Emergency fix for 964 C4 Inner CV boot

[SeattleChris]

Found out this morning via some investigative work and through my local alignment shop in Bellevue (Truline, Byron is great!), that I have a torn front, inner, CV boot. This isn't all that big of a deal except for the fact we are planning to drive to Montana this Friday from Seattle for the holiday (about 1k miles round trip). The shop mentioned that other than the boot wanting to tear the crap out of itself at speeds above 60 mph and making an awful clicking/tapping noise, mechanically I'm good to go, I just need to get the boot fixed before the winter season here in Seattle. The inner boot sounds as though it is very protected from the elements being that it's enclosed within the pan. Is this true? Is there really very little risk of damage to the inner CV for the short term? Both CVs are in great condition and the outer boots are in great shape.

Does anyone know of a short term fix just for the trip to eliminate the noise? Talking with the mechanic, we had thought of pulling the pan, throwing a zip tie around the boot, and wrapping the boot with duct tape.

OR Do I leave I stomach my pride and we take an alternative car that wouldn't be as much fun

Unfortunately, I'm kind of in a bad spot with this happening so close to our trip.

Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[bpu699]

The job of the boot is to keep grease in... and dirt out.

These are not that hard to replace, though it is messy. A rubber boot is about $10. You could do it your self in a couple hours if mechanically inclined. A mechanic "could" do it in 30-45 minutes.

Some mechanics don't want to replace the boot, and insist on changing the entire axle... thats over kill.

With such a cheap repair, why wouldn't you just fix it?

[SeattleChris]

Yeah, I found some parts and read a few tech articles. Time to get greasy.

Thanks

[bpu699]

Originally Posted by SeattleChris

Yeah, I found some parts and read a few tech articles. Time to get greasy.

Thanks

If you dont have a lot of tools, pay the mechanic...

Useful tools include a long torque bar, allen head socket set... and optimally, an air impact hammer.

The impact hammer was a life saver when I did mine. 30 year old bolts don't come out easily.

Bo

[john walker's workshop]

Boots don't make a snapping/clicking noise. Dry/bad CV joints do. It needs to come out for proper inspection.

[OsoMoore]

The first time I did a boot fix, it took me a few hours. The second time it was much faster. Still very very messy. If it is clicking, then it is getting hot and the grease is getting thinned by that heat. Your duct tape may not hold after hours of driving and heat.

With a clear evening and a new boot, you should be able to do it yourself. Bring some cheapo gloves, and make sure you have extra grease and a torque wrench. When you arrive at your destination, re-torque. Normally you want to do it at 200 miles after. The CV bolts will loosen as the joint's parts compress during use.

[Duc Hunter]

Both inner boots on my 996 TT are torn, the grease is coming out but is clean. Like you, I am fine for now but need to replace them before I destroy the CV Joints. The challenge is to get to them to replace them requires removing the front axles (inner boots, near the diff and not the outers that are by the wheel). Everyone I talked to said (on my car) this mean a lot of work. All of my quotes were between $1,000-$1,600. Everyone also said if I needed shocks (or wanted to lower it), brake rotors, etc...this was the time to do them as they all had to come out so the axles could come out......to replace the inner boots. So, for example, the coiler install to lower my car would be "free" on the front, as it all had to come apart for the CV Boot repair. Not sure if the 964 is the say....but check into this.

[Fixer]

Fill with grease, get 2 mil plastic and wrap it and zip tie it well at the ends (not on the rubber area of boot obviously)

Who knows maybe even alot of cling wrap zip tied may work better. Your call.

Have a safe trip.-M