CV Boot Replacement help!

[hayaku]

Looking at the TIS instructions, in order to do this correctly you will need to do the following:

Remove the front wheel
Remove the reinforcement plate and engine underguard
Remove the ABS pulse generator
Remove brake caliper and rotor
Force steering tie rod off swivel bearing (hub)
Remove tension strut with guide joint from swivel bearing
Remove control arm from swivel bearing
Release collar nut on the output shaft and press output shaft out of drive flange

That gets the shaft out of the car. Now for the actual service of the cv boots, wheel side first:

Release the retainers and pull back the gaiters
Press off the joint
Lever out the retaining clip
Pull off gaiter.

Installation is reverse.
Put on gaiter
Put in new retaining clip
Press on joint
Put in new grease
Secure the gaiters in place

Differential side:

Release retainers and pull back gaiter
Detach tulip element
Remove retaining ring
Detach tripod star joint
Pull off gaiter

Installation is the reverse
Assemble 2 part gaiters and put on the shaft
Put the tripod star joint in with flat side to retaining ring
Clip in retaining ring
Apply new grease
Attach the tulip element
Secure the gaiter retainers in place.

Then its time to reinstall the shaft and put in a new radial seal in the differential.

TIS lists several special tools:
Radial Seal Driver (part number 31 5 130)
Output shaft pry bar (part number 31 5 110)
Tie Rod Press (part number 32 3 090)
Control Arm Press (part number 31 2 240)
Special Hub removal tools (part numbers: 33 2 111, 33 2 115, 33 2 116, 33 2 117, 33 2 118, 33 2 150)
Slide Hammer (part number 33 4 200)

You may or may not need the special tools... I know that Drex and JV were able to change their control arms without the special control arm press as an example.

The gaiter repair kit should only have grease, new rubber boots, and clips. There is a specific kit for each end. You will need a new radial seal if you are changing the upper gaiter as well.

now I can see how this is an 4-5 hr job...