CV BOOT REPLACED IN 30 MINUTES

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by Multibeemer

You are one of the supremely fortunate ones who was able to take your axle out from the hub. If you didn't run out and buy a lottery ticket, you should have, because MANY of us, as documented through this very long thread, weren't so lucky. I tugged, pried, pounded, and swore at mine for many hours before finally and reluctantly giving up, but not before trying every tip, trick, and suggestion in this thread first. Taking the axle out from the inside, which I and the rest of the unlucky ones had to do, easily quintuples the time it takes to replace the boots. Makes the split boot idea very tempting, despite the drawbacks stated in the link you provided. Thankfully, my (not-so-new anymore) boots are holding up, but if one of them splits again, there's no way I'm going to go through the axle removal ordeal again.

I am one of the fortunate ones but be aware that I am in the salt belt up here in Jersey as well so I'm not working on a pristine Florida X5.

After 10 years I figured the axle and nut would be on there pretty good, so I did 2 things
1) Rented the proper tools to get the axle out of the hub (if you ever get your wheel bearings done the axle would need to come out at some point)
2) Popped the center caps off my wheels, and used Penetrating Oil (I used PB Blaster, but Kroil, WD40 even, or the popular 1:1 ATF/Acetone mix works even better) on the center Axle nut and around it to loosen the axle nut and penetrate into the axle splines, twice a day for the 5 days prior to starting the job.

I used a Hub Puller flange which bolts down over the hub with 3 wheel bolts, and uses a threaded rod in the middle which when used with proper wrench on the hex portion of the rod will "push in" the axle out of the hub, once you have the axle nut removed. Note that once I had axle nut removed I sprayed the axle splines liberally with penetrating oil to loosen it up.

No hammering on the axle stub, and no issues. I will note, that if you want to do the job properly and not run into snags, you need to plan ahead, and you need to not be in a rush. Don't try to finish before the kids soccer games, etc. My wheel bearings were actually a much bigger problem that removing the axle and replacing the boots. But I planned ahead for it. With any big job on these cars, something you definitely need to do.