003 with 200k, also how soon should I change them or can I wait it out? (I drive 6-7k per year) Reason for this is I may change few other things such as wheel bearings, brakes etc. under there while at it.

Thanks in advance

[Zulu95]

If you catch it early enough you can just change the rubber boots. Depends on the condition of your CV joints etc. I know my indy just popped out the half shafts and put new boots on after cleaning and greasing the joint.

[TorontoE53]

Originally Posted by Zulu95

If you catch it early enough you can just change the rubber boots. Depends on the condition of your CV joints etc. I know my indy just popped out the half shafts and put new boots on after cleaning and greasing the joint.

Thanks for the reply but I must've drove all winter since my winter wheels are black so didn't notice but as I put summers and bamm some grease marks.

[cn90]

Factory axle is the BEST. It is made by GKN.

Get both INNER and OUTER CV boots at 200K.
Get GKN brand from FCPEuro.

If you have no clicking noise, then remove old grease, clean the CV joint well.
Then add new grease and boots.

Info in forum.

Is it 200,000 km or miles?

[TorontoE53]

Originally Posted by cn90

Factory axle is the BEST. It is made by GKN.

Get both INNER and OUTER CV boots at 200K.
Get GKN brand from FCOEuro.

If you have no clicking noise, then remove old grease, clean the CV joint well.
Then add new grease and boots.

Info in forum.

Is it 200,000 km or miles?

It's KM, yeah no clicking yet..
I may have time to save them if I replace the boots soon but was hoping to wait it out so I can change other parts and complete axles.

[Attacking Mid]

Some here recommended to me to just buy a cheap axle - I got mine from Adv. Auto for about $65 with online coupon. It was pretty easy to change as far as axles go.

I've gone the boot changing route on another vehicle and for my time and money, I'll put in a whole new axle rather than mess (MESS!) with re-booting a used axle.

AM.

[cn90]

Factory axle lasts some 300K miles if dirt is not allowed to enter.
Some people routinely replace CV boots every 100K as maintenance.
These axles last forever.

Axles from local parts store are usually made in China, it is hit or miss...

Don't wait. It will be an expensive lesson.

[TorontoE53]

Originally Posted by Attacking Mid

Some here recommended to me to just buy a cheap axle - I got mine from Adv. Auto for about $65 with online coupon. It was pretty easy to change as far as axles go.

I've gone the boot changing route on another vehicle and for my time and money, I'll put in a whole new axle rather than mess (MESS!) with re-booting a used axle.

AM.

I was thinking of pickup another set of used axles and having them rebuilt that way they are OEM and ready to snap in ..

[TorontoE53]

Originally Posted by cn90

Factory axle lasts some 300K miles if dirt is not allowed to enter.
Some people routinely replace CV boots every 100K as maintenance.
These axles last forever.

Axles from local parts store are usually made in China, it is hit or miss...

Don't wait. It will be an expensive lesson.

Good to know.. yeah I have been reading on Chinese axles cases of fitment etc.

[Attacking Mid]

Originally Posted by cn90

Factory axle lasts some 300K miles if dirt is not allowed to enter.
Some people routinely replace CV boots every 100K as maintenance.
These axles last forever.

Axles from local parts store are usually made in China, it is hit or miss...

Don't wait. It will be an expensive lesson.

Yep, as long as you don't let it get ruined by contamination, you shouldn't ever have to replace one.

I don't know that the same can be said for the Chinese aftermarket axles, but several advised me they had been running them for quite a while without problems. In my case, I would have spent nearly the same on boots as the cheap axle, and I would have had to wait a few days for them to arrive. It just made sense for me to put in the cheap axle and be done.

I kept the OE axle and, if I ever run out of projects, I may clean it up and re-boot it so it's ready to go if/when the Chinese axle fails (most likely will just be a boot failure again). In reality, I can envision the boot failing somewhere down the road and buying another Chinese axle since the OE axle will have sat in the box untouched for several years! Just being self-aware

AM.