CV boot replacements

[bowlofturtle]

how often does something like this work...

( 3 or 4 or 5 legs LOL )

Or how strong are these boots? Can i use any boot or must it be one of their boots.

for the most part when i get a axle boot thats ripped/broken, i normally just go out and replace them. Lately i've had a string of bad luck with these autoparts store rebuilt axles. I never did just the boot but most boots are $30 and i pay about $60 for most axles. Seems like the same amount of work minus the poping it out of the trans part, which can be easy or sometimes a little hard.

This idea kinda seems cheaper but if the boots dont last then its not worth it at all. I know the autoparts stores aren't selling me their top notch stuff compared to my OEM axle.

 

[bradweingartner]

In my opinion, a bottom-of-the-barrel replacement axle is not as good as an OEM axle (even with some miles) that merely has a torn CV boot that was caught before it replaced all its grease with sand. So in that case, you're comparing $30 with the price of a new OEM axle which will not be $60. This is especially true if you haven't had much luck with the cheap rebuilds.

And in either case, if a boot has been compromised you really need to clean it all out so you might as well just disassemble the joint. Then you can just use a normal high-quality CV boot. Though that stretch a boot looks pretty legit. I bet being softer rubber they last a long time too. In fact, I bet most good quality boots would stretch that much without a problem. But I've never personally tried it... Now of course I want to! I have a boot replacement coming up soon.

As for the "Legs" that guy is talking about these:

 

[Jack Olsen]

It's messy work.

 

[bmwpower]

It's messy work.

One job I really would rather never have to do again...
Hands full of grease trying to reassemble slippery pieces of steel....ahhh.

 

[marcusicp]

It's so easy to disassemble the joints why not just use a regular boot?

 

[Milton Shaw]

That would work with full rubber boots but the harder plastic type boots out there would not go on that way. Most of the late model I have seen are the harder plastic type. The original GM boots had a metal ring that held them on the joint no way would you get it on like that. The joint would have to come off the shaft to put them on and then special tool to pull the boot and ring back on the joint.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

It's so easy to disassemble the joints why not just use a regular boot?

I could not find a regular boot (the old time boot kit) for my Olds. Well NAPA had Two in stock, but the both had the wrong clamp bands with them. But they were the good kind, the kind you crimp down with the end nipper style pliers.
Auto Zone had this IMO POS kit made by Dorman.
It was a "Stretch boot" type of boot.
I took the axle apart and cleaned all the old grease out, instead of stretching the boot on.
I used to do a lot of these, and never had much trouble.
Showed special ratcheting tool to tighten bands, AZ did not have it.
Tried to pull the band tight with vise grips, but the whole damm boot would come off the CV.
I was like it was a real flimsy boot, there was no "back bone" to it. Guess it has to be to be able to slip over the cone, actually the Dorman kit showed the "3 legged" tool to spread the boot.
I got fed up and just got a reman Axle, Was only $40.00.
He took the POS boot kit back.
If I could have found the old time boot locally, I would have rather done that.
Like was said, My OE axle was probably a better axle.

 

[Phixer]

I sprang for the slighter higher dollars and put Raxles (entire replacement axle) on my Audi ... really did NOT want to screw with solvent, globs of grease, and wondering if the bearings would survive my rookie boot replacement attempt.
I searched the web and found only praise for the Raxles product, and I want this car to last awhile.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

I sprang for the slighter higher dollars and put Raxles (entire replacement axle) on my Audi ... really did NOT want to screw with solvent, globs of grease, and wondering if the bearings would survive my rookie boot replacement attempt.
I searched the web and found only praise for the Raxles product, and I want this car to last awhile.

Yeah, Like I said, I just got a cheapy Auto Zone reman.
We'll see how it holds up.
But I know we used a few of these at work, and don't think we had any problems.

 

[srode]

I just did the job on our 99 Jeep before selling it - it was less money to buy a half shaft assembled with a boot than to buy just the boot. $59 vs $70 So the decision was pretty easy for me - would have done the same thing if we had planned on keeping the Jeep too.

 

[psychoclaw84]

It's so easy to disassemble the joints why not just use a regular boot?

I second that.

 

[wafrederick]

Save time getting a high quality reman too instead of replacing the boot.The core charge is more than the axle most of the time.

 

[bowlofturtle]

i did about 6-8 axles my whole life. The 2 two axles were boots replacement only. 1 axle did not want to pop out of the trans at all. I just had to fight it for a LONG *** time like 3 hours. The boots were $25 VS axles on the camry were $75 rebuilt. It was messy and a headache.

I stopped doing boots since then. I did a maxima pass. side axle that was held on by a carrier bearing that rusted together, another headache. This was a PERFECT example of that strech boot saving me time.

The other axles i've done all came out without problems and were issue free.

I mainly asked about this because my current DD is a G35 AWD, which the front axles are $200+ because they are rare. No parts store has them. So for this a $25-30 boot would be ideal.

ive countlessly heard people have many issues with the rebuilt store bought axles, so i've been thinking i should just start going back to doing boots when i can. Plus if i do a $25 boot VS $60-75 axle replacement for people i can pocket the money. I just wanted to see if these boot slip on tools could save me a little more time. The mess is still there, but that slip on tool could save a good amount of time if enough axles come my way.

Save time getting a high quality reman too instead of replacing the boot.The core charge is more than the axle most of the time.

Define who makes high quality? other then RAXLES, which is overpriced for Daily driven beaters. Ive normally just rolled with napa's rebuilt, assuming they were cardone rebranded.