CV BOOT REPLACED IN 30 MINUTES

[1stE53]

Originally Posted by Multibeemer

My CV boots arrived yesterday, so I'm staring at this thing contemplating how (and whether) to tackle this job. The first method appears more straightforward, but I've run into several major obstacles right off the bat:

1. The collar nut requires a 36 mm, 12-point socket. Where the heck do you find something like this? I've called or visited four stores, and none of them have it. I got mine at Sears.

2. The collar nut is secured to the axle by a lip that's been bent over. I've spent a good half hour (the total time estimate for the entire project!!!!) whaling away at this thing with practically every tool in my arsenal, including a very heavy hammer, and I'm barely able to get it to budge. I used a pry bar to bend out a little, then just the force of the 36mm socket on a 21" pry bar; it came off with no problems

3. Even if I can manage to get the collar nut's protective lip out of the way, the collar nut is very shallow. I don't understand how I will be able to apply the torque needed to loosen the nut (I have a big breaker bar with a large pipe I slip over it when I need extra torque) without it slipping off. You will be surprised of how little effort you will need with the cheater bar

If I decide to go with method 2, what size clamp do I need for the inner boot? Is it the same as the one used on the outer boots? The site romeokc10 references looks very good. But if I decide (or am forced to, if I can't find the right size socket to use method 1) to use method 2, the downside means having to wait for the clamps, plus paying for shipping. I'm also wondering if by the time I pay for all the tools this job will need (including possibly an impact wrench, which I've gotten away without up till now), it wouldn't cost about the same to take it to someone to do what's looking like a pretty daunting job... Sorry, been a pretty crappy day all the way around, and this isn't helping.

I hated life doing this to mine. I had to change the entire axle. Try getting the inner part out of the transmission!!!! Only to find it was a defective axle and have to do it all over again 3 weekends later.