outer cv boot replacement

[Crowz]

Originally Posted by upallnight

There's a reason why those axles at AutoZone are only $70.00. That's because they are "Made in China". Now I got nothing against things being Made in China, even my wife has the "Made in China sticker on her feet if you flip her over, and they do make a phone call the eye phone.

Unless you have been driving with a torn boot to the point that the CV joint is destroyed and is clicking even when the wheels are pointed straight, I would just clean, regrease and reboot the axle. You can also just replace the outer CV joint with a Febi CV joint (but they are probably Made in China).

Just my 2 cents.

If they can survive my driveway everyone else's street queens will do fine with the autozone axles where ever they are made.

Its not uncommon for all the torque to be directed at one wheel on mine up some rather large climbs.


As for having to do the boots in other countries where they cost so much that makes tons of sense to change the boots in place of replacing. In the united states autozone is the only logical choice wallet wise. Not to mention install time wise.

The new axles have already have over 50,000 miles put on them plus the driveway torture test. Zero issues.

[Overboost]

Yep, I've had Chinese axles on mine now for over 5 years and 50,000 miles and not even as much as a torn boot.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by wpoll

CV boot is not likely to tear down at the small end - not much flexing there. They usually go at the "valley" of the largest bellow section - where the most flex occurs.

Conditioning them may help but not likely. Quality of material is what matters here....

I just discovered mine let go at the small end when I was doing my brakes.

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs

I just discovered mine let go at the small end when I was doing my brakes.

Turns out the fastest way to be proven wrong is to make a statement on the internet...

At least the small end is easy to deal with until you can replace the boot. A foot of PIB tape (polyisobutylene - self-amalgamating rubber or rescue tape) should hold it for many months...

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by wpoll

Turns out the fastest way to be proven wrong is to make a statement on the internet...

At least the small end is easy to deal with until you can replace the boot. A foot of PIB tape (polyisobutylene - self-amalgamating rubber or rescue tape) should hold it for many months...

I’ll be replacing it the week between Christmas and New Years. I have it off. Leaves me plenty of time to deal with it when this “simple” job turns complicated.

[cn90]

Someone told me BMW Genuine CV boots are better and thicker than GKN?

I thought they are the same.

What is everyone's experience using GKN boots?

[80stech]

I have had both to compare and they are not the same. Everything changes (a lot these days) though so it might be like wheel bearings and you don't know exactly what you are getting until you open the box, and maybe not even then!

[cn90]

My 2006 X5 M54 with 143K miles outer CV boots just cracked.

Realoem lists:

1. INNER boot: straightforward, only 1 PN.

2. However, OUTER boot has 2 choices...
* 31607565316
* 31607507402

Does anyone know why 2 choices?

----

[80stech]

"A" AND "B" axles have different size axle shafts and 1 uses the softer boot and the other the hard boot (like the E83 which goes forever, I hope I don't regret saying that! ) I have a feeling that the type "B" is the hard boot and was only used as an updated axle for replacement but could be wrong.

[Bdc101]

Is A and B left and right or what?