CV boot and control arm replacement question...

[rooroo]

My indy mechanic just replaced the control arms on the X5, when I went to pay for the service he mentioned that the cv boot was torn. He didn't have the part in his shop but told me he could get it in a couple of days, and I could schedule for the following week.

Question: When replacing the control arms, don't the cv boots need to be removed? or at least isn't the access to the boot made easier?
I feel like I will be paying for the same labor twice.
I feel that the right thing to do would have been to call me and ask if I could wait another two days so that he could kill two birds with one stone.

(The guy is trust worthy, I just want to be better educated when I go to negotiate his labor costs...)

Am I off here?

[heuer21]

CV boot is a rubber barrier, i think BMW calls them bellows, that keeps all of the grease in the constant velocity joint while keeping all of the dirt out.
(CV ---> Constant Velocity) on the axle.

There is no need to touch the CV boot when changing control arms. You take the axle out from the hub if you need to. Think about getting the axle rebuilt depending on how long the boot has been torn. It is cheaper to replace the CV boot, but your mechanic might take the axle out anyways... Just because you replace the boot and clean it doesn't mean that the axle won't wear out in 3 months. Think about it.

[heuer21]

CV joint is # 5 in this diagram. Looks like an acordian sorta.

RealOEM.com * BMW E53 X5 4.4i Final drive(frnt axle),output shaft,4whl

[rooroo]

Thanks for the reply!
I do know what the boots are for and their function... thought I didn't know what CV stood for, so I learned something new there.

I didn't know how the suspension is assembled so it's good to know that they are two different jobs. Also, thanks for the recommendation on rebuilding the axle. Boot has not been torn long but will ask to have that taken into consideration.

Rui

[andreyayrapetov]

They will have to take both control arms off in order to replace the cv boots.

[BMWcare]

The front outer boots can be renewed without splitting control arms.
Dismantle from strut (standard or air) and it will be possible.

Disgusted reading about hammers/sledges!! Proper pullers to draw shaft out. Proper pullers to draw shaft back in after renewing gaitors.

If gaitor is 'caught in time' then half-shaft will be fine.

Kind Regards,
Eddie.
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