Replacing my CV Boots

[Jayboundless]

Hi Everyone! I found a nice gift this morning, as I was crawling around under my car just looking around still becoming familiar with my fairly new purchase. I believe this has occurred in the last 100-200 miles. There is no noise that leads me to suspect that the cv has been damaged, so I plan on doing a boot replacement. None of the maintenance records with the car (30k miles or so) indicate any cv replacements. Should I (while I'm in there) replace the entire cv joint as well? Opinions requested.

Also, looking at our host replacement parts, there are two options. One is for 1985 with 915.68 Trans or 1985 w/915.73 Trans. Mine is an 85. How do I know which one I have?

Thanks in advance!

One more thing. I'm in Nebraska and the weather unseasonably wonderful right now. Will I damage it if I drive it for a couple more days...25 or so miles?

[cashman]

I just did this on an 89 which is slightly different. You should easily be able to unbolt both the trans side and axle side. The job isn't super hard but it is super messy. If your over 100K miles and have the funds I would consider replacing the axle. If not, you can clean and repack the joint. There is an awesome post from Warren Hall that explains how all the bearings go back together. Its kind of tricky. Make sure you torque everything correctly and check the bolts after 100 or so miles. I marked mine with nail polish so I could see if they moved. I would drive it as little as possible unless you are replacing the whole thing. Never know what dirt/dust you may run over in your 20 mile ride. Our host sells everything you need.

[Marc Bixen]

If you clean the bottom of the diff housing the 915/# is stamped there. It looks like the early style. Are the bolts 8mm,6mm allen (early style) or 10mm,8mm allen (late style). If they're early style, don't forget to order 2 extra gaskets per axle removed.

[Jayboundless]

These are the only numbers I can find on the transmission. Also, a 8mm allen fits in the CV bolts. So is this the later style?

[LJ851]

Early 85 has 8mm bolts (6mm wrench) on both ends of the half shaft. Late 85 has the same axle as G50 cars and has 10mm bolts (8mm allen) on the transmission side only, the outer cv is also the stub axle so it doesn't have bolts.

[Marc Bixen]

Late style

[DRACO A5OG]

I actually did this trick, worked like a Charm :-), Seriously, I was skeptical at first but doing it 3 times, I am a believer. , heck, once on the car.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F17tFS6ofzU

[Discseven]

Good one Draco!

[azzarule]

Draco, thanks for the link that was very cool, and painless. Will need to remember that trick.

[Jayboundless]

Ok, I'm thoroughly confused now. I thought late style due to others input and, it accepts an 8mm allen. But if you look at the top photo of the outboard CV you will see it has the allen bolts. From LJ851 message the later stub axle doesn't have those. Wouldn't that indicate it is the earlier style?

[LJ851]

Originally Posted by Jayboundless

Ok, I'm thoroughly confused now. I thought late style due to others input and, it accepts an 8mm allen. But if you look at the top photo of the outboard CV you will see it has the allen bolts. From LJ851 message the later stub axle doesn't have those. Wouldn't that indicate it is the earlier style?

I thought those might be bolts under the grime. It looks like you have turbo axles. Go to the cv axle section of our hosts catalog and look at the pictures. They are correctly shown and identified.

Is your car a turbo or turbo-look (M491) ?

[Jayboundless]

I have to think they are the earlier style. My car was manufactured in 10-84; it has the allen bolts on the outer cv's and my axle stub nut is held on with cotter key. Right? At least that is what is shown in the Bentley manual. However the manual says the axle nut is a 32mm. It is not...bought one doesn't fit. Must be a 30mm?

My car is not a turbo or turbo look.