Torn outer CV boot

[Dooodahman]

My right rear outer CV boot is torn. Considering that I will have to replace the entire axle (because the boot is integral), how bad is it to just drive it as is for now? Is there any additional damage I could do? I don't currently notice any symptoms from the tear.

[r_towle]

You can easily replace the boot.
Pull the axle.
Remove the CV joint.
Remove the boot and replace it.
Replace the CV joint
Replace the axle.

Sounds easy, but at the end of the day there is just a C-clip that holds the CV joint onto the axle and you wont need a press to get it off...just a good set of C-clip removing pliers (they are special)

rich

[r_towle]

And to answer your posted question.
You will eventually have a blow out of the CV joint.
You may here it whine and hum for a while before, but eventually it may sieze up and explode....so it could do damage, but most likely the noise will make you replace it first...it can get pretty loud.

rich

[Dooodahman]

Hmmmm, everything I've read about the later cars suggests I can't just replace the outer boot (inner boot, yes). Are you sure that's true for the '88?

[r_towle]

no, but someone makes the boot so it may just be a matter of finding the boot.

There are also bolt around boots that work.

Boots job is to keep the grease in and dirt out...
Its not part of the CV joint, at least it has never been in all the ones I have seen.

Rest assured that the CV joint will start to hum, like a bearing...and click in both forward and more in reverse.
Just start saving your money...and keep listening for the click and the hum.
When the click gets bad...its time.

Look for rebuilt axles, they tend to cost less and are perfectly fine for all the cars I have ever done it on...and that seems to be every car I have owned at some point in time.

rich

[Dooodahman]

Thanks! I wonder how much damage has been done to date. I just bought the car and the boot was torn when I got it. I'm dropping the engine soon anyway to replace some fuel lines (and try to fix some leaks and replace engine pad, and....) and I have to do my bushings all around, so maybe I'll just bite the bullet and fix those, too.

I appreciate the advice.

[r_towle]

Inner CV may be easier to remove and replace.
Pull it off and do both boots from that side.
Leave the outer Cv alone.

Rich

[r_towle]

I just looked here on our hosts parts pages.
You can buy boots for all sides, not an issue.

the Outer CV joint is just bolted to a stub axle, so that is why it appears different.
Actually the CV joint is the same, so is the boot.

Look at the online catalog here, the parts are pretty cheap.
Labor is free, right

rich

[cashman]

Originally Posted by r_towle

Inner CV may be easier to remove and replace.
Pull it off and do both boots from that side.
Leave the outer Cv alone.

Rich

This is what you want to do.

[Jcslocum]

On an 88 the outer hub in integral to the cv. You need the rebuild kit from our hose that has the boot, Oetiker clamps and special super black moly grease. I just refurbished both sides inner and outer on my 89. On the outer cv, the inner sheet metal cover that the boot slips onto, is crimped to the outer hub. I cut a slot into the sheet metal cover and then peeled it back slowly until it would slide off. Once all inspected and repackage, I put it back on, tapped it into shape and the sealed it up with a s,all bead of black silicone to keep grease in and water out.

How many miles on your existing cv?

[Dooodahman]

PO's records only go back to '02 so I can only assume that they are original and therefore have about 100k miles on them.

[cashman]

You have a car with 25 year old rubber boots and 100K miles. Replace them both while you are doing it. Boots are $10 and you will regret doing only one side as you will most likely have to do the other in the near future. Remove the inner CV joint and you can slip the outer boot on without cutting anything on the outer flange. It's a messy job and will take a couple hours. It will take a couple hours and 30 minutes extra to do both. I just went through this and did both axles while attached on the car.

[88911coupe]

Did this on my '88...messy but doable. The issue is one end can't be totally disassebled but you can clean it out with brake cleaner or something similar then thoroughly repack with high quality CV grease.
Did I mention this is messy?