Help with inner CV boot

JohnD · #1 11-30-2009, 05:51 PM

So I had the inner and outer CV boots replaced on my 2001 4.4 X5 a few months ago by my local indy. The truck has been back twice now for a leaking inner boot. Everytime I look under the car there is grease in the wheel well. All the parts used for the installation were from BMW and this is only happening on the drivers side. On real OEM they show two different types of boots, based upon the passenger side not leaking I would think the boots are fine. Any idea why it could be leaking? Could it be a bad gator?

KillCrap or Weasel any help would be greatly appreciated. It is going back into the shop on Wednesday

killcrap · #2 11-30-2009, 08:48 PM

i do not recommend repairing the inner c/v boots, there is nothing wrong with thoes, its the actual joint that is failed, the rubber around the joint is no longer any good. most of the time, the clamp that comes with the repair kit does not clamp correctly on the repair boot, and when you compress the joint, you can hear air coming out of it indicating a leak, if this were my own car, i would replace the complete axle.

Bimmer Ese · #3 11-30-2009, 11:02 PM

Having the same problem with the passenger side half shaft inner boot. The half shaft in question was puchased from Tischer BMW last month and has been on the X since then. I've already wiped the excess CV grease once already and now, it's all over the place and even burning on the catalytic converter. So, I finally gave in and scheduled an appointment with the dealer for next Monday. Yes, I could remove it and exchange it, but I'm tired of messing with it. Hopefully, I will just have to pay for labor, since the part is still under warranty.

What a mess.

Daniel

JohnD · #4 12-01-2009, 07:26 AM

so how much does a new axle shaft cost and should they be replaced in pairs?

JohnD · #5 12-01-2009, 07:46 AM

BTW - Thanks to KillCrap for the fast response.

MrFixIt · #6 03-21-2013, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by killcrap

i do not recommend repairing the inner c/v boots, there is nothing wrong with thoes, its the actual joint that is failed, the rubber around the joint is no longer any good. most of the time, the clamp that comes with the repair kit does not clamp correctly on the repair boot, and when you compress the joint, you can hear air coming out of it indicating a leak, if this were my own car, i would replace the complete axle.

I'm experiencing the same problem as the OP. Just replaced (DIY) the inner and outer boots on driver's side. On my second clamp (thought it was a bad clamp), and it's torqued to the max--still spitting out grease.

The symptoms are exactly as "killcrap" described.

Looks like I'll be replacing the entire axel.

Thank you for the information.

Edit: Axles are original, 126,000 miles.

Ricky Bobby · #7 03-21-2013, 03:20 PM

Good info killcrap, I was considering replacing the inner boots when i did my outer boots, but I will do outer boots only!