Rubber boot near Axle / CV joint?

[JMA-RUF]

Whilst under the car looking at my Axles/CV joints, I notice the right side rubber boot has literally cracked in half, exposing the grease around the CV joint to the elements. Looks very dirty!

Is it easy to R&R the CV joints and replace these boots?

[A930Rocket]

It's easy enough, but VERY greasy.

Pull the axle. Be careful of the allen bolts. Clean the bolts heads and ake sure your allen socket is in there all the way.
Mark the CV joint for it's location and direction of travel.
Remove the "C" clip on the end.
Pull the CV joint off.
Pull the boot off.

Clean and check races and bearings in the CV joint carefully. Check for pitting, wear and damage. Replace if needed. Pelican carries a CV boot kid that comes with the grease. Try not to let the bearings fall out of the race. It's easy to pop them back in, but you gotta know know what your doing. I use a plastic tie on the small end of the boot, as it seems to help reduce tearing.

Assembly is the reverse.

[JMA-RUF]

Sounds pretty straight fwd - thanks

[Rodsrsr]

you may need a 12 point tool to remove the bolts as the allens are usually replacments.

[JMA-RUF]

Thanks - Might get the kit from our host.

[JFairman]

If you hear no clicking when backing up in reverse and when starting forward again then they are probably worth all the greasy trouble to clean and inspect and regrease them.
If you have clicking it isn't.. just buy new CV joints and put them on your axles.
You never know what you'll get with used ones so I wouldn't do that either.

[Noah930]

I did the job for the first time a couple months ago. I think it took me (with the aid of another Pelican) about 6 hours. I had 4 cracked boots.

Replacement boots are about $12? from Pelican (you need 4). Replacement CV joints (each kit comes with a boot) are $90, plus 6 bolts at $1.50 each; again, multiply by 4. Not wanting to do the job over again any time soon, I opted to splurge and replace all 4 CV joints, boots and bolts at the same time. After all, the labor is roughly the same. No sense in doing the work, and then having the old, reused CV joints finally give up the ghost next year. Replacing the entire axle assembly (axle with a CV joint w/boot on each end) is a lot easier and faster, but they're special order items which go for $500 apiece.

Things I came to appreciate along the way:
It's nice to have tall jackstands. I didn't.
I was glad my fellow Pelican had those little circlip pliers. Not necessary, but made things easier.
When tapping the axle out from the center of the CV joint, place a large socket to selectively hammer against the CV or the axle.
Have a full box of latex gloves, a roll of paper towels, and a whole newspaper at hand. It's a very messy job.

[A930Rocket]

Looks like Pelican carries the kit I bought locally:

000-043-301-08-M60 CV Boot Kit (boot, flange, grease, circlip, and clamps) (4 per car, sold per each), \911 Turbo (1985-94)
Brand: GKN Loebro

$10.25

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/911M/POR_911M_SUSaxl_pg1.htm

New axles here if you need them:


930-332-037-04-M60 Complete Axle w/two CV Joints & Boots 911 Turbo (1985-89)
Brand: GKN Loebro

$259.25

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/911M/POR_911M_SUSaxl_pg2.htm

[Noah930]

Double check on the availability of the axles by calling Pelican, first. They didn't have them in stock a couple months ago, and had to special order them....to a tune of about $500 each, IIRC.

[A930Rocket]

Vertex carries them new and re-built if Pelican can't get them.


Axle, CV Halfshaft (New)
Manufacturer: Lobro
Your Price: $399.00

Axle, CV Halfshaft (Rebuilt)
Core Charge: $150.00
Your Price: $299.00