Drive Shaft Boots

[sirbob]

I was poking around the wheel arches while waiting for my tires to be put on when i noticed that the boots for the drive shafts were looking a little sad. They were still intack, and without leaks, but the RH rear rubber was looking a little brittle and deteoriated.

I was just wondering how often should you change the boots, if at all, and if so how much?

There is a possibility that i am being a little padantic here, however, i am going to Tassie via Melbourne in the MX5 in late September and dont want to spread grease all over my wheels halfway between Sydney and Melbourne on some back country road.

Any thoughts or i am just being padantic?

[davamb]

Hey Bob,

It's amazing just how long CVs will last if the grease stays in the joint and they don't get contaminants like water and dirt in. You'd also be amazed at how fast they do crap out when the boot fails! If in doubt about the future of the boot then by all means change it. It's well-justified paranoia.

[JBT]

I was just wondering how often should you change the boots, if at all, and if so how much?

I think they are a replace when broken type of thing. They are a fairly expensive thing to do (boot kit) if my experiences with FWD cars is any guide. The CV joint has to be dis-assembled to replace the boot AFAIK.

[Garry]

The CV joint has to be dis-assembled to replace the boot AFAIK.

I was once told by a mechanic not to worry about replacing split boots. It cost the same to replace the boot as it does to replace the whole joint as the joint needs to be disassembled to get the boot off. Just drive it till it dies and then get a new CV joint with a new boot.

[sabretooth]

http://forums.sabretooth.id.au/viewtopic.php?t=69

[JBT]

He's talking about CV boots Sabre, not steering rack boots.

[sabretooth]

Whoops. Silly me.