Anyone done CV Boot Boot DIY?

we350z · #1 10-31-2007, 10:54 PM

Located here. My front left must have ripped fairly recently. I was getting ready to change my engine oil and realized that there is a bunch of fresh grease on the inside of my wheel. The DIY doesnt look too bad, but also not like a walk in the park either. Regardless I'm gunna put her down for a little while until I get this fixed.

I guess I was gonna get in there to change the rotors out anyway.

I was suprised when i checked not too long ago that they all looked in pretty good condition. I can't really fully inspect it until the wheel is off.

Oh well. Just another thing to fix now.

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ungcj · #2 11-01-2007, 01:33 AM

I just did one. The complete explaination is in the Articles section. But don't do everything that they tell you. Don't pull the bearing from the axel. They don't use any no seaze when they build the car and you are supposed to replace the bearing when you get it pulled. This is the hardest part too. Just replace both boots....inner and outer or do like I did and just get an extra grease pack since I didn't buy the inner boot.... Take everything off just like the info says in "articles" but then just undo the clamp on the inner boot and slide off the inner joint and take everything off the back side (the side closest to the engine - the inner boot side). This will save you a lot of time and it won't ruin your bearing. I would go ahead and replace the inner boot. I just did this on Sunday and I didn't have one and couldn't get it. This is way easier.

we350z · #3 11-01-2007, 02:32 AM

I'm confused ... why should I f with the boot that isn't ripped? I didn't examine it close enough to know which one it is yet. Seems like extra work to me, unless I should be really worried about the other one breaking soon too.

What is a grease pak? Dont you just need a tube of grease?

You are saying i should use NEW bearings? These are not included in the CV boot repair kit.

ungcj · #4 11-01-2007, 09:15 PM

The grease is a special grease. It comes in a plastic bag - at least mine did. It is CV joint grease. You don't have to buy the inside boot but it is easier to slide the shaft out on the side near the engine and not remove the axel from the wheel bearing on the wheel side. Then you will have to take off the boot by the engine even if you are going to reuse it. Take that boot off and put the new boot on and then put the other boot back on and slide the shaft back in on the engine side. This is way easier than removing the axel from the bearing to slid just the one boot over that axel end. Then joint by the engine just slides out. Ther are no bolts holding it. It just slides in and out on some rails so it is easy to slide out. There is only one snap ring that is easy to take off on this side. The joint by the wheel has a snap ring inside the cv joint on the axel. It is much harder to work with. There are instructions on this forum under articles that show how to change the boot. I am just telling you a short cut so you don't have to pull the bearing off of the axel. That is a pain in the butt.

trooper · #5 11-02-2007, 11:17 AM

Hi Guys,
I was just told by BMW that my CV boot is cracked and I don't want to spend the $674.12 to get it replaced, especially when the part is only $30. If I am to understand UNGCJ correctly, I can skip the step where I pull of the bearing from the axel and instead remove the inside CV boot and bearing which will allow me to slide the outer boot over the outer CV joint. I'll then have to re-install the inner CV joint and CV boot.

Is there anyway you can show me how to take that inner CV joint and boot off? I mean where the bolt is that releases that? Can you doctor up one of the photos from the DIY article?

Thanks!

Scot Motzny

we350z · #6 11-02-2007, 02:36 PM

I think you have to remove the outer to get to the inner? so if you just need to do the outer boot all you should need to remove is the outer boot.

I'm not really sure why the bearings need to be messed with? I must be missing something key here....

Here is a shortcut on the DIY from Silver 5 that I am going to use:

http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...t=boot+replace

ungcj · #7 11-03-2007, 08:49 AM

There is no bolt or nut on the inner boot. Once you take off the compression ring it just slides out. It is held in place by the rest of the suspension. It just slides back and forth in the housing that is about 6 inches long. It has to slide to make up for the travel - up and down- of the suspension. Don't do the part in the DIY article where it says to use a puller. Just do everything else and then do all of the replacement from the back side - go over the back of the shaft (the inner side away from the wheel) to replace everything. You will be glad you did. Especially if your bearing is stuck to the shaft. I can't remember exactly but I don't think you would need to remove the axel nut either. That is the huge nut....about 36mm.

trooper · #8 11-13-2007, 11:54 AM

So, I decided to let a professional change out the CV boot. I'm sure I could have done it, but I've got so many other things going on that I didn't want to risk screwing it up and not getting the other things done. Anyway, I decided to let Poquet Auto in Golden Valley, MN do the job since they sold me my Jetta and were extremely professional. Also, their quoted rate was only $275 to replace the boot. I had them fix my driver door handle as well since Octopus Car Wash in Rockford, IL broke it during a hand wash. I got a call the morning I dropped off the car and they told me that while there were some cracks in the CV boot, they were superficial and they thought the boot would last at least another 2 years under normal driving conditions. Their recommendation was to not replace it. In fact the guy said if it was his car, he would not have the work done. So, I'll just keep checking it when I get my oil changed.

Let me know how your replacement turned out.

we350z · #9 11-20-2007, 12:50 AM

I just got my boot repair kit from Morristown. I think i see what ungcj is saying now i think. To install the boot from engine side (by removing the inner boot first. I only got the outer boot, and I would think the inner boot would have a good chance of ripping if i tried to remove it (maybe not?) I'll have to see when I get down there. I suppose if it rips i can just get another one. It should be able to get some extra CV joint grease IF i can just re-use the inner boot.

Is this a BAD idea to re-use the inner boot? Past experience tells me to replace it or not f with it.

ungcj · #10 11-20-2007, 10:37 AM

I didn't replace it because it was Sunday and I figured it out too late to get it. My X has 100,000 miles on it (2001). The inner boot was still strong. If you can get one I would do it for 30 to 40 bucks. You have to buy the grease anyway and the grease is in the kit. But if it is too late don't replace it just go to an auto parts store they all should have the special grease.

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