ahhh if only Cyprus was the same as the u.s....

I agree, I just replaced mine, because the boot was broken.

Not checked how much they cost here but highly doubt will be less than the equivalent of 2-3 times the 70 dollars you mention...anyhow get to that bridge when its time....

Same here in NZ - a boot is like $20 and an axle is more like $400.

I've replaced a LOT of CV boots in my time... ;)

Indeed the boots are reasonably priced here too...shame they dont last long....maybe should look at silicon rather than rubber ones going forward? Also advice i read about conditioning the rubber boots by giving them a good clean followed by application of silicon spray to keep em supple sort of seems to have worked apart from surface cracks at smaller end of boot.....i think the rubber glue/protector i used should help. In the meantime off topic starting is still fine now 9 days after starter change....

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....

yup you are right i guess, so far both fronts when they perished did so on larger end of bellows that flex more, those were the oems on car for about 10years....replaced one side with febi brand and the other can't remember....to be frank the spraying of silicon on em has mean't they are spotless,no grime or grit seems to have collected on em...will keep an eye out on the small end of one of them where it has cracked superficially....

The CV Joint big ball bearings last the life if the car, they easily last some 300K-400K miles.

They fail mostly bc of torn boot, allowing debris to get in.

If the owners of the vehicles routinely remove the axle every 100K and replace using GKN boots, then the CV joint lasts forever.

Most axles from local auto parts are made in China with questionable quality.

That was the brand GKN, one boot is febi the other gkn....now the quality of replacements (axles and the like) being degraded because they are made in eastern Europe or china or whatever makes me think don't the parts suppliers have any quality control in place and adhere to various ISOs etc?

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.