CV boot: Replace or repair?
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 364
Likes: 0
From: Redding, CA
CV boot: Replace or repair?
What to do? A couple of days ago I put a small cut in the CV boot of my 97 Expy (i'm an idiot 
). I'm pretty sure that the CV joint is fine because it was only driven a couple of times (short distances) after it happened and hasn't been driven since I found the light-brown grease spatter on the fender well and around the boot. Isn' t the grease used on the CV supposed to be super thick so it won't get slung into the boot? Anyway, the cut is on the outer edge of a bellow and is about 1/8" in size.
Can I put more grease in there, clean the area well and then seal the hole with something like "goop?" Or, do I have to replace the boot?
Thanks,
Mike
). I'm pretty sure that the CV joint is fine because it was only driven a couple of times (short distances) after it happened and hasn't been driven since I found the light-brown grease spatter on the fender well and around the boot. Isn' t the grease used on the CV supposed to be super thick so it won't get slung into the boot? Anyway, the cut is on the outer edge of a bellow and is about 1/8" in size. Can I put more grease in there, clean the area well and then seal the hole with something like "goop?" Or, do I have to replace the boot?
Thanks,
Mike
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
CV boot: Replace or repair?
In the FWIW department, try not to get the bolt together type of boot. They are fine for short term fixes and they work great. For a newer vehicle I would fix it right the first time.
What you want to do is pull the axle and put on a real one piece boot. Clean all the old grease off with a cloth (not solvent), apply the Ford stuff (I usually use blue grease for wheel bearings if I do not have the Ford stuff), and put the new one piece boot on.
What you want to do is pull the axle and put on a real one piece boot. Clean all the old grease off with a cloth (not solvent), apply the Ford stuff (I usually use blue grease for wheel bearings if I do not have the Ford stuff), and put the new one piece boot on.
