Advice Wanted - Cracked CV Boots

[FlatStix]

I have a very original 1975 Carrera that I recently purchased from long term owner. It needs some going over due to limited use in recent years.
One of the first tasks is cracked CV boots.
I want to preserve the originality of the car, so looking for thoughts on buying replacement aftermarket driveshafts which would be the easy option vs buying a boot kit and re-doing the original CV joints?
Feedback on each option and any challenges to expect with a boot kit appreciated.

[kmcteer]

Well, I would say replace what is broken if you care about originality. If you want easy, replace the entire axle. Don't think anyone will care that much either way.

I personally replaced the boots and inspected the CVs. I surmised the CVs had some more miles in them.

Just be careful to only buy high quality CVs if you go that way. Loebro/Lemforder is going to give you the best life other than OEM (which are probably the same).

-Kelly

[Aztim]

CV joints are very very easy to inspect and service, the odds are high that your original cv's and axles are better quality then what you could replace them with not to mention boots are cheap.

Disassemble, clean, inspect if they're good grease and reinstall

[REVerend]

Fortunately it’s not a significant or irreversible thing. You could always just replace the axle assemblys for now and make restoration of the originals a longer term project. I just ordered new ones for my SC, entire thing made by GKN (listed by Pelican as OEM) was only $200 each from Rock Auto.

I’m keeping the originals axle/CV for my car and will redo the boots one of these days and have them on the shelf.

[Otter74]

Agree that the original parts are probably better than what you can get now if the axle doesn't need to be replaced. I just got an EMPI boot kit off of ebay (recommendation from someone here) - this uses the same thick flange as the original part, rather than the thin one that you see everywhere else.

[FlatStix]

Thanks everyone for the advice and recommendations. Aztim and Otter74, I was also thinking that the original parts are likely to be the best quality, so if they are still in good shape, a boot kit would be the way to go. Thanks for the motivation! There was a part of me though that was thinking at a reasonable $200 each for the GKN units, the mess and time spent on boot kits could be avoided...

[montauk]

Originally Posted by REVerend

Fortunately it’s not a significant or irreversible thing. You could always just replace the axle assemblys for now and make restoration of the originals a longer term project. I just ordered new ones for my SC, entire thing made by GKN (listed by Pelican as OEM) was only $200 each from Rock Auto.

I’m keeping the originals axle/CV for my car and will redo the boots one of these days and have them on the shelf.

That's a great price. Are they new or rebuilt? I bought GKN's from our host that were rebuilt units.
https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/PCG332033A.htm?pn=PCG-332-033-A-M60&SVSVSI=571&DID=9786

[REVerend]

Originally Posted by montauk

That's a great price. Are they new or rebuilt? I bought GKN's from our host that were rebuilt units.
https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/PCG332033A.htm?pn=PCG-332-033-A-M60&SVSVSI=571&DID=9786

They come in a GKN box and look exactly like those from our host. I haven’t installed them yet but opened the boxes to take a look, they could be rebuild but really no way to tell as they look new. I try and keep my car original and rebuild things as much as possible but for these it just made sense to get the GKNs and redo the originals when I get around to it.

I have started to check Rock Auto for stuff just in the off chance they have it. Their prices are about as good as it gets and their shipping is crazy fast, like Amazon prime quick.

[Aztim]

REV I've been buying all kinds of parts from rock auto that are the exact same part as listed everywhere else at a massive discount. Couldn't agree more to check RA first. I just bought a sachs aluminum clutch kit from them for just over 500, substantially less then anywhere else. Im all for supporting smaller businesses and what not but at almost a $300 savings it's hard to justify.