Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - CV Axle Boot Replacement

try to make this as short as possible, pull the shaft, cut the boot free, find a large (I mean large vice) rent a cv break apart tool a(looks like a slide hammer with an attachment to grab the end of the shaft, lock the shaft in the vice, and pop the end off. thoroughly and I mean completely clean all grease and crap out of the cv joint. use kerosene, brake parts cleaner whatever but clean it out totally. you have to get all grit sand dirt and old grease out of it. repack it taking your time to get grease back into all of the bearings.

insert cv knuckle into vice with the hole for the shaft end facing upwards, grab it firmly but knot enough to mar the splines. (use a piece of cardboard to protect them).

Slide boot and clamps over the shaft, insert end of shaft into the hole and press down until you hit the retaining clip, while applying pressure use a flat tipped screwdriver to work the clip into the bevel on the hole.
Once you have the clip started into the beveled edge of the hole use a dead blow hammer or a large chunk of 4x4 to smack the end of the shaft driving it home into the hole.

pack the boot lightly with the balance of the grease, slide the boot down onto the cv joint. "burp" the joint to remove excess air.

depending upon the type of clamp that came with the boot, you will either fold it over and use a punch and hammer to close the clamp or use a set of needle nose pliers to wind the clamp down before setting the clamp with the aforementioned punch and hammer.

check to make sure all dimensions are correct (boot location) and install the shaft.