cv boot tear

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dhoch14
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cv boot tear

Post by dhoch14 » Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:05 am

While doing my regular maintenance I stumbled upon a tear in my driver side cv boot closest to the tire. The grease has splattered over part of the shock and I'm afraid to drive it.

So, does this call for just a new boot with repacking the grease? Or do I need to replace the whole CV joint along with a new boot?

I dont' have any experience with CVs so any helpful advice is greatly appreciate. From my initial readings, this looks to be a greasy job.

-dave
93 VW T4 2.4D Cali

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hambone
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Post by hambone » Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:22 am

You can pack it with grease, but you really need to replace that boot. It's not hard, just messsssssy.
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Ritter
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Re: cv boot tear

Post by Ritter » Mon Sep 21, 2009 6:51 pm

dhoch14 wrote:So, does this call for just a new boot with repacking the grease? Or do I need to replace the whole CV joint along with a new boot?
Haven't had the pleasure myself yet but my understanding is that, provided the joint/bearings don't show pitting or heat stress, you're looking at a new boot, not the whole joint. Either way, you're looking at a boat load of grease!

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Bookwus
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Post by Bookwus » Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:18 pm

Hiya Dave,

One things for sure...............the longer you let that boot go the more likely you'll wind having to replace that CV joint.

Pulling the halfshafts, inspecting the CVs, greasing them, installing new boots, and doing the reinstall is not a difficult job. Just very messy. Incredibly messy. Burn your work clothes messy. But not hard.
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chitwnvw
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Post by chitwnvw » Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:46 pm

Pack it with grease, tie plastic around it and do your best to seal it up. Fix it when you can, ie not 5 years from now. Like hammy said it's not really hard, just a messy job.

Colin has a write up somewhere about switching the CVs end to end so that you have a fresh surface to wear on...

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dhoch14
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Post by dhoch14 » Tue Sep 22, 2009 9:00 am

Awesome. Thanks guys. I've parked the bus until I can get this taken care of. Hopefully, I can enjoy some nice grease in my hair this weekend.

FWIW - Colin politely called out this CV in his visit this summer. I should have listened and sealed the boot prior to it tearing. Oh well!
93 VW T4 2.4D Cali

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dhoch14
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Post by dhoch14 » Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:44 am

half way done and holy crap this is a dirty job. seriously, I was not expecting this much grease. wow.

quick question, can I reuse the circlip? the non-tear side joint is getting a repacking as well though I'm not sure if I can just buy the circlip locally.

a-thank-you.

-dave
93 VW T4 2.4D Cali

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hambone
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Post by hambone » Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:48 am

I threw away my clothes afterward.
The circlip should be OK, I'd reuse it myself unless deformed.
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it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
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Amskeptic
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Post by Amskeptic » Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:34 pm

dhoch14 wrote:half way done and holy crap this is a dirty job. seriously, I was not expecting this much grease. wow.

quick question, can I reuse the circlip? the non-tear side joint is getting a repacking as well though I'm not sure if I can just buy the circlip locally.

a-thank-you.

-dave
Call Mike Whathisname on the Discovery Channel. I will give him a dirty job in short order. We'll do CV disassembly then crankcase cleaning, and move directly to rust eradication.
Colin
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Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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dhoch14
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Post by dhoch14 » Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:20 am

done and done. I finished up on Sunday and overall the project is pretty easy. I had some issues with grease in my hair, but that's about it. I ended up cleaning and repacking both joints and replacing the boot.

Back on the road and ready for a beach camping trip this weekend!
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Manfred
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Post by Manfred » Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:25 am

dhoch14 wrote:done and done. I finished up on Sunday and overall the project is pretty easy. I had some issues with grease in my hair, but that's about it. I ended up cleaning and repacking both joints and replacing the boot.

Back on the road and ready for a beach camping trip this weekend!

SwaEEEET!
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Ritter
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Post by Ritter » Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:06 pm

Now you wanna do mine? :blackeye:
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hambone
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Post by hambone » Mon May 10, 2010 8:31 am

How hard was it replacing the boot? I now see I have a torn one. Too many stupid camps. Are they split on the small end to fit over the CV, or must the joint be pressed out of the shaft?
Never ending project.
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http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
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Amskeptic
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Post by Amskeptic » Mon May 10, 2010 8:45 am

hambone wrote:How hard was it replacing the boot? I now see I have a torn one. Too many stupid camps. Are they split on the small end to fit over the CV, or must the joint be pressed out of the shaft?
Never ending project.
The new boots that BobD told me he wanted to install as "pre-emptive maintenance" have failed in a big way all of a sudden. The boot separated from the CV cap completely within the span of 50 miles. His originals, which I asked to have, were installed in the Road Warrior and gave me no trouble in 70,000 miles on top of the 34,000 they already had. These new ones lasted less than 8,000 miles. Lobro even. So today, in the cold sunshine in some parking lot out of the wind somewhere, I shall enjoy a CV repack, Itinerant style.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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Randy in Maine
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Post by Randy in Maine » Mon May 10, 2010 8:48 am

Remove all of that stuff, clean and repack joint.

Slide the new boot on the shaft.

Then put the joint back on.

Here are a couple of good raps on doing it....

http://type2.com/bartnik/cvjoints.htm

http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/page_1 ... nence.html
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