CV BOOT REPLACED IN 30 MINUTES

[haigha]

Thanks for the video, Lamby. I gave it your first thumbs up.

I think we have the same Gerber multi-tool!

A couple of tips:

1. Get someone to hold the camera for you.

2. Put a written description of the steps, parts and tools needed on YouTube. I think you skipped over a few in the video like how and when you removed the cling film; the proper way to trim the boot and how much you took off both ends. One section on each end?

Looks like you're using this Bailcast CVS18 CV Boot Kit:

https://www.ebay.com/p/248714547

I couldn't find it on Amazon US, but it is available for (more expensive than the part) shipment on eBay above.

[Lamby]

Originally Posted by haigha

Thanks for the video, Lamby. I gave it your first thumbs up.

I think we have the same Gerber multi-tool!

A couple of tips:

1. Get someone to hold the camera for you.

2. Put a written description of the steps, parts and tools needed on YouTube. I think you skipped over a few in the video like how and when you removed the cling film; the proper way to trim the boot and how much you took off both ends. One section on each end?

Looks like you're using this Bailcast CVS18 CV Boot Kit:

https://www.ebay.com/p/248714547

I couldn't find it on Amazon US, but it is available for (more expensive than the part) shipment on eBay above.

Cheers Haigha, that's good feedback and I will do. I think if I was to do more I would invest in a gorilla grip or a tripod and maybe think about each step, what I am doing and saying etc. but I did it on the fly and filmed it then got home and watched it and thought... Sweet Jesus I waffle on. Anyways yes, the BailCast CVS18 is the ones I recommend. The others I have used are the Q-drive ones and you can get some from Italy called Red Hippo I think. Q-drive ones last about a year and are thinner rubber. Just looked on Amazon US and sadly can't see a similar product which could be why they are not commonplace in the US? Every auto parts store sells them over in the UK.

They work for me and save me time so I am happy. If I needed to get the hub off anyway, I would get a standard CV boot but I am not sure they last any longer.

[haigha]

Thanks for sharing your experience with those various CV boots. I replaced my first one last September, after almost 16 years with my 04 4.4i. It had about 41k miles on it at that point.

I noticed Amazon UK sells the Bailcast ones, but they won't ship it to the US for some reason.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CVS18-Unive.../dp/B0080DLLIY

I may try your method when I need to change the other side. I used GKN Loebro 31607507402 last time. It's one of the quality ones people have suggested in this thread. The documented "30 minute method" took about an hour and a quarter with two people (the other one a seasoned mechanic).

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...em-31607507402

[BigBody]

Wow... what a disaster. For anyone planing this i highly advise forgetting about the vice grip circlip method. I ruined a set of vice grips and found it pretty much impossible to get the circlip out. Tried for hours and hours. Waste of time.

What did work is inner boot and tripod removal. Get 2 boots and do it that way. I did it with the axle still hooked up to the hub. And only straight arm removed. Bang the tripod off and change the boots. Grease is different.

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by BigBody

Wow... what a disaster. For anyone planing this i highly advise forgetting about the vice grip circlip method. I ruined a set of vice grips and found it pretty much impossible to get the circlip out. Tried for hours and hours. Waste of time.

What did work is inner boot and tripod removal. Get 2 boots and do it that way. I did it with the axle still hooked up to the hub. And only straight arm removed. Bang the tripod off and change the boots. Grease is different.

Sorry it didn't work out for you - it can either go well or be more like your experience. Good to have a plan B!

It really helps to have two people - in fact I'd go as far as to say it requires two people. In my case it was drop-dead simple and while it wasn't a 30-minute job, it was less than two hours from wheel off to beers.

If (when) I do another, if I don't have a helper, I'm pulling the inner boot too!

[BigBody]

Originally Posted by wpoll

Sorry it didn't work out for you - it can either go well or be more like your experience. Good to have a plan B!

It really helps to have two people - in fact I'd go as far as to say it requires two people. In my case it was drop-dead simple and while it wasn't a 30-minute job, it was less than two hours from wheel off to beers.

If (when) I do another, if I don't have a helper, I'm pulling the inner boot too!

Nobodies fault. I did it solo unfortunately. It was difficult. Appreciate the great info on this thread otherwise.

I know it’s been mentioned already but has there been any agreement on the correct tripod grease? I used GKN kit, and it came with the grey stuff.

[wpoll]

Well... after a bit over 4 fours years, the boot I replaced has failed. Stink...

And it is my own fault - I clipped the small end onto the shaft at the wrong point (about a 1/4" too close to the CV joint). This caused the boot to chaff on itselt and it wore itself out.

So full of confidence, I tackled this again - and this time I could not get the axle to pop out of the CV. No way, no how. BUT... I was working on my own (against my own advice!). Pretty much confirmed that this is a two-person task.

So.. I removed the inner boot, pulled the tripod joint out and the completed the boot replacement that way... Slower and messy but still pretty straight forward.

And I stlll hate doing CV boots.

[zener]

It took 45minutes to change both axle's at front. Let's see how long the cheap axle's boot's will last. I already ordered löbro/spidan boot's so I can swap them right away if there is a failure.

[TriX5]

Inner CV boots are filled with a yellow grease. I sourced a bunch of it from a local Honda dealer. Will post a picture tomorrow.

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by TriX5

Inner CV boots are filled with a yellow grease. I sourced a bunch of it from a local Honda dealer. Will post a picture tomorrow.

Correct - and ironically the outer CV boot I bought came with the wrong grease - yellow, not black. Seems I was actually destined to be re-greasing the tripod joint!

And fortunately I had plenty of the grease for the outer joint on hand.