Leaking CV boots - just wondering how to fix

[markmalin]

Hi everyone,

If this is answered elsewhere, just point me in the right direction....

I was underneath the car last night and it seems a couple of the CV boots (outer right and inner left) must be leaking I see old grease splattered under the car. I'm thinking I should probably re-pack these, right? How can I keep them from leaking again? They're not torn, just don't seem to fit as tightly on the shaft as the other 2. I'd appreciate any advice.

Thanks, guys. And Happy New Year! (what can I say...It's New Years Day and I wake up and the first thing I'm thinking of is my 911...I must be crazy

Humbly,
Mark.

[herman maire]

you may only need correct cv clamps . what do the clamps look like

[markmalin]

Originally Posted by herman maire

you may only need correct cv clamps . what do the clamps look like

Actually there are no clamps on the inner side of the boots (the small end). I'll have to look underneath to see if there are clamps on the outer side. I did notice that our host's website had a kit with clamps available... if I were to just get clamps, can I somehow pack grease in there w/out dismantling the CV joint?

Thanks for the help
Mark.

[Joe Bob]

Zip ties until they make noise....

[markmalin]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Zip ties until they make noise....

I can certainly put a couple zip ties on them for now. Thanks for the idea.

So "noise"....that's kind of a loaded issue. Can you describe the noise? I posted a thread a while back about a high-pitched "whirring" sound from the rear end of my car that only happens sometimes. (recently I discovered, if I just drive around town, 45 mph - 50 mph it won't happen...but if I get out on the highway, 70 mph, after a while it will happen). Anyhow, my post on that particular noise was inconclusive - some people hear it, others don't, some have said their car's done that for years.

Anyhow, that's probably another unrelated can of worms, but when the CV joints make noise, isn't it more of a low frequency groan or a clicking when you turn? I don't have either of these at this time.

Mark

[rusnak]

You can get metal zip ties at Lowes Home Improvement. Check them at least once per year. The grease on the left side tends to go bad faster than the right side. Possibly due to the exhaust system. I re-pack mine at least every two years.

[markmalin]

Originally Posted by rusnak

You can get metal zip ties at Lowes Home Improvement. Check them at least once per year. The grease on the left side tends to go bad faster than the right side. Possibly due to the exhaust system. I re-pack mine at least every two years.

Thanks. What's the process for repacking them? Can I just slide the boot back, or do I need to remove the shafts and do it on my work bench?

[rusnak]

There are excellent threads on this topic, including pics and illustrations on the proper orientation of the CV parts. You really have to allocate a weekend on this the first time you do it. I like Liqui Molly grease, or Valvoline Super Syn. Opinions vary on grease selection. You want to clean out all of the old dirt, grease, and inspect the entire joint, so you must take the CV joints off, and use solvent like diesel fuel that will wash off completely.

[DRACO A5OG]

FLAPS has metal ties in packs of 10, should hold up better than plastic ones IMHO.

[herman maire]

Zip-ties = cheap fix

there is no manufacture or cv boot kit that uses zip-ties on driveline boots, I dont see why this would be recommended as a long term fix.

Get the diameter, go to auto parts store, get correct CV boot clamps and be do with it. They cost next to nothing and with a stainless steel clamp you can clamp them tight enough so that your sure it wont pop off.

[RoninLB]

I never clamp the small end of the boot

Redline grease never thinned out enough to leak for me even after 110F desert runs

Track use may have a different effect on the grease than street?
I found a sticker grease by accident when searching the Mobil site for wheel bearing grease that those huge off road machines with giant tires use

I tested by putting a dab between thumb and index finger and see which grease will stretch the greatest distance. The greater the distance the better it will stick to the cv balls and races [i think].
I once ripped a boot a few thousand miles from home in Oregon after jacking the rear to get under there and said screw it to doing a repair immediately. I kept an eye on it and no leaking grease at interstate speeds +10-15 . When I got home and replaced the boot all the grease was still in there. So right now my cv grease belongs on wheel bearings with 8' tires.


above is my non pro info

[KCinBR]

The Proper FIX is not a hard job, neither is it expensive, however it is very messy.
Get good quality boot kits and do it right, I've done a couple of them.

Hey you could have a Boot party, invite your friends...thats what I did

[Hodgey]

Originally Posted by KCinBR

The Proper FIX is not a hard job, neither is it expensive, however it is very messy.
Get good quality boot kits and do it right, I've done a couple of them.

Hey you could have a Boot party, invite your friends...thats what I did

Wot he said ^^^^^

Don't take a short cut, sort it properly and then drive it like you stoled it !!!!!!

[Nine9six]

Originally Posted by herman maire

Zip-ties = cheap fix

there is no manufacture or cv boot kit that uses zip-ties on driveline boots, I dont see why this would be recommended as a long term fix.

Get the diameter, go to auto parts store, get correct CV boot clamps and be do with it. They cost next to nothing and with a stainless steel clamp you can clamp them tight enough so that your sure it wont pop off.

I dont think this was intended as a lifetime fix...Zip ties are a convenient, quick, and sufficient for holding a CV boot in place. As expressed in this thread, some guys are into their CV every two yreas or so. I'll even go as far to suggest that you would be hard pressed to find anyone who has reported that zip tied CV boot has/had let go.